With just two weeks left in the regular season, the Lions focus is on the Gulf South Conference race which is as confusing and cluttered as when the season began. Five schools are still in contention for the conference championship, including UNA and it’s Saturday opponent, West Alabama.

Both teams are still in the hunt for a league title and an NCAA playoff berth. Both teams’ hopes would also be dealt a fatal blow with another loss.

There are also many sub-plots in this game beyond post-season implications.

Former UNA Head Coach Bobby Wallace will be returning to Braly Stadium for the third time since he left the Lions following the 1997 season. He and his Tigers lost 49-20 on his first game back at Braly, but then upset the then No. 1 ranked UNA Lions 31-28 in four overtimes last season.

Wallace led UNA to NCAA Division II National Championships in 1993, 1994 and 1995 and had an 82-36-1 record with the Lions from 1988-1997. He will be inducted into the Division II Football Hall of Fame in Florence on December 17.

This will be the 63rd meeting between North Alabama and West Alabama. UNA holds a commanding 46-15-1 lead in the all-time series. UWA is the only program that UNA has faced in every season since the Lions restored their football program in 1949.