FLORENCE, Ala. -- Coming off a 49-17 home win over Virginia-Wise last Saturday, the University of North Alabama football team will face a huge obstacle this weekend in the form of nationally ranked and undefeated Chattanooga on the road at Finley Stadium. 

 

North Alabama will carry a 1-1 record into the contest, while the Mocs are ranked as high as ninth nationally in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) after opening the season with a pair of wins over Wofford (31-0) and Eastern Illinois (38-20). 

 

Kickoff is set for 5:00 p.m. Central for UNA’s first trip to Chattanooga since 1963. 

 

Last year’s meeting between the two schools in Florence did not go well for the Lions. In a 20-0 loss to Chattanooga, UNA was shutout for the first time since 2010, and the Lions were held under 100 yards of total offense for the first time since 1985. The Mocs picked off a UNA pass in their own end zone early in the game to stop a UNA threat, and then returned a second interception for a touchdown.

 

UNA Head Football Coach Chris Willis said the 2022 version of the Mocs appears to be as good, or better, than the one the Lions faced a year ago.

 

“They were the best defensive football team that we saw last year,” said Willis. “And from what I have seen on film, they have a lot of those guys back and look like they have improved from last year. 

 

“They are the favorite to with the Southern Conference (SoCon) Championship and are ranked in the Top 10 in FCS. This is going to be a challange,” Willis added. 

 

Willis also said the Lions’ keys to sucess will be to not turn the ball over and limit penalties and other mistakes. 

 

In its win last weekend, UNA rushed for 369 yards, behind an individual school record 251 yards from sophomore ShunDerrick Powell of Hoxie, Ark. On the flip side, the Lions were just 7-of-21 passing 96 yards in the first collegiate start for true freshman Noah Walters of Lincoln, Neb., but did not turn the ball over.

 

“We are not throwing the ball well right now, and that is something we will have to be better at this weekend,” Willis said. “We were just 4-of-12 on third down and that’s an area we will have to improve.”

 

Willis also said the Lions’ defense will have to be ready to go from the opening whistle, after coming out of the gate slow last weekend as UNA fell behind 14-0.

 

The UNA defense has been active, forcing six turnovers in two games with four interceptions and two recovered fumbles. 

 

This game with Chattanooga will be North Alabama’s first game this season against a nationally ranked team, but the tenth by the Lions against a ranked Division I team since their move to Division I in 2018.  All-time UNA is 0-11 against ranked FCS opponents, with the eight of those 11 games coming on the road. This will be the 15th game against a nationally ranked opponent that UNA has played under Willis in his 49th game as head coach of the Lions. 

 

 

 

