North Alabama Falls in National Championship Game
GSC FOOTBALL STATS
GSC FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
NCAA FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
NORTHWEST MISSOURI STATE DEFEATS NORTH ALABAMA, 29-3
Box Score
UNA Recap
| Scoring Summary |
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
| North Alabama |
0 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
| Northwest Missouri State |
0 |
7 |
7 |
15 |
| Game Stats |
North Alabama |
NW Missouri State |
| Passing Yards |
179 |
112 |
| Rushing Yards |
22 |
226 |
| Turnovers |
3 |
2 |
| Third Down Conversions |
4-for-18 |
9-for-19 |
GAME RECAP
North Alabama fell to Northwest Missouri State, 29-3 in the 2016 NCAA Division II Football National Championship Game. It is the second straight title for the Bearcats, the third title in four years, and the sixth title since 1998. Their six national titles is an Division II record. The game was played in near blizzard conditions, and it took a toll on both offenses. Points were already going to be hard to come by in the game, as it featured the top two scoring defenses in the country.
The Lion defense held strong for the majority of the game and held the high-powered Bearcat attack well under its season averages, but costly turnovers and a safety after a high snap proved to be too much to overcome.
The difference on the game was on the ground, as Northwest Missouri State held North Alabama to just 22 yards rushing. UNA averaged 197.3 rushing yards per game coming into the game.
The last national runner-up for the GSC was Delta State in 2010.
NCAA FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
NATIONAL SEMIFINAL
NORTH ALABAMA DEFEATS SHEPHERD, 23-13
Box Score
| Scoring Summary |
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
| North Alabama |
3 |
17 |
0 |
3 |
| Shepherd |
7 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
| Game Stats |
North Alabama |
Shepherd |
| Passing Yards |
178 |
112 |
| Rushing Yards |
209 |
133 |
GAME RECAP
For the fifth time in school history, North Alabama will play in the Division II Championship Game. The Lions will be looking for their fourth national title, previously winning titlesin three straight years from 1993-1995.
The North Alabama defense continued to be the catalyst for the Lions, holding a usually dominant Shepherd offense well below its season averages. The Rams average 40.6 points per game, but were held to just 13 points by the UNA defense, which came into the game as the second best scoring defense in the nation. Shepherd averages 474.3 total yards per game, but were held to just 245 yards in this contest.
Shepherd quarterback Jeff Ziemba, a Harlon Hill Trophy finalist, was just 11-of-28 passing for 112 yards, while receiver Billy Brown was held to two catches for 17 yards. He had entered the game with more than 1,500 receiving yards and 22 touchdowns.
North Alabama’s Harlon Hill finalist, Jacob Tucker, had a better showing, scoring once on the ground and once through the air, again connecting with his favorite target, Dre Hall.
The Lions will be looking to bring home the 51
st national championship in Gulf South Conference history. It would be the first football national title for the league since 2012 when Valdosta State won it all.
The championship game will be broadcast on ESPN2 at 3:00 p.m. CST next Saturday, December 17, and it will take place in Kansas City. More details will be released during the week.
NCAA FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
NATIONAL QUARTERFINAL / REGIONAL TITLE GAME
NO. 1 NORTH ALABAMA DEFEATS NO. 6 NORTH GREENVILLE, 38-0
Box Score
| Scoring Summary |
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
| North Greenville |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| North Alabama |
3 |
21 |
0 |
14 |
| Game Stats |
North Greenville |
North Alabama |
| Passing Yards |
95 |
226 |
| Rushing Yards |
86 |
175 |
| Turnovers |
5 |
2 |
| Third Down Conversions |
2-for-13 |
7-for-16 |
GAME RECAP
North Alabama used a dominating defensive effort to spearhead a commanding win in the NCAA Quarterfinals, winning 38-0 over North Greenville. This will be the 10
th appearance in the NCAA Semifinals for the Lions and their first regional title since 2008.
The first quarter was a defensive struggle, as the two teams combined to gain just 100 total yards of offense. The biggest play belonged to the home team, as North Alabama used a 35-yard punt return from Jaylan Jackson to set up the first and only points of the opening frame, as First Team All-GSC kicker Kevin Henke kicked a 29-yard field goal.
In the second quarter, the Lions were able to take control of the game. It started with UNA scoring the game’s first touchdown on a two-yard Damon Cox run. Jacob Tucker then added a pair of touchdown passes as the second quarter was winding wind, one to Julius Jones and one to Dre Hall. At the half, North Alabama held a 24-0 lead and was outgaining North Greenville 247-80.
In the second half, UNA relied on its defense to continue to shut down the Crusader attack. An interception led to an easy score for Tucker on the ground, bumping the lead up to 31-0 early on in the fourth quarter. Then, on the next possession, North Alabama took its fourth interception of the game back for a touchdown. Khyle Jackson recorded the interception and returned it 80 yards for a score. It was the longest interception and return for a touchdown in UNA’s playoff history. All told, the UNA defense forced five turnovers and earned the shutout over a team that averages 33.2 points per game.
