FLORENCE, Ala. -- This Saturday's college football game between the University of North Alabama Lions and the Jacksonville State University Gamecocks is a historical meeting on several levels.

Historically, it is the 50th all-time meeting between the two cross-state rivals.

It also marks the first collegiate football game played at Toyota Field, and in the city of Madison. The diamond of the Rocket City Trash Pandas has been flipped to a gridiron, and all offensive plays will be headed in the same direction, toward the first base dugout on the converted baseball field.
 
Gates will open at 3:00 p.m., and kickoff for this unique sporting environment is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.

Presented by MartinFed, this game is the result of a partnership between UNA, Toyota Field, the Rocket City Trash Pandas, the City of Madison and the Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB).

"We're expecting a great atmosphere," said UNA head football coach Chris Willis. "The logistics of the game will be a little different, but they'll be the same for both teams so we'll have to make some adjustments.

"This is a battle between two state schools with great traditions and this game means a lot to both of us," Willis added. "Jacksonville State is off to a good start and we're coming in searcing for another win. I like our effort and the way we competed last week through four quarters and overtime. We just have to find a way to close out games."

Jacksonville State brings a 5-1 record into the contest.

North Alabama is 1-4 but has held leads in four of its five games, including last Saturday when the Lions fell 40-34 in two overtimes at Kennesaw State, despite holding leads in the fourth quarter and overtime.

JSU had the weekend off, giving the Gamecocks two weeks to prepare for the Lions after they knocked off Kennesaw State at home in overtime.

For North Alabama, the series with JSU dates back to the Lions' first game in 1949 when football was reinstated at the school.

Over the last 49 meetings, there have been regular season battles for conference championships, NCAA playoff meetings, upsets and history-making contests. From 1992 to 1995, the two schools combined to win four straight NCAA Division II National Championships, with JSU taking top honors in 1992, followed by North Alabama winning three straight from 1993 to 1995.

This game will be the only meeting between the two schools as ASUN Conference members.

Jacksonville is awarding FBS level scholarships this fall and the Gamecocks are therefore ineligible to compete for the ASUN Conference Championship or an FCS playoff berth. JSU will be moving to Conference USA in 2023.

On the flip side, North Alabama is in its first season as a full Division I member of the FCS after a four-year transition.

Led by true-freshman quarterback Noah Walters and sophomore running back ShunDerrick Powell, UNA has plenty of big-play capability on offense. Walters has already thrown four touchdown passes of 60 yards or more this season. Powell, who is ranked in the Top Ten nationally in the FCS in seven categories, has scored nine touchdowns, with five of them coming from more than 30 yards out.

Defensively, the Lions started the season strong but have struggled the last three weeks.

UNA is among the national leaders in turnover margin this season at a plus-three through five weeks.

As the Lions move into the second half of their season, this is the second of five consecutive ASUN Conference games for UNA.