Florence EKU
Drew Barton
32
Winner Eastern Kentucky EKU 2-3 , 1-0
22
North Alabama UNA 2-4 , 0-2
Winner
Eastern Kentucky EKU
2-3 , 1-0
32
Final
22
North Alabama UNA
2-4 , 0-2
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
EKU Eastern Kentucky 15 14 0 3 32
UNA North Alabama 7 0 7 8 22

Game Recap: Football |

Missed red zone opportunities hurt Lions against EKU

North Alabama posts 560 yards of offense in setback; most single game passing yards since 2019

FLORENCE, Ala. (September 30, 2023) – North Alabama Football moved the ball well in its game against Eastern Kentucky on Saturday at Braly Stadium, but was plagued by untimely penalties, turnovers and a pair of failed red zone opportunities in a 32-22 setback.
 
The Lions totaled 560 yards of offense on 89 plays — just three yards short of a season-high — in a seemingly balanced attack, despite a shortage in the run game. Meanwhile, EKU did most of its scoring in the first half and did enough defensively in the second half to maintain the lead.  
 
Though down 29-7 heading into the second half, the Lions began to show life with a touchdown pass from TJ Smith to Dakota Warfield. In the fourth quarter, the Lions had two chances to cut the lead to one possession, but both opportunities ended in red zone turnovers via a fumble and interception. A late field goal by EKU made it a three-possession game with 7:27 remaining and UNA ran out of time to close the gap.
 
The Lions threw for 425 yards, the most passing production since 2019 against Gardner-Webb which set the school's single-game FCS era record at 446 passing yards. UNA had two receivers total over 100 yards with Takairee Kenebrew and David Florence combining for 230 receiving yards.
 
With the loss, UNA dips to 2-4 overall and 0-2 in United Athletic Conference play. Meanwhile, EKU improves to 2-3 overall by winning their first-ever UAC league game. Both teams are among the nation's leaders in strength of schedule.
 
Tonight's Homecoming attendance was 11,340 — marking one of the highest-attended games of UNA's FCS era. The highest remains at 12,767 against Alabama A&M in 2019.
 

HOW IT HAPPENED
 
FIRST QUARTER
 
EKU 8, UNA 0: The Colonels started with possession and used a 60 yard pass from Parker McKinney to Hunter Brown to get in the red zone on the first play. Two plays later, McKinney kept a read option and ran to the left side, breaking a tackle en route to the end zone. On the point after attempt, EKU used a trick play for a two point conversion.
 
EKU 15, UNA 0: The Lions punted from midfield and flipped field position to EKU's own 11 yard line, but the Colonels drove 86 yards on six plays. The drive was expedited by a 40 yard pass from McKinney to leading target Jaden Smith.
 
EKU 15, UNA 7: UNA stumbled out of the gates, but found its footing on its second drive of the day as Noah Walters hit Takairee Kenebrew on a strike over the right side. Kenebrew caught the pass in stride at the 14 yard line and beat two defenders to the pylon for the score. The Sam Contorno extra point made it 15-7.
 
 
SECOND QUARTER
 
EKU 22, UNA 7: UNA punted on the first play of the second quarter — a 48 yarder down to the EKU 10. The Colonels proceeded to drive 90 yards on nine plays for their third score of the game, capped by a four-yard run by Joshua Carter. Carter rushed seven times on the nine-play drive, totaling 53 yards.
 
EKU 29, UNA 7: The Colonels stopped a promising UNA drive with a batted pass and interception by the defense, then extended the lead with a 44 yard pass on 3rd-and-4 to Braedon Sloan down the visiting sideline.
 
 
THIRD QUARTER
 
EKU 29, UNA 14: The second half started slow for UNA, but was sparked by an interception by Shaun Myers on 3rd-and-2 to rush some momentum back to the gold. From there, the Lions proceeded to produce an 11 play drive — starting with an 11 yard run by Dennis Moody and ending with a one yard pass from TJ Smith to Dakota Warfield on a rollout pass.
 
FOURTH QUARTER
 
EKU 32, UNA 14: A couple of redzone turnovers prevented the Lions from scoring — one fumble and one interception. EKU took advantage of the latter with a nine play, 59 yard drive that ended with a 28 yard field goal from Patrick Nations.
 
EKU 32, UNA 22: UNA strung together an impressive nine play drive that went 92 yards late in the fourth quarter, pulling back within 10 points with 1:44 remaining. Scoring his first career touchdown at UNA, JJ Evans caught a three-yard pass from Walters. A two point converstion pass to David Florence was successful. The Lions attempted an onside kick, but did not recover.
 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
  • Takairee Kenebrew scored his fifth touchdown of the season on Saturday, moving into third place on the all-time career touchdown receptions list ahead of UNA Hall of Famer Michael Edwards. He needs two to tie Jason Messing (2004-07) for second and four to tie Dre Hall (2013-16) for first all-time.
  • Kenebrew led the receiving corps with 121 yards, while teammate David Florence totaled 109 yards. The duo did both their totals on five catches apiece. 
  • Noah Walters led the passing game with 21 completions on 33 passes for 348 yards and two scores. TJ Smith helped out with 10-of-15 passing for 77 yards and a score.
  • The Lions were a rushing-by-committee type team tonight with eight players recording a carry. Walters led the group with 56 yards, including a long of 34, while receiver-turned-running back Demarcus Lacey had 11 carries for 43 yards. Three running backs, two quarterbacks, an H-back and two receivers accounted for the touches.
  • Defensively, Edwin White Schultz went above his impressive season-average with 11 tackles, giving him 61 tackles through six games. Seven of the tackles were solo. Gregory Reddick — the second-leading tackler both tonight and on the season — added eight tackles.
  • Entering tonight, the Lions had 12 gained turnovers through five games to rank among the nation's leaders in FCS, adding two more tonight with interceptions from Shaun Myers and Gregory Reddick.
  • On the flip side, turnovers were costly for UNA, as the Lions lost two fumbles and two interceptions — one of each happened near the goal line. The EKU defense also totaled five sacks and totaled negative-52 yards on tackles for loss.
  • UNA entered the contest with the second-most first down conversions in the nation with 130, adding 30 more to that total tonight. EKU had just 18 first downs. 
  • UNA also ran significantly more plays than EKU with an 89-57 difference. EKU averaged 8.1 yards per play, mostly on the ground, while UNA averaged 6.3 yards per play. The Lions also had more time with possession — 32:56 to 27:04.
  • One stat that hurt UNA tonight was penalties, as the Lions suffered eight penalties for 74 yards. EKU only had three penalties for 35 yards.
  • Both teams struggled on third down with just three conversions each, but UNA went 5-7 on fourth down to move the chains. EKU did not attempt a fourth down conversion. 
  • The Lions now have an all-time record of 482-302-16.
 
COMING UP NEXT
 
After six straight Saturdays of football — dating back to Week 0 in August — the Lions will get their first of two bye weeks this coming weekend. UNA returns to action on Saturday, Oct. 14 at Abilene Christian.
 
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. 
 
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