FARGO, N.D. –Playing its third straight road game and facing defending national champion and No. 1 ranked North Dakota State, the University of North Alabama had two crucial turnovers and could only muster 210 total yards on offense as the Lions lost 38-7 to the Bison.
 
The loss was the first of the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) era for UNA and drops the Lions' record to 2-1. North Dakota State improved to 2-0 with the win.
 
North Alabama trailed 38-0 in the fourth quarter before the Lions went on an 11-play, 75-yard drive for its only score of the day. Back-up quarterback Chris Weaver hit Dexter Boykin with a 23-yard TD pass and Chandler Carrera's PAT made it 38-7 with just 1:34 left in the game.
 
UNA's score helped the Lions avoid being shutout for the first time since 2010. UNA has currently scored in 90 straight games.
 
UNA trailed just 17-0 at the half but allowed three second half TDs with one coming on an interception return for a touchdown.
 
NDSU finished with 366 total yards, rushing for 174 and passing for 192. UNA has 210 total yards with 108 passing and 102 rushing. The Lions were just 12-of-25 passing. Damon Cox led UNA's ground attack with 13 carries for 57 yards and Terence Humphrey had 11 carries for 48 yards.
 
North Alabama's defense got a stop on NDSU's first possession of the game but the Bison began their next possession at the UNA three yard line after punter Joe Gurley was unable to pull in a high snap. The Bison scored two plays later on a one-yard run by Bruce Anderson and Cam Pederson added the PAT to make it 7-0 at 9:33 of the first quarter.
 
A long pass from Easton Stick to Dallas Freeman set up the next NDSU score. Stick hit Darrius Shepherd with an 18-yard pass and Pedersen's kick made it 14-0 at 9:20 of the second period.
 
The final score of the half came after a goal-line stand by the Lions at their own two that forced NDSU to settle for a 20-yard Pedersen field goal. The kick made it 17-0 with just 53 seconds remaining in the half.
 
North Alabama was held to 66 total yards in the half. NDSU had 182, with 102 coming on two passes from Stick to Freeman.
 
North Dakota State added to its lead midway through the third quarter as Stick scored on a six-yard run with 6:27 remaining in the period. Pedersen's PAT extended the Bison lead to 24-0.
 
UNA's backup quarterback Chris Weaver was picked off early in the fourth quarter and NDSU's Jabril Cox returned it 43 yards for a touchdown. Pedersen's PAT made it 31-0 with 13:38 left in the game.
 
NDSU back-up quarterback Trey Lance scored on a 44-yard run with 7:52 left in the game and Jake Reinholz's kick made it 38-0.
 
North Alabama plays its first home game of the season next Saturday, Sept. 22, against Azusa Pacific at Braly Stadium at 6 p.m.