UNA hits the road to take on Granville State

As if the University of North Alabama football team didn’t have enough incentive to get fired up for this Saturday’s game at Glenville State, the Lions will also have a shot at giving the UNA program its’ 400th collegiate victory.

UNA is unbeaten (1-0), ranked No. 3 nationally in the NCAA Division II and is playing against an opponent from the state of West Virginia for the first time, in West Virginia.

This is UNA’s 62nd season of football competition since the sport was revived at the school in 1949 and the Lions have an all-time 399-238-16 record.

That 399th win came last Saturday in the form of a 27-10 win over Henderson State.

Getting a win this Saturday will be a tough task, however, as Glenville State opened its season with a decisive 44-10 win over West Virginia Tech. The Pioneers gained 420 yards in the contest, while giving up just 168 total yards.

UNA rolled up 439 yards in its opening game, led by quarterback Lee Chapple. The transfer from Georgia Southern threw for 321 yards, becoming the first Lion quarterback in school history to throw for 300 yards or more in his first start at the school.

Receiver Jarmon Fortson was also a force, pulling in six passes for 126 yards and a score. He also had a 13-yard rush and 43 yards on kickoff returns. Defensively, UNA was fierce, holding Henderson State to 38 yards rushing and 274 total yards. Both of HSU’s scores came within the final 2:03 of the first half, and the Reddies were held in check the rest of the night.

The task will also be a tough one for Glenville State as UNA hasn’t lost a regular-season game to a non-GSC school since a 28-21 loss at Pittsburg State on Sept. 2, 2000. That gives the Lions a 12-game regular season winning streak against non-GSC schools.

UNA is 88-28-1 all-time in non-conference games since joining the Gulf South Conference in 1971.

North Alabama is ranked No. 3 in this week’s NCAA Division II poll, moving up one spot from a week ago.