Another rematch for Lions

FLORENCE - One rematch is done and another looms ahead as North Alabama continues in the Division II playoffs.

The Lions began their postseason with a 41-28 victory over Arkansas Tech on Saturday. It was a rematch of a game played Oct. 3, which the Lions won 42-17.

UNA (11-1) now turns its attention to another familiar team when it hosts Carson-Newman in the Super Region 2 championship Saturday. Kickoff is at noon at Braly Stadium.

The Lions defeated Carson-Newman 31-14 in the second game of the season on Sept. 5. The Eagles (10-2) advanced with a 59-41 victory over West Alabama.

Coach Terry Bowden said the Lions will face a very difficult game against a senior-laden team.

"Carson-Newman will come in here with a senior, veteran team," Bowden said. "I'm sure they were focusing on winning a championship this year, just like UNA was loaded-for-bear last year to win it all. They lost to Winona State and us early and have run the table since.

"They are scoring almost 60 points a game of late, so we will have to go out and start immediately preparing. It will be a completely opposite type of game from what we just played."

UNA had several players step up in Saturday's playoff win. Quarterback Harrison Beck was 25 of 37 for 341 yards and three touchdowns, while senior wide receiver Preston Parker returned after missing two games with a knee injury to catch eight passes for 121 yards and a touchdown. Tailback Tim Hicks added 69 yards rushing and 90 yard receiving.

"We did a good job establishing the line of scrimmage," Beck said. "Our offensive line did a great job all day. Those guys work so hard to give me time to sit in the pocket and find the open guy. We mixed the run and the pass very effectively."

Defensively, the Lions did what they do best which is to force turnovers. UNA recovered four fumbles and stopped a late Arkansas Tech rally with interceptions by Darron Dampier and Quinton Andrews.

"We started off a little slowly," said linebacker Michael Johnson, who forced one fumble and recovered another. "They hurt us with their tempo early and we were not ready for it. But we did a much better job in the second half."

UNA will be making its fifth consecutive appearance in the playoff quarterfinals. The Lions will be trying to advance to the semifinals for the second year in a row.

Bowden said the Lions performance Saturday made him feel much better about his team.

"I was worried that maybe we had already peaked when we played Valdosta State," he said. "But I was wrong. We just had a tough night on a wet field at Arkansas-Monticello and a bad night against West Alabama. I was pleased with the way we bounced back and it was a great effort by our team."

Jeff McIntyre can be reached at 740=5737 or jeff.mcintyre@TimesDaily.com.