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LIVINGSTON, Ala. --
The University of West Alabama football team will close
out the 2007 season on Saturday, November 10, as the
Tigers (1-8, 0-7 GSC) travel to the University of North
Alabama for a 6:00 p.m. kickoff against the 10th-ranked
Lions.
The series against UNA
is longest running series in UWA history, beginning in
1949. All 59 meetings have run consecutively with the
two in-state foes meeting twice in 1986. The Tigers
edged out the initial meeting, 14-13, in Florence, then
turned around the following season and blanked the Lions
19-0 in Livingston.
In the last five
meetings between the in-state rivals, UNA holds a 3-2
advantage over West Alabama, as the Lions have claimed
the last two outings. UWA’s last victory in the series
came in 2004 in Livingston. The Tigers trailed for the
duration of the second half, but with five seconds
remaining, Josh Crouch found Andre Epps in the end zone
for a 31-yard scoring strike that lifted the Tigers to a
28-27 triumph over North Alabama. Last season, UNA
downed the Tigers 45-3 in Livingston and closed out the
first year of the Bobby Wallace Era in Livingston.
The series has seen two
coaches hold the head coaching reigns at both schools
along with numerous assistant coaches. From 1970 through
1976, Mickey Andrews held the head coaching title at one
of the two institutions. Andrews guided UWA to three
NAIA Playoff berths and two NAIA Championship games,
claiming the 1971 NAIA National Championship. Following
the 1972 playoff appearance, the current Associate Head
Coach and Defensive Coordinator at Florida State, took
the reigns at North Alabama from 1973-1976. The most
recent coaching change happened last season, as longtime
UNA coach Bobby Wallace took the head coaching job at
UWA. Wallace led the Lions to three consecutive NCAA
Division II National Championships (1993-1995) along
with three additional playoff appearances. Last season,
Wallace led the Tigers to its first winning season in 14
years.
West Alabama sends its
GSC, third ranked rush offense to the field, led by Cole
Mason. The Tigers ground game is averaging 213.9 yards
per contest, as the Parrish, Ala.-native is ranked
fourth in the conference with 85.3 yards an outing.
The Lions offense is led
by its passing game, as UNA ranks fourth in the
conference with 251 yards per game. A.J. Milwee paces
the air attack with 227.8 yards a contest, landing him
in fourth in the GSC in passing yards and total offense.
The game can be heard
on WSLY-Gospel Hits, Y-104.9 FM and at athletics.uwa.edu. |
