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FLORENCE, Ala. -- Although the University of North Alabama made its decision to move to NCAA Division I and Football Championship (FCS) Subdivision Football in 2016, and have followed with a four-year transition period, Saturday's game at Braly Stadium against Virgiia-Wise will be the first for a Lion football squad as a full Division I member.

Kickoff is set for 6:00 p.m.

With the ability to now compete for FCS post-season playoff opportunities for the first time, and playing for the first time as a member of the ASUN Conference, the Lions are set to begin to restore the rich UNA football traditions that they have enjoyed for most of the 74 years of the programs existence.

Entering their home opener, the Lions are coming off a heart-breaking road loss at Indiana State, falling 17-14 in overtime. UNA had rallied to tie the game in the final minute and force the extra period, but an errant snap with the team perched on the ISU seven-yard line cost the Lions a final scoring opportunity.

This week, UNA will host its first Division II opponent since 2018 in the Virginia-Wise Cavaliers. The Lions faced 27 straight Division I opponents, either FCS or FBS, since 2019.

This will North Alabama's first game against Virginia-Wise, not only in football, but in any sport. The Cavaliers are coming off a 41-9 trouncing of Division III Ferrum College last Thursday.

"As far as our team, we have to look at ourselves and control what we can control," said UNA head football coach Chris Willis. "We feel like we let one get away last week and we all have a bad taste in our mouths that we want to correct.

"On the flip side, we are facing a highly motivated team that is 1-0 and plays hard on both sides of the ball. There is no pressure on them, playing up against an FCS team, so they can just turn it loose. I've been there with this program during the transition, playing FBS schools. They will be highly motivated.

"We respect all of our opponents and we will have to be ready to go against a good team," Willis added.

UNA is 6-2 all-time against schools from the state of Virginia. The Lions are 3-1 against Hampton, 0-1 vs. Liberty, 1-0 against Virginia State and 2-0 against Virginia Union.

North Alabama's offense struggled in the first half last week but still led 7-6 over Indiana State at halftime, thanks to a ShunDerrick Powell touchdown run set up by a Terrell Bailey interception.

The UNA defense kept the Lions in the game, stopping the Sycamores on three drives inside the 10-yard line and forcing field goals. The defense also handed UNA three turnovers,

True freshman quarterback Noah Walters came into the game in the fourth quarter and helped to eventually send the game to overtime with a 10-yard TD pass to Corson Swan in the final minute.  

Walters is now slated to start Saturday's game, making him the first true freshman quarterback to start a game for the Lions since Luke Wingo in 2012.

This is the first of just four home games here at Braly Stadium this fall. UNA has an all-time 274-123-8 record all-time at home.

The Lions fifth home game on October 15 will be played at Toyota Field in Madison, Ala., when UNA will host Jacksonville State at the home of the Rocket City Trash Pandas.