FLORENCE - Penalties have been a huge problem for North Alabama the entire season and that trend continued again Saturday night.

The Lions had nine penalties for 102 yards in the first half along. UNA finished with 16 penalties for 167 yards, compared to nine for 82 yards for West Alabama.

"I've never seen so many penalties," coach Terry Bowden said. "We got called for pass interference over and over and over. We got called for things I've never seen before. Some of them came in critical situations."

UNA ranked 144th out of 148 teams in most penalties yards per game (97.9) entering Saturday's game and 146th in penalties per game.

Hall returns

Former UNA great Will Hall coached at Braly Stadium for the first time Saturday. Hall is in his second seasons as the offensive coordinator at West Alabama.

Hall led UNA to a 10-0 regular season in 2003. The Lions finished 13-1 with Hall at quarterback, losing in the NCAA Division II playoff semifinals. Hall went on to win the Harlon Hill Trophy as the top player in Division II.

"UNA is a great place - the best in Division II," Hall said. "UNA will always be a special place to me and it's good to come back.

"It was a little strange being on the other sideline, but this is a big win for us. Our kids have fought through a lot of adversity this year, but they kept believing. This is really something that we can build on."

Pairings announced today

UNA will learn of its playoff fate today when the Division II playoff pairings are announced. The pairings will be announced at 2 p.m. on ESPN News.

Lions fans are encouraged to join the team for the pairings show at the Performance Center at the Guillot University Center.

Parker out

Senior wide receiver Preston Parker missed his second straight game due to an injury. The Florida State transfer suffered a strained MCL in his knee during the Lions' victory over Valdosta State on Oct. 22.

Parker ranks third on the team in receiving with 40 receptions for 625 yards and five touchdowns.

Seniors honored

North Alabama honored its seniors before the regular-season finale against West Alabama. The Lions have 34 seniors, including 16 players who transferred in this season from Division I schools.

The 10 members of the senior class that have been at UNA for five seasons have compiled a record of 43-6 in the last four years and have been ranked no lower than No. 11 nationally every single week they have played. They have won two Gulf South Conference championships and have advanced to the playoffs in all four seasons.

UNA's seniors are: quarterback Harrison Beck; running backs Tim Hicks, James Green, Jamaal Edwards and E.J. Riggins; wide receivers Antyon Gray, Cody Appling, Preston Parker and T.J. Porter; offensive linemen Luck Chenault, Mike Horton, Matt Hurst and Calvin Wilson; tight ends Marcell Craft, Kenton Thornton, Kyle Turner and Greg McClendon; defensive linemen Derrick Chatman, Montrell Craft, Brandon Fanney, Thor Merrow, Albert Russell and Domini Pittman; linebackers Michael Johnson, Kerry Orr, Terrence Stanton and Kerry Orr, defensive backs Quinton Andrews, J.J. Johnson, Darron Dampier, Richie Rich and Jason Tate; punter Will Batson and placekicker Kenny Spencer.

The loss to West Alabama was the first regular season loss for UNA at Braly Stadium since losing to West Georgia in the 2004 season. The Lions had won 17 consecutive regular season home games.

UNA's streaks of 13 consecutive regular-season wins and 10 straight Gulf South Conference wins were also broken.

The win was the first in Braly Stadium for West Alabama since a 12-10 victory in 1987. UNA still holds a 46-15-1 lead in the all-time series, which is the longest series in UNA history.

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