AHSAA FOOTBALL SCOREBOARD
Week 2 Scoreboard
AHSAA TV Network/WOTM TV Game of the Week
Mountain Brook 49, Minor 14
Other Games
Class 7A
Austin 24, Sparkman 21(OT)
Baker 41, Davidson 16
Central-Phenix City 27, Enterprise 7
Hewitt-Trussville 48, Oak Mountain 14
Huntsville 27, Grissom 7
James Clemens 26, Bob Jones 19
Opelika 31, Lee-Montgomery 7
Smiths Station 30, Prattville 21
Thompson 34, Vestavia Hills 14
Class 6A
Benjamin Russell 23, Calera 6
Carver-Montgomery 31, Park Crossing 0
Center Point 32, Huffman 6
Central-Tuscaloosa 33, Paul Bryant 24
Clay-Chalkville 58, Pell City 0
Decatur 25, Athens 14
Gadsden City 31, Buckhorn 7
Gardendale 63, Mortimer Jordan 21
Hartselle 34, Cullman 3
Hazel Green 25, Lee-Huntsville 6
Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa 30, Northridge 23
Homewood 24, Helena 15
Hueytown 67, Brookwood 13
McAdory 35, Bessemer City 6
Muscle Shoals 68, Columbia 0
Oxford 45, Shades Valley 13
Pike Road 35, Wetumpka 33
Spanish Fort 42, Baldwin County 7
Stanhope Elmore 45, Russell County 21
Theodore 41, Murphy 13
Class 5A
Arab 40, Douglas 6
Ardmore 37, Brewer 20
Carroll 21, Rehobeth 7
Central, Clay County 21, Tallassee 6
Charles Henderson 34, Greenville 18
Demopolis 22, Selma 0
Elmore County 48, Sylacauga 21
Fairview 42, East Limestone 14
Gulf Shores 22, Faith Academy 12
Guntersville 64, Crossville 0
Hayden 27, Carver-Birmingham 0
Holtville 34, Shelby County 13
Jemison 14, Marbury 9
Leeds 41, Springville 13
Pleasant Grove 55, Wenonah 7
Ramsay 54, Jasper 6
Russellville 49, Lawrence County 0
Scottsboro 36, Boaz 12
UMS-Wright 39, LeFlore 0
Vigor 33, Citronelle 6
West Point 44, Vinemont 12
Williamson 20, Elberta 0
Class 4A
American Christian 42, Holt 14
Andalusia 43, Dale County 0
Bayside Academy 17, St. Michael Catholic 14
Bibb County 45, West Blocton 0
Cherokee County 50, Good Hope 7
Corner 52, Hamilton 14
Deshler 50, West Limeston 17
Escambia County 55, Satsuma 15
Etowah 42, Ashville 0
Haleyville 45, Cordova 41
Montgomery Academy 34, Bullock County 0
Montgomery Catholic 56, B.T. Washington 14
Northside 28, Oak Grove 7
Oneonta 41, Hanceville 18
Orange Beach 31, Jackson 14
Priceville 35, Madison County 0
Rogers 42, East Lawrence 7
Sipsey Valley 17, Dallas County 0
T.R. Miller 70, Wilcox Central 0
Westminster Christian 55, North Jackson 39
Class 3A
Alabama Christian 64, Lynn 26
Brindlee Mountain 52, Asbury 28
Collinsville 34, Section 14
Dadeville 39, Weaver 6
Gordo 49, Winfield 42
Greensboro 41, Sumter Central 18
Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa 27, Flomaton 26 (OT)
Madison Academy 49, J.B. Pennington 7
Mars Hill Bible 56, Colbert Heights 6
Lauderdale County 49, Clements 6
Oakman 35, Midfield 12
Phil Campbell 58, Elkmont 20
Piedmont 40, Sylvania 7
Pike County 34, Ashford 0
Providence Christian 27, New Brockton 6
Randolph County 36, Childersburg 7
Saint James 34, Prattville Christian 0
Saks 48, Beulah 6
Straughn 45, Daleville 12
Thomasville 42, Monroe County 12
Class 2A
Aliceville 41, Tuscaloosa Academy 20
Ariton 43, Geneva County 14
B.B. Comer 48, Woodland 3
Clarke County 46, Washington County 0
Cleveland 44, Appalachian 14
Cottonwood 40, Abbeville 20
Falkville 32, Sheffield 7
Fyffe 49, North Sand Mountain 0
G.W. Long 42, Samson 7
Highland Home 42, Goshen 14
Isabella 59, Thorsby 30
J.U. Blacksher 46, Francis Marion 0
Lanett 39, Horseshoe Bend 6
Lexington 40, Red Bay 14
Locust Fork 73, Holly Pond 37
Luverne 75, Barbour County 0
Pisgah 41, Sand Rock 14
Reeltown 41, LaFayette 0
Southeastern 47, Gaston 14
St. Luke’s Episcopal 20, Chickasaw 14
Sulligent 24, Cold Springs 12
Tanner 63, Tharptown 0
Vincent 65, Central, Coosa 0
West End 41, Pleasant Valley 20
Whitesburg Christian 25, Ider 18
Wicksburg 42, Zion Chapel 12
Class 1A
Addison 72, Cherokee 0
Alabama School/Deaf at Mississippi School/Deaf, cancelled
Brantley 42,McKenzie 6
Cedar Bluff 48, Woodville 20
Choctaw County 44, Fruitdale 8
Elba 36, Houston County 6
Georgiana 20, Florala 14
Hubbertville 52, Holy Spirit Catholic 21
Marion County 62, Brilliant 0
Millry 41, Southern Choctaw 8
Pickens County 38, Sumiton Christian 7
Ragland 46, Donoho 14
Red Level 26, Pleasant Home 6
Sweet Water 44, University Charter School 0
Valley Head 57, Decatur Heritage 35

 

 

2022 Football Media Days Student-Athlete Attendees

 

Alabama

Will Anderson Jr., LB, Junior

Jordan Battle, DB, Senior

Bryce Young, QB, Junior

 

Arkansas

Jalen Catalon, S, Junior

KJ Jefferson, QB, Junior

Bumper Pool, LB, Senior

 

Auburn

Tank Bigsby, RB, Junior

Derick Hall, Edge, Senior

John Samuel Shenker, TE, Senior

 

Florida

Anthony Richardson, QB, Sophomore

Richard Gouraige, OL, Junior

Ventrell Miller, LB, Senior

 

Georgia

Stetson Bennett, QB, Senior

Nolan Smith, LB, Senior

Sedrick Van Pran, OL, Sophomore

 

Kentucky

Will Levis, QB, Senior

Kenneth Horsey, OG, Senior

DeAndre Square, ILB, Senior

 

