FLORENCE, Ala. – The game was never in doubt as seventh ranked North Alabama scored on the first play from scrimmage, scored a school-record 34 points in the first quarter and built a 48-3 halftime lead on the way to a 51-3 win over West Florida at Braly Stadium that gave the Lions the 2016 Gulf South Conference Championship.
With the win, UNA improved to 7-1 overall and 6-0 in the Gulf South Conference and became the first football team in the 46-year history of the GSC to win four straight conference championships. West Florida falls to 5-5 overall and 3-4 in the GSC.
North Alabama had 381 yards in the first half and finished with 528. A West Florida offense that averaged more than 465 yards per game was held to just 172 total yards with 119 rushing and 53 passing.
UNA quarterback
Jacob Tucker was 8eight-of-13 passing for 176 yards for one touchdown and ran for two scores.
Ray Beasley led the ground game with 84 yards on seven carries.
UWF quarterback Kaleb Nobles had thrown for 2,922 yards and 28 touchdowns entering the game but was just 11-of-26 for 53 yards, with one interception.
On the game's opening play,
Jacob Tucker hit
Dre Hall with a 63-yard touchdown pass.
Kevin Henke was wide on the extra-point attempt but UNA led 6-0 at 14:44 of the first quarter.
Damon Cox scored on a one-yard run to cap a seven-play, 51-yard drive and Henke's kick made it 13-0 at 9:58 of the first quarter.
Tucker scored on an eight-yard run on UNA's third possession and Henke's kick made it 20-0 at 8:49 of the first period.
West Florida's only productive drive of the half ended in a 20-yard Austin Peffers field goal to make it 20-3 at 4:01 of the first.
UNA would add four more touchdowns before the half. Jaylan Jackon returned the kickoff following the West Florida score 89 yards for a touchdown. It was UNA's first kickoff return TD since 2014 and the first at a home game since 2005. Henke's PAT made it 27-3 with 3:50 left in the first quarter.
Tucker scored on a 12-yard run with 1:25 left in the first and Henke's kick extended the lead to 34-3. The score broke the UNA record for most points in a quarter at 33 against Arkansas-Monticello in 2004.
Ryan Mediano caught a 29-yard touchdown pass from
Blake Hawkins with 13:25 left in the second quarter and Henke's kick made it 41-3.
The final score of the half came on a 41-yard run by
Ray Beasley with 3:29 left in the second quarter. Henke's kick made it 48-3 at intermission.
The only score of the second half came on a 27-yard Henke field goal with 11:00 left in the third quarter.
UNA travels to Mississippi College next Saturday for a 2:00 kickoff against the Choctaws.
Darius Wright and
E.J. Parnell
Damon Cox
Ray Beasley
Ryan Mediano
Jaylan Jackson
E.J. Parnell
Ryan Harper
Dre Hall
