FLORENCE, Ala. (September 23, 2023) – Facing an opponent ranked or receiving votes in the FCS polls for the fourth time in five games, the University of North Alabama slipped in the second half of a 37-21 loss to UT Martin on Saturday night at Braly Municipal Stadium. 

 

Despite allowing a touchdown on the opening drive, North Alabama (2-3) was the early aggressors with three first half touchdown passes from sophomore quarterback Noah Walters to three different receivers. A 21-10 halftime would be spoiled in the second half as UT Martin (3-1) took a 23-21 lead late in the third quarter and extended it with two more touchdowns in the final frame. 

 

While the Lions handled business through the air with a 296-172 advantage in passing yards, the Skyhawks did their damage in the run game with 308 rushing yards on 51 attempts — 32 of which came from running back Sam Franklin. 

 

As part of today’s game, UNA honored its 1993 national championship football team with a special 30 year reunion, a pregame ceremony and a postgame firework show presented by TNT Fireworks.  

 

HOW IT HAPPENED 

 

FIRST QUARTER 

UT Martin 7, North Alabama 0: North Alabama won the toss and deferred to the second half. UT Martin took the opening possession 75 yards on nine plays, converting three first downs and scoring on a three yard run by Narkel Leflore. 

 

UT Martin 7, North Alabama 7: The Lions punted on its first offensive possession, flipping the field with a 58 yard boomer from Adam Watford that rolled back past the returner to the UTM 11 yard line. The Skyhawks coughed it up two plays later, as Philjae Bien-Aime forced it out and Edwin White Schultz picked it up and brought it just inside the red zone. This led to a five-yard pass from Noah Walters to Takairee Kenebrew, who made a Randy Moss-type catch in the far corner. This came after the drive was extended by a running into the kicker penalty drawn by Sam Contorno, who made the extra point to tie it. 

 

North Alabama 14, UT Martin 7: The UNA defense came up with a crucial fourth down stop just outside field goal range, as quarterback Kinkead Dent was stuffed one yard short on a scramble by linebacker Rush Lansdell. Five plays later, Walters connected with Dakota Warfield on a deep pass, hitting him in stride right outside the end zone for a 41 yard score. The Contorno PAT made it 14-7 with 2:36 left in the opening frame. 

 

SECOND QUARTER 

North Alabama 14, UT Martin 10: The teams traded punts to begin the second quarter, as UT Martin took advantage of a tough snap to handle on UNA’s punt and started on the UNA 39 yard line. The UNA defense bent, but did not break, as UT Martin settled for a short 20 yard field goal to make it 14-10 midway through the second quarter. Sophomore Jaylen Powell had back-to-back tackles on first and second down to keep the Skyhawks from paydirt. 

 

North Alabama 21, UT Martin 10: After a missed 50 yard field goal by UNA, the Skyhawks took over at their own 33 with 1:52 remaining in the half. The first play after that resulted in an interception by AJ Seay on a hurried pass by Shaun Myers to give momentum right back to the Purple & Gold. The Lions scored nine plays later with 38 ticks on the clock, as Kobe Warden caught an 11 yard slant for the score. Warden had two catches and a rush for 37 all-purpose yards on the drive. 

 

THIRD QUARTER 

 

North Alabama 21, UT Martin 17: UT Martin took advantage of missed red zone opportunity by the Lions early in the third quarter, using 17 plays to go 80 yards in a span of 6:43 for a game-changing drive. The score that ended the long drive was a four-yard reverse lateral to Marlon Cook Jr. 

 

UT Martin 23, North Alabama 21: The Skyhawks continued their third quarter success, taking their first lead since the opening drive with a 17 yard pass from Kinkead Dent to Zoe Roberts. The extra point doinked off the left post, keeping it a two-score game with 1:53 remaining and into the final quarter. 

 

FOURTH QUARTER 

 

UT Martin 30, North Alabama 21: UTM stopped a fourth down attempt with a hurry and breakup by Davonte Murray, then running back Sam Franklin broke off a 74 yard run to give the Skyhawks their first two-possession lead midway through the fourth quarter. 

 

UT Martin 37, North Alabama 21: The Skyhawks iced the game late in the fourth quarter with an interception and a 43 yard run by Sam Franklin to put him over 200 yards rushing. 

 

 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS 

 

• Redshirt senior Takairee Kenebrew moved past UNA Hall of Famer and 1955 NFL MVP Harlon Hill on the all-time career touchdown list at UNA with his 20th TD reception. The touchdown tied another UNA Hall of Famer, Michael Edwards, who was part of the 1993 national championship team honored during tonight’s game. 
  
   
• Redshirt junior Kobe Warden had a career game, leading the Lions with 11 catches for 106 yards and a touchdown. Warden’s longest reception was a 40 yard grab, setting new career highs in catches, yards and longest catch. 

 

• Redshirt sophomore AJ Seay had the only interception for UNA tonight, giving him interceptions back-to-back weeks. At Tennessee Tech last week, Seay jumped a short route for a 44 yard pick-six. Seay also has a team-high five pass breakups this season. 

 

• Safety Edwin White Schultz has now had at least nine tackles in four of the five games this season, including three double-digit performances with a team-high 10 tonight. He is now at 50 tackles to maintain his 10.0 tackles per game.  

 

• White Schultz also added a recovered fumble to his defensive totals tonight, recovering a loose ball forced by Philjae Bien-Aime. White Schultz also had a key pass break up to stop a deep pass that could have resulted in a touchdown. 

 

• UNA now has 12 forced turnovers in the first five games this season, marking the most to start a season since 2017 — UNA’s last season at the NCAA Division II level. The Lions remain at a plus-1 turnover differential this season. 

 

• UNA is averaging 17.0 points scored off turnovers the last two weeks after scoring all 20 off turnovers against Tennessee Tech and adding 14 this week against UT Martin. 

 

• UT Martin totaled 480 yards on 81 plays, while the Lions ran 89 plays for 391 yards. Possession time was fairly even with UT Martin owning a 38 second edge. 
  
   
• The Lions now have an all-time record of 482-301-16. 
  
   
  
   
  
  COMING UP NEXT 
  
   
  
  The festivities at Braly Stadium continue next week with UNA’s annual Homecoming game against Eastern Kentucky University set for Saturday, Sept. 30 at 6 p.m. in Florence. 
  
   
  
  Saturday’s Homecoming will be a “Gold Rush” game, as fans are encouraged to wear gold. The first 500 fans will receive a free gold t-shirt and the first 2,500 fans will receive a free gold shaker.  
  
   
  
  For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.