Backup quarterback Kaleb Nobles stepped
in for a second-straight week though it didn't matter as North
Alabama (5-2) cruised to a 57-7 thrashing on No.11 Valdosta State
(5-2) Saturday afternoon.
The defeat sets a new school record for
the worst loss in VSU history topping the 45-0 loss to the Lions in
1985.
Nothing could go right for the Blazers.
A bevy of turnovers and constant
hiccups on routine plays kept a modest but normally jubilant home
crowd to a dull roar.
While the Lions executed using their
one-two punch in sophomore quarterbacks Luke Wingo and Jacob Tucker,
Blazer quarterback Cayden Cochran statistically played his worst game
since transferring to VSU.
Head coach David Dean defended the
incumbent, who was benched early in the fourth quarter when the game
was ultimately out of reach.
“They weren't his fault,” Dean said
about Cochran's career-high four interceptions. “He was playing
very well. He put the ball where it needed to be. From a wide-out
standpoint, we just weren't making the plays.”
UNA jumped on the scoreboard first
following its second drive of the game.
The six-play scoring drive was set up
by Wingo's 62-yard pass completion to wide receiver Cade Oliver.
UNA kicker Will Craig capped off the
drive with a 20-yard field goal half-way through the first quarter.
The Blazers answered right before the
second quarter when Cochran hooked up with wide receiver Chris
Anderson for a 28-yard heave caught in the back of the end zone.
Anderson ended with a game-high nine
catches.
Immediately responding, the Lions
regained the lead three minutes into the second quarter and would
never look back scoring 54 unanswered points.
Wingo found wide receiver Korey Jones
for a 20-yard touchdown (missed one-point conversion).
Twelve minutes until halftime the Lions
had a slim 9-7 advantage.
The Black Swarm allowed its second of
seven touchdowns on UNA's next possession after a 3-yard scramble
touchdown by Wingo.
With the score now 16-7, Craig knocked
down his second of three field goals with seconds left in the first
half (45-yard).
UNA led 19-7 at intermission.
VSU failed to adjust in the second half
- never collecting enough offensive momentum to be effective.
A demoralizing fumble by Anderson on
the Blazers' first drive was recovered by UNA defensive back Lamar
Smith and returned down the sideline for a 83-yard touchdown.
On their next possession,Wingo and
company marched down the field to set up Craig's 27-yard field goal.
UNA now had a commanding 29-7 lead.
VSU's ensuing drive once more resulted
in a three-and-out.
Though the Blazers' front seven did a
fair job containing the run-oriented Lions Saturday, the Black Swarm
had no answer to subdue the opposing passing attack.
Wingo tallied 22 of his total 231 yards
by connecting with wide receiver Lee Mayhall which placed running
back Chris Coffey in position to burst through a gap on his way to a
37-yard touchdown.
The Blazers' trailed 36-7 entering the
final quarter.
That lead was quickly extended to 44-7
on a Tucker quarterback sneak from five yards out.
Finally, coach Dean had seen enough and
Nobles was summoned.
After Nobles' second unsuccessful
drive, Tucker recorded his second of the game following a six-yard
keeper.
Tucker and Wingo combined for a total
345 yards.
Backup UNA running back Diamond Simmons
finished off the 'nail in the coffin' scoring drive on a 31-yard
touchdown run with a few minutes left in regulation.
UNA forced five turnovers to VSU's
zero.
Wallace improves his all-time record of
2-5 in seven regular season meetings against his good friend Dean.
“We don't come to Valdosta and this
happen very often,” Wallace said. “[Valdosta State] is a great
football team and that score is no indication of that. I don't take
any pleasure in beating David. I'm just glad UNA won the game.”
Note: VSU linebacker Chris Pope
finished with six tackles surpassing Jessie Tuggle for second on
VSU's career tackle list. 37 meetings between VSU and UNA makes most
played rivalry in school history.
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