FLORENCE, Ala. (November 1, 2024) – The University of North Alabama football team will host its final home game of the season at Braly Stadium on Saturday, as the Lions welcome Austin Peay for a 4 p.m. kickoff.
This game will serve as "Senior Day" where 14 players will be honored 20 minutes prior to kickoff.
For a list of "things to know" for Saturday's game,
click here.
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
North Alabama vs. Austin Peay
Date: Saturday, November 2
Time: 4:00 p.m.
Location: Florence, Alabama
Stadium: Braly Stadium
Capacity: 14,215
TV: ESPN+ ("Voice of the Lions" Benjamin Ray, Bryan Neece)
Radio: WLX 98.3 / 103.5 FM (Jordan Campbell, Jacob Tucker, Chase Glover)
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Tickets: Click Here
Social Media:
@UNAFootball
UNA Game Notes |
Opponent Game Notes |
UAC Website
NOTABLES
ABOUT THE LIONS: North Alabama is 3-6 overall and 3-2 in conference play, including wins in each of the last two home games. Last time out, the Lions fell 24-19 at No. 10 Central Arkansas. The Lions are allowing the fewest yards per game on defense in the United Athletic Conference with just 353.9 yards per game allowed. UNA also has the second-best run defense and pass defense in the UAC based on yards limited, while also ranking fourth in passing yards per game at 210.6.
ABOUT THE GOVS: Austin Peay is 3-5 overall and 2-3 in conference play, owning wins over West Georgia, Utah Tech and Alabama A&M this season. Last time out, the Govs were edged at home by No. 8 Tarleton State by a 27-17 final in Clarksville. The Govs are second-to-last in the UAC in offense with 20.0 points per game and 321.9 yards per game. Defensively, Austin Peay is seventh in the UAC with 29.0 PPG allowed.
SERIES HISTORY: Saturday will mark the 21st all-time meeting between UNA and Austin Peay. The Lions lead the all-time series with a 13-7 record. The series dates all the way back to 1949, which was UNA's first season as a program. Austin Peay won that game 27-6. However, UNA won 13 of the next 17 meeting from 1950 to 1978. The two renewed the rivalry as conference foes in 2022. Austin Peay has won the last two meetings, including a 38-35 win in 2022 at Braly Stadium and a 49-39 win last season in Clarksville.
BEST MATCHUP ON PAPER: According to the Massey Ratings, this matchup will be the most equal on paper so far this season. The Govs are ranked 49th in the power rankings, while the Lions are 55th. UNA also has the 23rd toughest schedule according to Massey, while Austin Peay is 36th. There are 129 teams in FCS, as both teams are in the top half.
SENIOR DAY: UNA will honor 14 seniors during pre-game, which will begin around 3:40 p.m. The group of seniors includes
Kam'ron Green,
TJ Smith,
Jackson Bratton,
Rush Lansdell,
Logan Collier,
Gregory Reddick,
Kobe Warden,
Marlon Krakue, AJ Phillips,
Caleb McDougle,
Scott Payne,
Sam Contorno,
Mickel Clay and
Kaleb Brown. Two other seniors were honored last season and will not be part of the ceremony this season —
Takairee Kenebrew and
Dakota Warfield.
WHAT'S ON THE LINE?: This week, UNA will look to end the year on a three-game home win streak at Braly Stadium. A win would improve the Lions to 4-2 in conference play with just two games remaining. The Lions have not finished above .500 in conference play since 2017, which was the final year of Division II in the Gulf South Conference.
LAST TIME OUT: The Lions will look to remedy a tough loss at No. 10 Central Arkansas last week, where the Bears held on for a 24-19 win at Estes Stadium in Conway, Ark. The Lions led 13-10 at halftime, but were plagued by five turnovers, including four in the second half. On a positive note, the UNA defense and special teams shined as the Lions limited UCA to a season-low 56 rushing yards and limited the top punt returner in the UAC, Trejan Bridges, to negative-six yards.
NOWHERE TO GO: Entering last week, former Lion and current Central Arkansas running back ShunDerrick Powell had at least 126 rushing yards in all seven games. However, the Lions limited Powell to just 64 all-purpose yards including 70 rushing and negative-six receiving. He is now the third-ranked rusher in FCS with 1,177 total yards.
SPECIAL TEAM NOTABLES: The Lions had perhaps their best special teams effort last week at Central Arkansas, including a UAC Specialist of the Week honor for junior kick returner
Justin Luke. He became the first UNA kick returner with over 100 yards in a game since 2019, bolstered by an 82-yard sprint to set up a red zone touchdown. Additionally,
Caleb McDougle blocked a punt for the first time since 2021.
JERRY RICE WATCH LIST: UNA had two players named to the Jerry Rice Award watch list last week in freshman linebacker
Josh Anglin and freshman running back
Jalen Fletcher. The national award is given each year to the top freshman in FCS football. Past winners include NFL players Cooper Kupp, Trey Lance and Chase Edmonds, as well as Heisman contenders Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders. UNA was the only team with two players on the 30-player list this year.
TEAM OF THE WEEK: Two weeks ago, UNA was honored as the Stats Perform FCS Team of the Week following a 47-34 win over No. 10 ranked Abilene Christian. This is the second time UNA has won the national award. The first recognition came in 2018 following a 34-30 win over Southern Utah, which was the first win at the Division I level in school history.
KENEBREW MILESTONE WATCH: Seventh-year wide receiver
Takairee Kenebrew is the all-time record holder at UNA with 29 touchdown catches, including three this season. He also ranks third on the all-time receiving yard list with 2,316 yards, trailing Dre Hall (3,144) and UNA Hall of Famer Michael Edwards (2,844). Kenebrew is also ninth in all-time catches. With three more catches, he will move up to fourth all-time ahead of Lion legends DeMarcus Blount, Cortez Hall, Anthony Merritt and Lee Mayhall.
MOVING THE CHAINS: UNA ranks 20th in the country with 179 first downs this season. Abilene Christian leads the UAC with 192, while Idaho leads the nation with 218.
NEXT ON THE DOCKET: The Lions hit the road next week to face Southern Utah. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. CT in Cedar City, Utah.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
