VALDOSTA — The University of North Alabama scored on four of its first five possessions as the eighth ranked Lions rolled to their fifth consecutive victory at Valdosta State, downing the ninth ranked Blazers 34-12.
UNA, now 4-0 overall and 3-0 in the Gulf South Conference, hasn’t lost in Valdosta since 2007 and has outscored the Blazers by a combined score of 226-89 over the last five meetings here. Valdosta State falls to 3-1 overall and 0-1 in the GSC.
The win was the eighth by the visiting team in the last nine games in the series and gives UNA a 23-16-1 advantage in the all-time series.
With the win, Bobby Wallace became the winningest coach in UNA football history with 110 victories. He entered the game tied with Hal Self at 109.
UNA dominated every aspect of the game, out-gaining the Blazers 523-299, with 245 yards rushing and 283 passing. The Lions controlled the ball for more than 37 minutes of the game. Lamonte Thompson had his fourth straight 100-yard rushing game with 114 yards on 23 carries. UNA quarterback Luke Wingo was 21-of-27 passing for 254 yards.
On its opening possession, North Alabama covered 61 yards in just four plays to take the early lead. A 33-yard pass from Luke Wino to Dre Hall set the Lions up at the VSU six-yard line and Lamonte Thompson scored on the next play on a six-yard run. Kevin Henke’s extra-point made it 7-0 with 13:36 left in the first quarter.
After stopping a VSU drive at the UNA 29-yard line on downs, UNA drove for its second score. The Lions moved to the VSU 24 before the drive stalled and Henke came on for a 24-yard field goal to make it 10-0 with 4:02 left in the quarter. The key play in the drive was a 24-yard pass from Wingo to Jarret Smith.
The UNA defense stopped the Blazers for a second time on fourth down on the next series, this time at the UNA 31, and the Lions scored for a third straight time. UNA moved 69 yards in nine plays behind back-up quarterback Jacob Tucker for its second touchdown. Tucker had two carries for 33 yards on the drive and completed two passes for another 24. The scoring play was a seven-yard toss from Wingo to Lee Mayhall. It was the eighth TD reception of Mayhall’s career and his first since 2013. Henke’s PAT extended UNA’s lead to 17-0 with 13:38 left in the second quarter.
VSU finally scored but it was on a play from its defense. Dante Robinson forced a Wingo fumble and Egim Etta-Tawo scooped it up and raced 30 yards to the end zone. Andrew Gray botched the extra-point attempt but VSU had cut UNA’s lead to 17-6 at 6:09 of the second quarter.
North Alabama answered with another touchdown drive on its ensuing possession, this time moving 74 yards in nine plays. Wingo hit Diamond Simmons with a 10-yard touchdown pass and Henke’s PAT made it 24-6 with 3:25 left in the quarter.
UNA had one final scoring opportunity in the half but Henke’s 48-yard field goal attempt with 21 seconds left hit the right up-right.
Wingo was 16-of-20 passing for 203 yards in the half, UNA outgained the Blazers 346 to 161 over the first two quarters.
North Alabama only got one possession in the third quarter but made the most of it as the Lions drove 69 yards on 20 plays and burned 9:15 off the clock before settling for a 39-yard Henke field goal. The score made it 27-6 with 1:24 left in the period.
UNA’s final score came on a 10-yard TD run by Tucker with 6:09 left in the game. Henke’s PAT made it 34-6.
Valdosta State got its only offensive score with with 2:55 left in the game when back-up quarterback Roland Rivers hit Chris Anderson with a 19-yard touchdown pass. The try-for-two failed, making it 34-12.
