CLEVELAND – The No. 21 University of North Alabama Lions (7-2, 4-2 GSC) found the end zone in a myriad of ways Thursday, en route to a 31-7 victory over the No. 19 Delta State Statesmen (6-3, 5-2 GSC) in a key Gulf South Conference matchup on GSC-TV Live at Parker Field-McCool Stadium. The victory puts the Lions back into the GSC title hunt, while the Statesmen slip into a second place tie with several, two-loss GSC teams. The win also snapped a two-game losing streak for UNA.

After holding the Statesmen to a three-and-out, North Alabama quickly marched 79-yards on seven plays, but the DSU defense bristled on 3rd-and-goal forcing a 28-yard field goal attempt by Josh Montgomery. His attempted sailed wide left.

The Statesmen drove to the UNA 22-yard line, but failed to convert on fourth down when DSU went for the fake field. Zak Mikel's pass was complete to L.J. Castile, but far from needed 12 yards.

DSU held UNA to a three-and-out, forcing a Lions punt.  After Brandon Lucas returned the punt to the UNA 24-yard line, the Statesmen once again counted find the end zone. Matt Snyder's field goal attempt clanked off the upright.

As UNA marched methodically into Statesmen territory, the first quarter came to a close with no score. On the first play of the second, Lee Chapple connected on a 34-yard touchdown pass to Jrone Hickmann. Montgomery's extra point was good, putting the Lions on top 7-0.

North Alabama took advantage of Delta State's first miscue of the game, a bad snap off the hands of punter Tyler Caldwell, recovering at the DSU 25-yard line. Wes Holland ran 25-yards to the end zone on the first play of the drive to put the Lions up 14-0 after Montgomery's extra point with 5:31 to go in the half.

The Statesmen had one last first half opportunity, driving into the red zone inside the UNA 20-yard line. Snyder again found the uprights, as the ball fell to the turf and keeping the Statesmen off the scoreboard in the opening frame.

UNA finished with 209 yards of total offense in the first half, while DSU tallied 177.

Lee Chapple led the Lions with 155 yards passing on 11-of-16 attempts with one touchdown. Wes Holland led UNA with 52 yards rushing on six carries with a score.

Micah Davis completed just 12-of-25 passes for 112 yards to lead the Statesmen. Trevar Deed managed 57 yards on six carries, while Maurice Moore led the Statesmen receiving corps with four catches for 39 yards.

Preston Felder and Xavier Triplett led DSU with six tackles each. UNA's Harrison Bryant led all defenders with eight tackles.

DSU finished the half 5-of-11 on third down, but was 0-of-2 on fourth down. UNA was just 2-of-5 on third down, but held the edge in first half breaks.

After holding the Lions on their first drive of the second half, the Statesmen took advantage of the stop and marched 80 yards on 11 plays in 8:03, as Castile hauled in the 27-yard Davis touchdown pass. With 8:11 remaining in the third, DSU trailed 14-7.

3:57 later and on the next UNA possession, the Lions answered with a 69-yard drive, capped by Chris Coffey's 4-yard touchdown run. With 4:14 left in the third, UNA led 21-7.

On DSU's ensuing possession, Davis tried to force a pass across field to Maurice Moore, only to have UNA's Darnell Jackson steo in front of the pass and pick it off. The Lions quickly turned DSU's second turnover into points, as Holland rumbled 41-yards for the score. Holland's second touchdown put the Lions up comfortably 28-7 with 14:48 to play.

Moore put the Statesmen in excellent field position at the UNA 44-yard line after the kickoff, only to have Davis throw his second interception of the night into the hands of the Lions' Hilliard Foster.

DSU's defense held UNA to three-and-out. Davis would make it three-straight interceptions, as Harrison Bryant stepped in front of the errant pass.

UNA methodically marched 55-yards to take a 31-7 lead on Montgomery's 24-yard field goal with 6:09 remaining. The drive took up 6:09 on the clock and totaled just nine plays.

DSU could not muster anything on their next possession, failing to convert a 4th-and-14 at the UNA 29-yard line.

Neither team would scratch the scoreboard in the final 2:56, as UNA claimed the 31-7 conference victory at Parker Field-McCool Stadium.

The Lions finished the games with 426 yards of total offense compared to the Statesmen, who tallied 376. UNA had a balanced attack, as the purple-and-gold rushed for 206 yards and Chapple passed for 220 on 19-of-28 with one touchdown. Four different Lion receivers grabbed four passes each, while Tim Hawthorne led UNA with 73 yards receiving.

DSU's Davis finished with 278 yards on 31-of-55 passing with one touchdown and three interceptions. Deed topped the 100-yard mark with 103 yards on 13 carries. Four Statesmen receivers grabbed six passes each, led by Castile's 59 yards and one touchdown.

Garrett Williams recorded 10 tackles to lead the Statesmen, but Xavier Triplett added nine tackles and 1.5 tackles-for-loss. UNA's Harrison Bryant led all tacklers with 11.

The Statesmen travel to Arkadelphia, Ark., on Saturday, Nov. 6, to close out Gulf South Conference play against the Ouachita Baptist University Tigers. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at A.U. Williams Field. The game will be broadcast on the Statesmen Sports Network beginning at noon. Matt Jones, Jimmy Smith and J.T. Webb will have the call.