Lions Football earns another winning season

JR Tidwell Sports Editor

<span style=

“font-size: 14pt;”>Terry Bowden has completed his second season as

head coach of the UNA Lions football team. The Lions ended the

season Nov. 27 in nearly the same fashion as they did in the 2009

season.

<span style=

“font-size: 14pt;”>         The Lions have had a

winning record in both seasons under Bowden. The final record in

2009 was 11-2, where this year UNA finished the season 9-4. The

Lions also experienced a similar end to the year as in the 2009

season; losing in the NCAA Division II playoffs to a team that was

previously beaten in the regular season.

<span style=

“font-size: 14pt;”>         In 2009 UNA had a

first-round bye, and then defeated the Arkansas Tech University

Wonder Boys 41-28 Nov. 21. The Lions lost to the Carson Newman, a

team they beat 31-14 earlier that year, 24-21 the following

week.

<span style=

“font-size: 14pt;”>         The 2010 season ended in

the second round of the playoffs, this time with UNA being put out

by the Delta State Statesmen 47-24. The Lions defeated the rival

Statesmen 31-7 just 31 days earlier, but such is the nature of

rivals and the competition in the Gulf South Conference.

<span style=

“font-size: 14pt;”>         While a loss in the second

round of the playoffs may not have been the Lions’ goal, they still

had a great year statistically. UNA outscored its opponents 378-191

during the 2010 season. The Lions averaged 29.1 points per game

while only allowing opponents an average of 14.7 points per game.

All told, UNA’s offense ran 868 plays, picking up 4,756 yards,

which comes out to an average of 5.5 yards per play and 365.8 yards

per game.

<span style=

“font-size: 14pt;”> The Lions gained 1,996 yards on

the ground over 435 rushing attempts for an average of 3.7 yards

per rush and 124.8 rushing yards per game, while picking up 24

touchdowns. UNA totaled 3,133 yards through the air and 21 passing

touchdowns. The Lions averaged 7.1 yards per pass, 11.9 yards per

catch, and 241 yards per game.

<span style=

“font-size: 14pt;”>Quarterback Lee Chapple threw 253 completions on

411 passing attempts for 3,051 yards and 21 touchdowns with 12

interceptions, averaging 234.7 yards per game. He ended the season

with a passer efficiency rating of 134.94 and a 61.6 completion

percentage. Chapple also set a UNA single-game record with his

447-yard passing performance against Glenville State Sept.

11.

<span style=

“font-size: 14pt;”>Donald Bowens, Tim Hawthorne, Jarmon Fortson,

Charles McClain and Jusmon Rivers were the top five receivers for

UNA in 2010. Bowens caught 38 passes for 465 yards and three

touchdowns. Hawthorne made 33 receptions for 534 yards and three

touchdowns. Fortson caught 32 passes, picked up 553 yards, and

scored five touchdowns. McClain reeled in 32 passes while picking

up 306 yards and three touchdowns. Rivers had 22 receptions for 287

yards and one touchdown. 

<span style=

“font-size: 14pt;”>The three biggest rushers for the Lions during

the 2010 season were Wes Holland, Chris Coffey and Antwan Ivey.

Holland gained a net total of 716 yards and seven touchdowns on 132

attempts, averaging 5.4 yards per carry and 55.1 yards per game.

Coffey netted 467 yards on 96 attempts with nine touchdowns, an

average of 4.9 yards per carry. Ivey finished the season with 414

net rushing yards on 93 attempts for an average of 4.5 yards per

carry, while picking up four touchdowns.

<span style=

“font-size: 14pt;”>UNA scored 49 touchdowns total during the 2010

season. The Lions’ leading scorer of the season was kicker Josh

Montgomery, who hit 12 of 14 field goals and made 45 of 48 points

after attempts for 81 points.

<span style=

“font-size: 14pt;”>On the defensive side of the ball, Chad Daniel

made five interceptions, Brent Vinson picked off three passes and

returned one for a touchdown, Hilliard Foster made three

interceptions, Darnell Jackson intercepted two passes, and Bryan

Thomas made two picks while returning one for a touchdown. Thomas

also took a fumble recovery to the end zone for another touchdown

on the season. Courtney Harris led the team in sacks with 10 with

Steven Wesley making five. Inversely, Wesley led the team in

tackles for loss with 14 while Harris had

13.  

<span style=

“font-size: 14pt;”>        

<span style=

“font-size: 14pt;”>