UNA Lions to host familiar rival in playoffs

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November 18, 2009

Anonymous The News Courier Wed Nov 18, 2009, 07:57 PM CST

By JOHN ZENOR

AP Sports Writer

North Alabama coach Terry Bowden has already learned a lesson about postseason life in the Gulf South Conference from his assistants: You’ll have to play somebody twice.

“They say we have to do it every year. Better get used to it,” Bowden said.

UNA (10-1) hosts conference rival Arkansas Tech (9-2) on Saturday at noon in the second round of the Division II playoffs after a first-round bye. The bye gave UNA an extra week to get over a four-overtime loss to rival West Alabama, which is also still alive in the playoffs.

They’ll face each other again if both teams survive.

Bowden’s team won the first game with Arkansas Tech 42-17 on Oct. 3. That makes UNA’s first-year coach wary because of the old coaching adage that it’s hard to beat any team twice in a season.

“In the playoffs in my past history, Samford and Salem, you say win your conference and win your region, now let’s see how the rest of the country plays,” Bowden said. “Our conference is so strong you always have three teams from our conference in the playoffs.”

UNA is 9-4 in games that are rematches from the regular season.

This one features the league’s top two offenses and quarterbacks. UNA’s Harrison Beck and Arkansas Tech’s Nick Graziano are both regional finalists for the Harlon Hill Trophy. Graziano passed for 465 yards and four touchdowns in a 41-13 first-round win over UNC-Pembroke, spreading it around with three 100-yard receivers.

Both quarterbacks are Division I transfers, Beck from North Carolina State and Graziano from Nevada. Bowden said the biggest difference between the two offenses is that Graziano is more of a runner than Beck.

“They have become the biggest challenge offensively, and they look very much like we do,” Bowden said.

If UNA has an edge, it’s in the league’s top scoring, pass and total defense.

Arkansas Tech has won six straight games since that loss to UNA, which has won the past six meetings

“They are just on fire,” Bowden said. “They’re playing their best football. We are very leery of their ability to come here and win this game.”

West Alabama at Carson-Newman, 12 p.m.:

West Alabama (8-4) has truly been living on the edge, starting with that four-overtime win over UNA. Bobby Wallace’s Tigers blocked two field goals in the fourth quarter of a 24-22 first-round win over Albany State, which also missed a potential game-winner with 16 seconds left.

West Alabama was one of only three No. 6 seeds to advance.

Carson-Newman (9-2) won the South Atlantic Conference title, which means this is the third straight week West Alabama has visited a league champion.

The teams have only met once before, a 7-7 tie in 1972.

Carson-Newman, which is 6-0 at home, is averaging 354 yards a game rushing while allowing 104.8 a game on the ground defensively.

Carson-Newman has lost three straight postseason games against GSC teams, including a first-round defeat to Valdosta State last season.

Alabama A&M; vs. Mississippi Valley St., 2 p.m.:

Alabama A&M; (6-4, 3-3 Southwestern Athletic Conference) can secure the East Division title and a spot in the league championship game against Prairie View A&M; with a victory.

The Bulldogs took control of their destiny with a win over two-time defending division champion Jackson State last week, coupled with Alcorn State’s loss to Prairie View.

A&M; has a couple of favorable matchups with Mississippi Valley (3-7, 1-5). The league’s leading rusher Ulysses Banks faces a team that has allowed a SWAC-high 22 rushing touchdowns.

A&M; has racked up a league-best 39 sacks. Mississippi Valley has been pummeled for 54 sacks, nearly double anybody else in the SWAC.

Mississippi Valley’s win over Lincoln snapped a five-game losing streak. A&M; has won eight of the last nine meetings.

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