HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (August 29, 2026) – The University of North Alabama football team met up with in-state rival Samford on Saturday in Huntsville, as the Lions completed a 22-10 victory over the Bulldogs in the Story Financial Partners Bowl at Joe Davis Stadium.
The Lions (1-0) collected their first season-opening win since 2019, using a record-breaking defensive performance and nearly 400 yards of offense to cruise past Samford (0-1).
The defense allowed just 237 yards of offense, including negative-eight yards rushing. This marks the first time a UNA defense allowed negative net rushing yards in the Division I level. It also marks the fewest allowed since 2014 with -23 against Western Oregon.
The defense also set FCS-era school records with 13 tackles for loss, -58 yards lost on those tackles and tied the record of six sacks. Offensively, the UNA offensive line allowed just two sacks.
After a scoreless first quarter, UNA struck gold with a 95-yard pass from redshirt junior Destin Wade to redshirt freshman Xavier Johnson with 8:44 left in the half. This broke UNA's all-time record for longest pass in school history, last set in 1997 by Travis Carswell and James Moore at 94 yards.
On the next drive, Samford started on its own 10 yard line and later took an 11-yard sack for a safety. Defensive edge rushers Avery Howard and Kamore Harris teamed up to bring down Samford quarterback Gabarri Johnson on third down. Harris wreaked havoc all night for Samford, recording three hurries.
Samford made it 9-7 with an 86-yard touchdown pass to Marquise Henderson with 4:19 remaining, but UNA extended the lead to 16-7 before the break with a touchdown plunge by redshirt sophomore Roderick Taylor Jr. with 21 seconds to go.
The UNA defense was nearly unstoppable in the second half, giving up just three points and 83 total yards, including negative-three rushing. Meanwhile, the Lions added a fourth quarter touchdown for good measure with a one-yard rush from redshirt junior Ty Watkins.
Tonight marked the first career touchdowns for Watkins and Johnson and the second for Taylor.
Wade engineered the offense with 13-for-19 passing for 229 yards and a touchdown. Wade and the Lions did not have any turnovers. Redshirt sophomore Jalen Fletcher was the leading rusher with 11 carries for 79 yards.
Johnson was the leading receiver with five catches for 129 yards and a touchdown. Johnson becomes the 12th Lion to record a 100-yard receiving game at the Division I level.
Defensively, UNA had a total effort with 20 players recording at least one tackle, including 13 with multiple. Sophomore defensive edge Cayden Adkins and redshirt sophomore Anthony Young led the way with five tackles, including two sacks from Adkins. Six other players had four tackles, including four tackles and two sacks from redshirt freshman Tae Martin.
Making his UNA debut, redshirt junior transfer Kanijal Thomas recorded four tackles and came down with an interception as time expired. Thomas came to UNA from Kansas State.
UNA improved to 43-31-4 in season openers, starting 1-0 for the first time since defeating Western Illinois 26-17 in 2019. UNA also improves to 134-77-7 against teams from Alabama, including 7-4-2 against Samford.
Before tonight, UNA's last win against an in-state opponent came in 2018 against Alabama A&M.
This marked the first college football game at Joe Davis Stadium since the renovations in 2014, while marking the third since the facility was built for the Huntsville Stars minor league team in 1985. UNA played Alabama A&M there in 1985 and won 6-3 — improving to 2-0 at the facility.
COMING UP NEXT
The Lions will hit the road next week for an SEC showdown against Arkansas. Kickoff is set for 3:15 p.m. on SEC Network. This will be UNA's first SEC opponent since Vanderbilt in 1959.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