The Lions will now advance to the NCAA Semifinals. They are the 14th GSC team to make the semifinals in the last 17 years. The four teams remaining in the NCAA Championship have been reseeded, and North Alabama will travel to Shepherd to face the Super Region One Champions. More details on this game will be released this week.
NCAA FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
SECOND ROUND
NO. 1 NORTH ALABAMA DEFEATS NO. 5 UNC PEMBROKE, 41-17
Box Score
| Scoring Summary |
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
| UNC Pembroke |
7 |
10 |
0 |
0 |
| North Alabama |
10 |
14 |
10 |
7 |
| Game Stats |
UNC Pembroke |
North Alabama |
| Passing Yards |
272 |
282 |
| Rushing Yards |
100 |
138 |
| Turnovers |
4 |
4 |
| Third Down Conversions |
5-for-14 |
2-for-8 |
GAME RECAP
For the 12
th time in school history, North Alabama will advance to the regional final of the NCAA Playoffs after defeating UNC Pemrboke 41-17 on Saturday afternoon. GSC Offensive Player of the Year Jacob Tucker accounted for four total touchdowns, two through the air and two on the ground, to lead UNA to the team's ninth straight victory. First Team All-GSC honoree Dre Hall was Tucker's favorite target, catching nine passes for 136 yards and a score. After a defensive touchdown in the second quarter, the Braves held a 17-10 lead over the Lions. However, UNA would respond, scoring a pair of touchdowns before the half and then blanking UNCP in the second half while scoring 17 of their own. Overall, North Alabama ended the game on a 31-0 run, cementing the victory. It was the fourth meeting all time between the two schools, and UNA has been victorious in all four matchups. Next up for the Lions will be North Greenville, who defeated Tuskegee in the other side of the bracket. NGU, the sixth seed in the region, will be making its second trip of the year to Florence. The Crusaders were beaten by the Lions 52-21 back on October 22.
NCAA FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
FIRST ROUND
NO. 6 NORTH GREENVILLE DEFEATS NO. 3 FLORIDA TECH, 27-13
Box Score
| Scoring Summary |
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
| North Greenville |
3 |
0 |
14 |
10 |
| Florida Tech |
0 |
3 |
3 |
7 |
| Game Stats |
North Greenville |
Florida Tech |
| Passing Yards |
250 |
184 |
| Rushing Yards |
144 |
169 |
| Turnovers |
0 |
3 |
| Third Down Conversions |
8-for-15 |
3-for-12 |
GAME RECAP
A historic 2016 season came to end for Florida Tech on Saturday afternoon, as the Panthers fell in the team's first ever playoff game to North Greenville, 27-13. All-conference honorees Antwuan Haynes and Trevor Sand combined to rush for 144 yards, but neither were able to find the endzone. In addition to being the team's leading rusher, Haynes was also the team's leading receiver, hauling in a pair of passes for 61 yards. North Greenville will advance to the next round to face Tuskegee.
NO. 5 UNC PEMBROKE DEFEATS NO. 4 VALDOSTA STATE, 24-21
Box Score
| Scoring Summary |
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
| UNC Pembroke |
10 |
7 |
0 |
7 |
| Valdosta State |
0 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
| Game Stats |
UNC Pembroke |
Valdosta State |
| Passing Yards |
235 |
225 |
| Rushing Yards |
152 |
32 |
| Turnovers |
5 |
6 |
| Third Down Conversions |
6-for-18 |
4-for-15 |
GAME RECAP
Valdosta State was unable to overcome six turnovers, despite forcing five of their own, and fell to UNC Pembroke, 24-21. The Blazers came storming back after falling behind 17-0 early on, but were unable to complete the comeback. Dallas Baldner caught a pair of touchdowns, including the final score of the game that brought VSU to within three points of UNCP midway through the fourth quarter. Kenny Moore was impressive in his final game in a Blazer uniform. The two-time all-conference honoree from Valdosta led the team with nine tackles and also had two interceptions.
NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP ANNOUNCEMENT
COMPLETE BRACKET
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - The participants in the 2016 NCAA Division II Football Championship were announced on Sunday afternoon, with three GSC squads (North Alabama, Florida Tech, and Valdosta State) making the field of 28.
The University of North Alabama finished the regular season undefeated in conference play and has been the top team in each edition of the regional rankings. The Lions are the number one seed in Super Regional 2, earning a bye in the first week of play. UNA will host a second round game on Saturday, November 26.
North Alabama's opponent will be the winner of the matchup between Valdosta State and UNC Pembroke, the fourth and fifth seed, respectively. VSU was ranked second in the original regional rankings, but fell to seventh in the second edition after a loss to Florida Tech. The Blazers rebounded to win the final two games on their slate and now earn a trip to the playoffs in Kerwin Bell's first year at the helm.
The number two seed is Newberry, the SAC Champions, while Tuskegee will be in the seventh spot despite a tough loss in the final week of the regular season.
The winner of the Newberry/Tuskegee game will face either North Greenville, the sixth seed, or Florida Tech, the third seed. The first iteration of the regional rankings had the Panthers on the outside looking in, but FIT closed the regular season on a three-game winning streak to earn the first postseason opportunity in program history.