MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WAFF) - The first half for the North Alabama Lions football team couldn’t have gone any better for Head Coach Brent Dearmon.

The second half was a totally different scenario.

The Lions took a 15-13 lead into halftime against Southeast Missouri State before the Redhawks scored 30 unanswered points en route to a 37-15 win in the FCS kickoff. The game was played at the Cramton Bowl on Saturday, August 24, 2024.

Lions Redshirt junior Jayvian Allen finished with 100 yards on 13 carries, becoming the first Lion back to rush for 100 yards in a season opener since Terence Humphrey (102) vs. Western Illinois in 2019.

SEMO forced four turnovers and took over in the second half, erasing an eight-point Lions lead late in the second quarter.

Southeast Missouri won the coin toss and deferred, forcing UNA into a quick three-and-out to begin the game.

The Redhawks then capitalized on their first offensive drive, with quarterback Paxton DeLaurent — who later left the game with an injury – delivering a four-yard touchdown pass to Cam Pedro.

But the Lions responded in impressive fashion, with Jayvian Allen’s 62-yard sprint into Redhawks’ territory, followed by his touchdown from the SEMO three-yard-line.

The Lions then caught SEMO off-guard, as Ben Harris connected with Takana Scott to complete a conversion try, giving UNA an 8-7 lead.

The second quarter saw a Gregory Reddick sack and forced fumble led to a 16-yard return by Tyrik Daniels to UNA’s 39.

Graduate quarterback Ari Patu led the offense to score another touchdown for the Lions with a five-play drive, stretching UNA’s lead to 15-7.

Reddick finished with 12 tackles, including two for losses, had one sack and forced a fumble.

His 12 tackles were two shy of the record set by UNA safety Edwin White Schultz in the 2023 FCS Kickoff.

HOW IT HAPPENED

FIRST QUARTER

SEMO 7, North Alabama 0: Southeast Missouri’s defense forced a three-and-out on the game’s opening series and took over at its 43 following a 35-yard punt by UNA’s Adam Watford. The Redhawks moved 57 yards in 12 plays as quarterback Paxton DeLaurent completed 8-of-10 passes on the drive, capped off by his four-yard touchdown toss to Cam Pedro.

North Alabama 8, SEMO 7: The Lions immediately answered SEMO’s early score by taking the ensuing kickoff and marching 85 yards in seven plays. Jayvian Allen got UNA deep into Redhawks’ territory with a 62-yard sprint up the middle then and found the end zone five plays later, taking a direct snap and running in from the SEMO 3. The Lions pulled off some trickery on the conversion try and took their first lead when Ben Harris tossed a pass to Takana Scott.

SECOND QUARTER

North Alabama 15, SEMO 7: A wild sequence as the Redhawks were driving toward the end zone set up the Lions’ next touchdown drive. Gregory Reddick forced a fumble by SEMO backup quarterback Carter Hensley that was recovered by defensive end Tyrik Daniels and returned 16 yards to UNA’s 39. The offense then drove the distance in just five plays, with quarterback Ari Patu scoring on an 11-yard quarterback keeper around the right end.

North Alabama 15, SEMO 13: SEMO chewed up most of the remaining time in the second quarter with a 10-play, 46-yard drive after Brandon Epton Jr. returned UNA’s kickoff 53 yards into Lions territory. Hensley kept the drive alive with a 23-yard completion to Dorian Anderson on third-and-17 at the UNA 24, then Peyton Brown ran for a one-yard touchdown. The Redhawks’ two-point conversion pass attempt failed, leaving the Lions with a two-point lead at half.

THIRD QUARTER

SEMO 21, North Alabama 15: The Redhawks grabbed their first lead since early in the first quarter after a UNA punt. SEMO covered 73 yards in nine plays while consuming almost 4:30 minutes. Brown finished off the go-ahead score with a 25-yard run, and the Redhawks followed the touchdown with a two-point conversion run by Epton Jr.

FOURTH QUARTER

SEMO 27, North Alabama 15: Brown became the second player in FCS Kickoff history with three rushing touchdowns when he finished off SEMO’s 78-yard drive with a one-yard run. Hensley’s 47-yard jaunt deep into the UNA territory set up Brown’s TD four plays later.

SEMO 34, North Alabama 15: Following a UNA fumble at its own 19, the Redhawks scored again on Hensley’s one-yard quarterback keeper.

SEMO 37, North Alabama 15: DC Pippin kicked a 41-yard field goal that came after the Redhawks’ Justus Johnson intercepted a UNA pass and returned it to the Lions 30.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• UNA’s successful two-point conversion in the first quarter was only the fourth in FCS Kickoff game history. Montana (2015), Samford (2018) and current UAC member Central Arkansas (2020) were the other previous participants to convert a two-point conversion. SEMO later added a two-point conversion in the third quarter. 
• Quarterback Ari Patu’s debut saw the Stanford transfer complete 12-of-24 passes for 104 yards with two interceptions.
•  The Lions are now 26-21-2 all-time against current members of the Big South-OVC alliance.

• Jayvian Allen is the seventh player to rush for at least 100 yards in the 10-year history of the FCS Kickoff.

• Logan Collier had four kickoff returns for 75 yards – an average of 18.7 yards per return.

• UNA had 27 players record at least one tackle, including 12 from Reddick and 10 from senior transfer Jackson Bratton in his UNA debut. Reddick added a hurry, a forced fumble and two tackles for loss with one sack.

• Southeast Missouri is one of five schools from the Show Me State that UNA faced in football. The Lions are undefeated against three Missouri foes – Missouri State (2-0) College of the Ozarks (1-0) and Central Missouri State (2-0); UNA is 0-3 vs. Northwest Missouri State and now 1-1 vs. SEMO.

• The Lions now hold a 42-30-4 all-time record in season openers.

COMING UP NEXT The Lions return to action next Saturday, August 31 at Memphis. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium — home of the Liberty Bowl.

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