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FLORENCE, Ala. -- The University of North Alabama football team will close out the home portion of its 2022 schedule on Saturday when the Lions host Tennessee Tech at Braly Stadium at 4:00 p.m.

Although the season has been a struggle for the Lions to this point, with numerous close calls and near misses, the UNA offense has given its fans a reason to be excited week after week.

UNA boasts its best rushing attack since 2013, averaging 209 yards per game on the ground. The Lions rank 23rd in the FCS in rushing offense.

That ground game is led by sophomore running back ShunDerrick Powell, who leads the FCS in rushing touchdowns and total touchdowns. He is also the second leading rusher in the nation.

Having already broken the school record for rushing yards in a regular season, Powell is now just 144 yards behind Tyrone Rush's single season mark of 1,466 that he set in a 14-game season in 1993 that included four NCAA playoff games.
    
Powell seems to especially likes playing at home at Braly Stadium. In his three home games this season, Powell has rushed for a combined 676 yards and nine touchdowns. He has performances of 251, 218 and 207 yards in those three games respectively.
    
Powell's list of 17 touchdown scored this season also includes 10 runs from 30 yards or longer.
    
Give credit to a UNA offensive line that has battled injuries this season but has continued to get better as the season has progressed.
    
Sophomore Fau Tai'Vai and junior Stevie Young are newcomers who have been huge additions to a group of veterans that includes Cam Watson, A.J. Vang, Nathan Brown and
    
Also impressive about UNA's offense is that its young leaders, Powell and true freshman quarterback Noah Walters, are both on watch lists for prestigious national awards. Walters is on the watch list for the Jerry Rice Award, presented to the FCS Freshman of the Year.  Powell is on the watch list for the Walter Payton Award as the FCS National Player of the Year.
    
Saturday, UNA faces a Tennessee Tech team that brings a 3-6 record to Braly Stadium.

The Golden Eagles are averaging just 23.4 points per game on offense and are allowing 433.9 yards per contest.

Tennessee Tech quarterback Jeremiah Oatsvall is a dual threat, having thrown for 1,899 yards and 17 touchdowns and rushed for 378 yards and three scores.
    
The two schools have not met since 1959, with TTU holding a 4-2-1 advantage in the seven previous meetings between 1953-59.

On Saturday, the Lions will also honor 10 senior members of the football team who will be playing their final home game at Braly Stadium. The group led UNA through its four year transition to Division I and the Football Championship Subdivision, as well as this first season as a full Division I member. That list of senior honorees includes defensive back Terrell Bailey, offensive lineman Christian Barnes, defensive back Jeffery Battle, long snapper Brett Burton, punter Jacob Enns, defensive back Kyree Fields, wide receiver Cortez Hall, tight end Corson Swan, offensive lineman A.J. Vang and offensive lineman Cam Watson.

The Lions will close their 2022 season next Saturday with a meeting with Memphis at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium.
    
It will be UNA's first game against an FBS opponent since playing at Liberty, Southern Mississippi and BYU in the COVID shortened 2020 season.