By Jim O'Hara

ROME, Ga. – The North Alabama Lions made sure their offense was clicking on all cylinders Saturday at Barron Stadium where the homestanding Shorter Hawks were never able to get theirs untracked.

In a Gulf South Conference clash in which both teams were hoping to stop a losing streak, the Lions rolled up 469 yards in total offense as they roared to a 41-0 win over the Hawks.

The setback leaves Shorter 0-5 overall and 0-3 in the GSC heading into a non-conference meeting next Saturday at Barron against South Atlantic Conference power and No. 20-ranked Carson-Newman, while North Alabama ends a two-game losing run to improve to 2-2 overall and 1-1 in the conference, and did so combining a well-balanced attack as the Lions finished the game rushing for 237 yards and passing for another 232 yards.

Sophomore quarterback Luke Wingo ended the game throwing for 129 yards and a touchdown, while his backup, Jacob Tucker, made the most of his playing time leading the Lions by rushing for 82 yards and two touchdowns and passing for another 103 yards.

The Hawks, who entered the game averaging more than 300 yards, were kept in check and were held to 178 total yards.

Shorter opened the game driving the ball to the Lions' 46 before being forced to punt, with the Lions taking over at their own 19.

From there it didn't take North Alabama long to go the distance with the big blow coming on the final play of the brief 81-yard march when Wingo found Jason Smith open behind the Shorter secondary for a 55-yard touchdown pass with 8:39 to go in the opening period. Will Craig added the first of five extra points.

The Lions added three more points on the board before the first quarter was over, this time moving from their own 46 to the Shorter 35 where Craig split the uprights for the first time in his career kicking a 42-yard field goal to give his team a 10-0 lead.

Shorter's defense stood its ground for most of the second period, with Santavious Bryant recovering a fumble to end a UNA drive at the Hawks' 13 midway through the second quarter and with 1:48 to go until halftime Austin Ingram intercepted a pass by Wingo at the Shorter 29 to thwart another drive by the Lions.

But when the Hawks' offense was unable to take advantage of the turnover, a 49-yard punt return Philbert Martial to the Shorter 43 set the Lions up for the final score of the half when UNA – a pass interference penalty of Shorter in the end zone set up the visitors at the Hawks 2 – broke into the end zone as time expired thanks to a 2-yard run by Wingo that gave his team the 17-0 lead.

The Hawks ended the first half managing just 80 yards in total offense, while North Alabama reeled off 217 yards.

When the second half began, the Lions continued their offensive juggernaut when on the opening series UNA went 66 yards in nine plays take a 24-0 lead, and in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter made it 27-0 when Craig hit a 30-yard field goal.

The Lions added two more touchdowns, both coming from Tucker who scored on a 6-yard run with 7:23 left and then on a 3-yard run that closed out the scoring with 4:20 remaining.

Freshman fullback B.J. McCoy led the Hawks on the ground gaining 59 yards on 11 carries, while junior quarterback Eric Dodson completed 5 of 8 passes for 71 yards.