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The University

of North Alabama football team lost to Delta State in the second

round of the NCAA Division II playoffs by a score of 47-24.  The

loss ends the Lions’ season with a record of 9-4.

<p class="MsoNormal" style=

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“font-size: 14pt; font-family: Times;”>UNA advanced to the second

round of the playoffs following a 43-20 thrashing of Valdosta State

in the opening round.  The Lions looked great on both sides of the

day, avenging the 5-0 defeat the Blazers handed the Lions earlier

in the season.  

<p class="MsoNormal" style=

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“font-size: 14pt; font-family: Times;”>The second round game

against DSU would be quite the opposite, as UNA was never able to

establish any offense and the defense could not find a way to slow

the DSU offense as the Statesmen avenged the 31-7 beating the Lions

put on them earlier this season.

<p class="MsoNormal" style=

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“font-size: 14pt; font-family: Times;”>It took the Statesmen just

two plays to score on their opening possession following a 52-yard

punt return by Brandon Lucas.  

<p class="MsoNormal" style=

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“font-size: 14pt; font-family: Times;”>Quarterback Micah Davis then

found wide receiver Chance Dennis for a 17-yard touchdown strike. 

Matt Dean’s extra point attempt gave the Statesmen a 7-0

lead.

<p class="MsoNormal" style=

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“font-size: 14pt; font-family: Times;”>UNA finally got on the board

after the DSU punter dropped a snap, setting the Lions up on their

own 15-yard line.  Senior running back Wes Holland then ran the

ball 12-yards for the Lions’ first touchdown.  Josh Montgomery’s

extra point evened the score at 7-7.

<p class="MsoNormal" style=

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“font-size: 14pt; font-family: Times;”>DSU then answered with 20

unanswered points on their next three possessions to take a 27-7

halftime lead.  The first score came off a 28-yard touchdown run by

Brandon Lucas.  Dean’s extra point gave the Statesmen a 14-7

lead.

<p class="MsoNormal" style=

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“font-size: 14pt; font-family: Times; letter-spacing: -0.1pt;”>Following

a punt by UNA, the Statesmen took the ball 80 yards on 10 plays. 

Senior running back Trevar Deed then took the ball the final two

yards for the score. Dean’s extra point extended the lead to

21-7. <span style=

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<p class="MsoNormal" style=

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“font-size: 14pt; font-family: Times;”>Lee Chapple threw an

interception on the Lions’ next possession, setting up a 10-play,

41-yard touchdown drive for the Statesmen.  Davis then connected on

his second touchdown pass of the day to Chance Dennis to push the

lead to 27-7.  Senior defensive lineman Nate Frazier blocked Dean’s

extra point attempt.

<p class="MsoNormal" style=

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“font-size: 14pt; font-family: Times;”>The Statesmen had a chance

to extend the lead with a field goal just before the end of the

first half, but junior defensive lineman Cha Lane blocked the

attempt.

<p class="MsoNormal" style=

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“font-size: 14pt; font-family: Times;”>DSU finished the day with

524 yards of total offense.  The Statesmen rushed for 359 yards and

passed for 165 yards.  Trevar Deed and Brandon Lucas both finished

the day with over 100 yards rushing.  

<p class="MsoNormal" style=

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“font-size: 14pt; font-family: Times;”>Deed finished with 109 yards

and one touchdown on 15 carries while Lucas added 106 yards and two

touchdowns on 11 carries.

<p class="MsoNormal" style=

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“font-size: 14pt; font-family: Times;”>DSU quarterback Davis

finished with 165 yards passing while completing 19 of 25 of his

pass attempts with three touchdowns.  Davis also added 77 yards

rushing and one touchdown.

<p class="MsoNormal" style=

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“font-size: 14pt; font-family: Times;”>The Statesmen continued to

roll in the second half, scoring on their opening possession and

never looked back.  DSU took the ball 67 yards on seven plays to

extend the lead to 34-7.