LSU

Jack Bech, WR, Sophomore 

Mike Jones, Jr., LB, Junior

BJ Ojulari, DE, Junior 

 

Ole Miss

Nick Broeker, OL, Senior

Cedric Johnson, DE, Junior

Jonathan Mingo, WR, Senior

 

Mississippi State

Jaden Crumedy, DT, Graduate Senior

Nathaniel Watson, LB, Graduate Senior

Austin Williams, WR, Graduate Senior

 

Missouri

Barrett Banister, WR, Graduate Senior

Martez Manuel, DB, Senior

Isaiah McGuire, DL, Senior

 

South Carolina

Jovaughn Gwyn, OL, Senior

Dakereon Joyner, WR, Senior

Zacch Pickens, DL, Senior

 

Tennessee

Trevon Flowers, S, Senior

Hendon Hooker, QB, Graduate Senior

Cedric Tillman, WR, Graduate Senior

 

Texas A&M

Demani Richardson, DB, Senior

Layden Robinson, OL, Junior

Ainias Smith, WR/AP, Senior

 

Vanderbilt

Ben Bresnahan, TE, Graduate Senior

Anfernee Orji, LB, Senior

Mike Wright, QB, Junior

 

OMAHA BOUND! No. 14 Auburn wins Corvallis Super Regional

 

CORVALLIS, Ore. – To get back to Omaha, Auburn successfully navigated the Oregon Trail.

 

SEC saves leader Blake Burkhalter retired the last eight batters to preserve No. 14 Auburn’s 4-3 victory Monday over No. 3 Oregon State to win the Corvallis Super Regional at Goss Stadium, sending the Tigers to the College World Series for the second time in three seasons.

 

“We’re thankful,” Auburn coach Butch Thompson said. “To be able to go back to Omaha so soon is a testament to a few guys like Brody Moore, Kason Howell and Carson Skipper who were on that team in 2019. They’ve done an amazing job with half of this team being new this year.”

 

When Burkhalter struck out OSU’s Garret Forrester for the final out, his teammates met him in front of the pitcher’s mound, piling on in celebration. 

 

“I was mentally ready to go,” said Burkhalter of his 15th save. “I talked to Huddy (Auburn pitching coach Tim Hudson) before and said, ‘How do you think I need to pitch these guys?’ He gave me some tips and I’m glad I could go out there and execute.”

 

Auburn mustered only one hit in the first five innings, and three in the game, but the Tigers made them count.

 

After Cole Foster drew a bases-loaded walk with two outs in the top of the third, Sonny DiChiara hit his 22nd home run of the season to give Auburn a 2-0 lead. 

 

“They left one over the plate for me and I was able to put a good bat on it,” said DiChiara, who had two of Auburn’s three hits. “I’m thankful we were able to hold them off.” 

 

Oregon State answered in the bottom of the third when Justin Boyd tripled off the wall in left and scored on a grounder to second to trim the Tigers’ lead to 2-1. 

 

Skipper relieved starter Mason Barnett with one out in the fifth and two runners on, striking out Pac-12 Player of the Year Jacob Melton and Travis Bazzana to escape the jam. 

 

Barnett, Skipper and Burkhalter combined to strike out 14 Oregon State batters.

 

Auburn added to its lead with two runs in the sixth off Oregon State reliever Reid Sebby. After DiChiara walked, Bobby Peirce doubled to right to put runners on second and third with one out.

 

Brooks Carlson’s grounder to second scored DiChiara, with Peirce moving to third and Carlson safe at first on a fielding error. Brody Moore’s safety squeeze bunt to first plated Peirce, who beat a throw home for a 4-1 Auburn advantage. 

 

Skipper worked a perfect sixth but the Beavers pulled within a run at 4-3 in the seventh on Boyd’s two-run homer.

 

When two more runners reached, Auburn called on Burkhalter, who struck out Bazzana and Jake Dukart to preserve Auburn’s one-run lead.

 

“When Carson Skipper came in and got those two outs, and when we inserted Burkhalter those were game changers,” Thompson said. “We’re able to keep that one-run lead, and Burky got us to the finish line.”

 

Picked to finish seventh in the SEC West in the coaches’ preseason poll, the Tigers are one of eight teams still in contention for a national championship, joining division rivals Texas A&M, Ole Miss and Arkansas in Omaha this weekend.

 

“This is awesome,” said Moore, the MVP of Auburn’s NCAA Tournament regional. “What an experience for the Auburn Tigers to come from so many miles away and get it done. We’re not done yet. We’re just a team out there. We mesh well together, we’re best friends on and off the field, and we love this University.”

 

The Tigers (42-20) play the Rebels Saturday at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN2 and the Auburn Sports Network.

 

Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer