Box Score
FLORENCE, ALA. – Third-ranked North Alabama scored touchdowns on five of its first six possessions and downed Harding 41-14 on Thursday at Braly Municipal Stadium. The game was the Gulf South Conference opener for both teams and was the first of nine games in the GSC-TV Game of the Week package.
North Alabama (2-0, 1-0) completely controlled the action in the first half, collecting 364 of their 504 total yards and 19 of their 26 first downs before the break. Harding (1-2, 0-1) dropped its second consecutive game and returns to First Security Field on Saturday, Sept. 23, to take on Arkansas-Monticello at 6 p.m.
The Lions scored the game’s first 34 points before the Bisons got on the scoreboard. UNA starting quarterback A.J. Milwee passed for one touchdown and rushed for another in the first quarter. He left the game with an injury, but reserve signal caller Dusty Goodwin threw touchdown passes on each of his first two drives. Jason Messing caught UNA’s final touchdown pass of the first half on a reverse pass from Lion All-America wide receiver Anthony Merritt.
Harding’s scoring drive began on its on 21-yard line with four minutes remaining before the break. The Bisons picked up five of their nine first-half first downs on the drive as Kurt Adams made his first career reception for 14 yards and quarterback David Knighton rushed for 22 yards to the UNA 11. On the next play, Knighton completed his eighth touchdown pass of the season to tight end Jonathan Paulson, who made his first scoring reception.
Harding came into the game with the GSC’s leading rusher (Wess), passer (Knighton), and receiver (Link) but could not muster a sustained offensive attack against North Alabama defense, especially in the first half.
Senior running back Kyle Wess rushed 15 times for 50 yards. Knighton completed 13-of-31 passes for 167 yards, but suffered numerous drops by his receivers. Junior wide out Devin Link had only three catches for 10 yards. Knighton set career highs with 15 carries and 47 rushing yards.
Both of Harding’s drives in the third quarter ended deep in North Alabama territory. The Lions stopped the Bisons on the 1-yard line on the first series and at the 13-yard line on the next possession.
The Bisons finally broke through again early in the fourth quarter, as Knighton hit senior wide receiver Darrick Ware on a slant route on 4th-and-2 at the UNA 43. Ware caught the pass and beat his defender for a 43-yard score, his first touchdown of the season and third of his career.
Harding’s defense stiffened after the break, forcing three UNA punts and limiting the Lions to only 140 yards. UNA reached the end zone for the only time in the second half with 2:25 remaining in the game. Goodwin threw his third touchdown pass of the game, a two-yard toss to Marcus Lewis.
Merritt had 98 yards on four kick returns, but had only two receptions for 12 yards.
The Bisons finished the game with 20 first downs and 288 total yards.
For the Harding defense, Sevohn Greer, Justin Currie, and Robert Towns each had seven tackles.
