Shorter Game Notes
North Alabama Game Notes
Listen to the Game Live

By Jim O'Hara
 
ROME, Ga. – They've faced the what has been the hardest schedule in the program's history, one that included a record seven road games, and have had to cope with injuries that has changed the look of the starting lineup almost every week.

That, however, hasn't prevented the Shorter Hawks from continuing to be a viable threat week after week every Gulf South Conference battle this season and on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at Barron Stadium in their final home game of the season, they will turn their attention and effort to an even biggest test when the Hawks host one of the most successful teams in conference history, the No. 19^th-ranked North Alabama Lions.

"It's a credit to them and says something about their hearts," Shorter head coach Phil Jones said about how the Hawks (2-6 overall and 1-4 in the GSC) have maintained a hunger to make a statement in the conference. "They know what the odds are but are doing everything they can to overcome them. They know that we're getting closer and closer to breaking through.

"The biggest thing that has happened," the coach said, "is seeing how close we've been in every game this season and that they feel like we can get it done. They're still hungry."

Still, Jones and the Hawks understand that the Lions (6-2, 4-1) come to Rome not only in contention to repeat as the GSC champion, but with a squad that has experience and talent and led by the winningest coach in conference history, Bobby Wallace.

"He's done everything a coach can do and has done it with class," Jones said about Wallace, who led the Lions to three straight national championship (1993, '94 and '95) and is poised to see UNA reach the Division II playoffs for the 11^th time in the last 13 seasons, "and once again he's put together a team that includes a great coaching staff and some great players."

North Alabama, which has bested the Hawks in their three previous meetings, are led by senior quarterback Luke Wingo, who will make his 33^rd start for the Lions when they square off against the Hawks.

Wingo, who is North Alabama's second all-time leading passer having thrown for more than 7,000 yards, enters the game after leading the Lions to a 43-17 win last week over Delta State, a game in which UNA rolled up 555 yards of total offense with Wingo throwing for 356 yards and three touchdowns.

"They have a lot of depth at every position," Jones said about North Alabama's offense, "and (Wingo) handles the team very well."

While Wingo, who is the GSC's leading passer this season with 2,023 yards and 15 touchdowns, leads the Lions' offense that is also the conference's No. 1 team in total offense, UNA balances its air attack with a strong run game that is paced by Lamon Thompson, who averages 112.4 yards a game via the rush.

Defensively, North Alabama ranks No. 2 in the GSC in total defense and last week all but shut down Delta State allowing the Statesmen just 217 total yards and only 42 rushing yards as linebacker C.J. Jackson leads the unit having recorded 32 solo tackles and 23 assists.

"They lost some good players on defense from last year's team," Jones said, "but they've found even better ones to replace them and all of them play hard."

The Hawks, who will see a record 20 seniors play their final game at Barron, will counter with what is the best rushing attack in the GSC – and ranked No. 7 in Division II – as Shorter averages nearly 300 rushing yards a game, with junior fullback B.J. McCoy leading the way. McCoy is the conference rushing leader with 1,280 yards this season (160 yards a game), while freshman Kartez Carr has added 333 more yards and sophomore quarterback Devante James, who took over the job behind center after Aaron Bryant went down with an injury, has run for 205 yards and averages nearly five yards a carry.

Eager to cause North Alabama's offense problems is a Shorter defense that boasts the top two tacklers in the GSC, junior Zach Butts (9.4 tackles a game) and senior All-American safety Jordan Shaw (8.2). Junior defensive end Trevaris Horton heads up the Hawks' pass rush having recorded four sacks this season, while Shaw, senior Dominique Henfield, senior Santavious Bryant and senior Wesley Clay – he set a team record with an 86-yard fumble return for a touchdown last week – all have an interception this season.

"Now we have two games left and both will be very tough," said Jones, who after Saturday's game against North Alabama head to Carrollton on Nov. 14 to face No. 1-ranked West Georgia in the regular season finale. But we know that to get to where we want to be, we have to go out and make it happen.

"I'm so proud of this team," he said about the Hawks. "They just keep coming back and never get down, and that's something they'll keep with them for life."