FLORENCE, Ala. – Chandler Carrera kicked a 44-yard field goal with 1:24 left in the game to give North Alabama a 31-28 lead and A.J. Bracey picked off a pass with just seven seconds left to seal the win as the Lions closed their 2018 season with a 31-28 win over North Greenville.
 
North Greenville tied the game at 28-28 with 3:13 left in the game and North Alabama then drove to the NGU 27-yard line before Carrera came on to kick the game winner.
 
The win gives North Alabama a 7-3 record and a four-game winning streak to close its first season in Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).
 
North Greenville closed its season at 4-6.
 
North Alabama had 443 total yards with 84 rushing and 359 passing. UNA turned the ball over twice in the game, snapping a three-game streak without a turnover. Quarterback Christian Lopez threw his first interception since the opening game of the season, snapping a streak of 253 consecutive passes without an interception. The pick also snapped an streak of 289 consecutive plays from scrimmage without a turnover. The Lions also fumbled away a punt return but UNA closed the season with just nine turnovers for the year, setting a new school record.
 
UNA scored first with a safety at 4:42 of the first quarter on a tackle by Christon Taylor in the end zone.
 
Carrera then booted a 33-yard field goal to make it 5-0 at 1:49 of the first.
 
NGU's J.M. Norman broke open down the middle of the field and raced 50 yards to the end zone for a touchdown with 39 seconds left in the first quarter and William Lwason's extra point gave the Crusaders a 7-5 lead.
 
North Alabama regained the lead at 12:07 of the second quarter on a one-yard Damon Cox touchdown run that capped a two-play, 39-yard drive. Carrera's PAT gave UNA a 12-7 advantage.
 
North Greenville took its second lead of the day just before the half when Donnie Baker threw a 24-yard TD pass to Demajiat Rooks. The PAT made it 14-12 with 30 seconds left in the second period.
 
North Alabama scored on its first possession of the second half on a four-yard Cox TD run but the try for two failed. UNA led 18-14 at 12:54 of the third quarter.
 
A 26-yard Carrera field goal at 1:15 of the third quarter pushed the advantage to 21-14 and NGU tied it with 14:53 left in the game on a 36-yard run by Baker.
 
A one-yard Chris Weaver run at 7:21 of the fourth gave UNA a 28-21 lead before North Greenville tied it again with 3:13 left.
 
Lopez was 21-of-34 for 321 yards for UNA. Cortez Hall had his second consecutive 100-yard receiving game with 115 yards on six catches and Cox rushed for 68 yards on 15 plays.