FLORENCE – The University of North Alabama picked up its first win of the season Saturday night in the final home opener at Braly Stadium, lighting up the scoreboard with a 49-21 win over Northeastern State.
The Lions (1-2) rushed for 301 yards — the most since 2023 — and finished with 199 passing yards for an even 500-yard day. This marks the fifth time UNA has totaled 500 or more yards in three seasons under Head Coach Brent Dearmon.
The offense scored 31 unanswered points in the first half, as the Lions defense kept the RiverHawks (1-2) at bay for much of the game. The Lions had a number of stars on defense, but perhaps none brighter than true freshman Tae Martin with his first career interception, first career sack, four tackles with three solo and three pass breakups.
Five different Lions graced the end zone with their presence, including all four of UNA’s top running backs.
Redshirt senior Jayvian Allen, a preseason all-conference selection, led the Lions with eight carries for 91 yards and two touchdowns, including a 57-yard run to set up a score. Fellow seniors Jalyn Daniels and LT Sanders and sophomore Jalen Fletcher also scored.
With just six seconds left in the half, redshirt freshman Noah Gregg caught a three-yard pass from starting quarterback Destin Wade for his first career touchdown catch. Speaking of Wade, the redshirt sophomore was efficient in the air, going 11-for-15 for a 73.3 completion percentage, 161 yards and a score.
On special teams, redshirt junior kicker Ian Vachon set a school record for longest field goal, booming a 54-yard field goal through the uprights. Vachon also made field goals 22 and 27 earlier in the game to finish 3-for-3.
The 49 points is the second-highest scoring total of the Dearmon era and matches the third-highest scoring total of the FCS era, which spans eight seasons from 2018.
Tonight was the first of five home games at Braly Stadium this season. This will be the 77th and final season for the Lions at the historic stadium, as the program will move on campus into Bank Independent Stadium in 2026.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- First quarter
UNA 7, Northeastern State 0: The RiverHawks won the toss and elected to receive, but were forced to punt and only got 26 yards out of it to put the Lions at midfield. UNA called nine plays — eight rushing — before scoring on a six-yard touchdown rush by Allen. He and Daniels split carries on the opening possession.
UNA 14, Northeastern State 0: UNA forced a three-and-out on defense, including a strip sack by Jyheam Ingram that backed up the RiverHawks to their own 13 and a one-yard tackle for loss by Kaleb Brown on third down. After the punt, Wade broke off a 13-yard scamper to set up a 36-yard touchdown run by Daniels on the outside. - Second quarter
UNA 17, Northeastern State 0: On the first play of the second quarter, the Lions made a key stop on 4th-and-1 near midfield to regain possession. Wade opened the ensuing drive with a 44-yard strike to Tanaka Scott in the red zone. Sanders powered out a seven-yard run to put UNA near the goal line, but the drive stalled out there and Vachon kicked a 22-yarder to make it 17-0 with 12:45 left in the half.
UNA 24, Northeastern State 0: The defensive shutout continued into the later stages of the half, as stops by Jahbari Hill, Jamari Payne, Lance Bassett and a hurry by Ingram forced another punting situation. The punt went 66 yards, but the Lions proceeded to march 88 yards on nine plays and scored on a two-yard burst by Allen. Juice set himself up with a game-long 57-yard rush.
UNA 31, Northeastern State 0: On the very first play of the next drive, NSU quarterback Donnie Smith was picked off by true freshman Tae Martin near the opposing sideline. This gave UNA possession at the NSU 41 yard line. Fletcher entered at running back for this drive and broke a 17-yard run, which later set up a 21-yard pass from Wade to senior Justin Pegues and a one-yard score by Sanders.
UNA 31, Northeastern State 8: The RiverHawks finally got on the board with 1:30 to go in the half, connecting on a 64-yard pass to running back Ramon McKinney Jr. A two-point conversion made it 31-8 near the half.
UNA 37, Northeastern State 8: The Lions went to work with 1:22 left in the half, getting a large chunk of yardage on a 21-yard pass to tight end Kaleb Heatherly. On 3rd-and-11 just inside the red zone, Wade scrambled for a 13-yard first down conversion. Two plays later, he rolled out on a play-action pass and connected with Gregg, who extended and made the grab and walked in for his first career score with just six seconds left in the half. The extra point hit off the left upright. - Third quarter
UNA 40, Northeastern State 8: The second half started with Wade at quarterback, who engineered a seven-play, 60-yard drive that ended with a 27-yard field goal from Vachon. Heatherly had the big play of the drive with a 43-yard catch.
UNA 46, Northeastern State 8: Ingram had another impact play on the next drive, breaking up a promising screen play to help end a RiverHawks drive with a turnover on downs. With DC Tabscott at quarterback, UNA scored four plays later after Tabscott found Pegues near the end zone for a 27-yard catch. Fletcher finished things off with a six-yard run.
UNA 46, Northeastern State 15: NSU responded with another explosive play, as Deuce Robinson caught a 46-yard pass and took it to the house. The extra point made it 46-15 with 7:46 remaining in the third.
UNA 46, Northeastern State 21: The RiverHawks got the ball back after Adam Watford entered for his first punt of the day for UNA, sailing it 50 yards. A pass interference call against UNA and a fourth-down conversion by NSU continued the ensuing drive, which ended with a 28-yard touchdown catch by Cam Woods. The RiverHawks went for two, but were intercepted by redshirt freshman Jamari Payne. - Fourth quarter
UNA 49, Northeastern State 21: The two sides traded possessions in the latter part of the game, but Vachon balanced the score with 1:51 remaining with a record-breaking field goal from 55 yards.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- Ian Vachon’s 55-yard field goal is the longest in school history, breaking a record that was over a decade old. The previous record was held by Taylor Pontius at 54 yards, which he did in 2014 for a walk-off win over Valdosta State in a battle of ranked teams at Braly Stadium.
- UNA did not throw a lot, but remaining efficient with a 63.6 completion percentage. The Lions went 14-22, led by Wade at 11-15.
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UNA finished with no turnovers for the first time since a 60-14 win over Utah Tech in 2024.
- Today marks the first game under Coach Dearmon that UNA rushed for five touchdowns. The last time this happened was also the last time UNA hosted a Division II opponent — a 49-17 win over UVA-Wise where UNA scored six rushing touchdowns in the 2022 home opener.
- Demarcious Robinson led the Lions in tackles for the second time in three games this season, recording six tackles — all solo. He also added a sack that totaled a nine-yard loss.
- Redshirt freshman Drake Fowler recorded his first career interception late in the second half. This play ended a red zone threat from NSU at the nine yard line.
- Tae Martin recorded three pass-breakups. No other player for either team recorded more than one. He also added four tackles, a sack and an interception for a memorable day.
- This was the first all-time meeting between UNA and NSU.
- UNA improves to a 5-0 record against schools from Oklahoma dating back to 1979.
COMING UP NEXT
The Lions wrap up non-conference play Saturday with a tough test at No. 4 Illinois State. The opening kickoff is set for noon in Normal, Ill.
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