BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (August 30, 2025) – The University of North Alabama football team opened the historic 2025 season Saturday with perhaps the toughest test of the season, falling 55-6 to FBS opponent Western Kentucky at Houchens-Smith Stadium in Bowling Green.
For the first time since 2020 and just the second time ever, UNA opened the regular season against an FBS opponent. The other opponent was Liberty, another member of Conference USA.
UNA won the coin toss and deferred to the second half. On the opening drive of the season, the North Alabama defense forced WKU into a three-and-out, but a muffed punt allowed the Hilltoppers to take over in the redzone. George Hart III finished a four-play drive with a one-yard rush.
The Lions answered with a pair of field goals on their first two offensive drives, both made by Auburn transfer Ian Vachon. The former Madison Academy standout nailed a 25-yarder and a 47-yarder to make it 7-6 late in the first quarter. The 47-yarder was the longest UNA field goal since August 29, 2019 — six years ago from yesterday — when Joe Gurley made a 48-yarder against Western Illinois.
However, WKU took command with four touchdowns in the second quarter and remained ahead. Despite the loss, UNA head coach Brent Dearmon found a number of positives to take back into FCS competition next week.
"There's a lot of bright spots," Dearmon said. "We had sustained drives early on in this football game we got to finish. We didn't have a turnover on offense…our guys never quit. We have to shore up some things. We've got to find a rhythm and stay with that rhythm the whole game. I have a great feeling this team will get better from week one to week two."
Making his first start since the third game of last season, graduate quarterback Ari Patu got the start and completed 11-of-20 passes for 86 yards. Redshirt sophomore Destin Wade added five completions for 19 yards.
Senior receiver Justin Pegues led the receiving corps with five catches for 52 yards. Wade and Patu combined for 66 rushing yards, while running backs Jayvian Allen and Jalyn Daniels rushed for 29 yards apiece.
Linebacker Demarcious Robinson led the defense with seven tackles, while defensive back Brian Dilworth had six. Dilworth, senior cornerback Jermaine Ray Jr. and junior linebacker Seth Hampton tied for the team lead with four solo tackles. On the line, redshirt senior E.J. Colbert added one tackle for loss and Fred Vili had both a hurry and a pass breakup.
The Lions are back on the road next Saturday at Southeast Missouri. Kickoff from Cape Girardeau is set for 6 p.m.
The Lions and Redhawks played last season at the FCS Kickoff in Montgomery, which marked the first meeting since 1956. Like UNA, SEMO opened the season with an FBS road trip at Arkansas State.
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