SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.V. – The University  of North Alabama took a 20-10 lead in the first half and held on off Shepherd in the second half as the Lions downed the Rams 23-13 to advance to the NCAA Division II Football National Championship Game on December 17 in Kansas City, Kan.
 
The Lions, now 11-1 overall, held a 20-13 lead late in the fourth quarter when Dorsey Norris picked off a Jeff Ziemba pass at the Rams' 23-yard line. Kevin Henke then hit a 35-yard field goal, his third of the day, to extend UNA's lead to 10 points and secure the win.
 
The Division II Championship Game appearance will be the fifth for North Alabama (1985, 1993, 1994, 1995), with the Lions having won three straight national championships from 1993-95.
 
Shepherd ends its season at 13-1.
 
The North Alabama defense held the high-powered Shepherd offense to just 13 points and 245 total yards.  Shepherd quarterback Jeff Ziemba, a Harlon Hill Trophy finalist, was just 11-of-28 passing for 112 yards, while receiver Billy Brown was held to tw o catches for 17 yards. He had entered the game with more than 1,500 receiving yards and 22 touchdowns.
 
UNA senior quarterback Jacob Tucker rushed for 113 yards and one touchdown on 29 carries and threw for 178 yards and another TD.
 
UNA junior receiver Dre Hall caught seven passes for 112 yards and one touchdown. It was his fifth 100-yard game of the season, setting a school record, and the 11^th of his career. Hall's TD reception also tied him for the school career record with 23.
 
Shepherd took the opening kickoff and methodically marched 79 yards in 14 plays for the game's first score.
 
The Rams were aided by a roughing-the-passer penalty against UNA that  kept the drive alive after Shepherd had failed to convert on a third down.
 
Shepherd capped the drive with a nine-yard touchdown pass from Jeff Ziemba to Ryan Feiss with 7:09 left in the quarter. Zach Wise added the PAT and the Rams led 7-0.
 
After an exchange of punts, UNA took over at Shepherd's 33-yard line but could only manage a field goal as Kevin Henke connected from 36 yards out to make it 7-3 with 22 seconds left in the quarter.
 
On their next possession, the Lions drove 46 yards in just three plays for UNA's  first touchdown of the day. Jacob Tucker hit Dre Hall with a 34-yard strike and Henke's PAT put UNA on top 10-7 with 13:41  left in the second quarter.
 
North Alabama extended its lead with a nine-play, 63-yard drive that was capped by a five-yard TD run by Tucker. Henke's PAT made it 17-7 with 5:42 left in the half.
 
After a UNA turnover at its own 26-yard line, the Lions defense held and forced a 36-yard Shepherd field goal by Wise. The kick cut UNA's lead to 17-10 with 1:49 left in the second quarter.
 
North Alabama then moved down the field and got its seventh score of the season in the final two minutes of the first half on a 32-yard Henke field goal. The kick extended UNA's lead to 20-10 on the final play of the half.
 
With UNA driving on its second possession of the second half, the Lions turned the ball over after a pass reception and Shepherd turner it into points. The Rams got the ball at their own 48-yard line and drove to the UNA four before Feiss booted a 21-yard field goal. The kick marked the first points allowed in the second half by UNA's defense since October 29, covering more than 149 total scoreless minutes in the second half. The field goal cut UNA's lead to 20-13.

The Division II Championship Game is set for 3 p.m. at Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City.