On Saturday, September 24, the University of North Alabama hosted the 2022 homecoming. Various events were going on leading up to the football game. Within the first few minutes of the game, TSU had already scored a 47-yard field goal making the score 3-0 at the beginning of the game putting the Lions at a rough start.
With the Lions being down, ShunDerrick Powell changed the score quickly with a 75-yard kickoff return for a touchdown with Sam Contorno following up the touchdown with an extra point making the score 3-7. The Lions are now ahead and fighting hard.
As the quarter goes on, TSU scores another field goal to make the score 6-7, then ShunDerrick Powell responds with another touchdown followed by Sam Contorno’s extra point to make the score 6-14 at the end of the first quarter.
Starting the second quarter, great defense was going on between both teams until about halfway through the quarter when TSU scored a touchdown followed by an extra point. A few minutes later, TSU throws another touchdown pass to make the score 20-14. Once again, ShunDerrick Powell redeems the Lions with a 55-yard run followed by Sam Contorno with the extra point making the final halftime score 20-21.
The second half is when things begin to fall for the Lions. During the third quarter, TSU threw an 86-yard touchdown pass as well as a 5-yard touchdown pass with both kicks being good, left the score 34-21. A few minutes into the 4th quarter, TSU scores another touchdown putting the Lions down by 20 with 10 minutes left in the 4th quarter, leaving UNA fans and players discouraged.
This did not let the Lions give up. A few minutes later, wide receiver Demarcus Lacey catches a 78-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Noah Walters with kicker Sam Contorno following up the touchdown with an extra point making the score 41-28 with 9 minutes left. A little down the line, TSU scored a 0-yard safety, which led to the final score of 43-28 with the Lions losing their homecoming game.
This loss leaves the Lions with a record of 1-3 for the season. Things are not looking good for the Lions with them finally being officially established into Division I. If UNA wants to have the upper hand on possibly winning a conference championship, they will need to win against Kennesaw State. Winning against a good team like this will drive fans and players to stay with the Lions on their journey to this championship.
This upcoming Kennesaw State game will be the Lion’s first conference game of the season. In previous years, the Lions played in the FCS conference.
This year, the Division I upgrade moved the Lions into the ASUN conference. Meaning we play different teams with higher stakes for our conference games such as Kennesaw State and Jacksonville State. North Alabama and Kennesaw State are both entering this game with the same record of 1-3 and both will be fighting for a head start toward the conference championship.