UNA flexes dominant run defense in win over Samford

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — Behind a record-setting day for the rush defense, the North Alabama Lions picked up a 22-10 win over Samford at Joe Davis Stadium.

The Lions held the Bulldogs to negative eight rushing yards, the fewest amount the program has allowed since becoming a Division 1 school.

"I really seen a bunch of guys doing their jobs. You know, one thing we try to preach in this defense is not being selfish," UNA defensive lineman Jyheam Ingram said. "If everybody does their job, somebody's going to make a play at the end of the day. So that's the main thing."

Throughout the preseason, UNA head coach Brent Dearmon said that the team's defensive front was bigger and improved from a season ago. Dearmon said after Saturday's win that it was good to see their play show that.

"You never really know, you assume and you don't ever know because you go against each other every day. I knew that they were a problem for us at practice every day," Dearmon said. "I was hoping that meant they were a problem for other people instead of us being that bad on offense. So, to watch them come out and play that way, it kind of eases your heart a little bit."

The rushing defense wasn't the only record broken on Saturday. UNA's offense shifted the momentum of the game with a 95-yard passing touchdown from Destin Wade to Xavier Johnson, the longest in school history.

"I seen green and I seen I was able to score," Johnson said. "It kind of blew my mind. But, you know, I got to stay focused and just stay focused with the goal."

"Just a playmaker going up and winning," Wade said. "You know, we got a lot of playmakers on our team, and Xavier is one of them. So, I trust him with just throwing it up there to him. He made a play on it and just couldn't be happy with it.

In the second half, the Lions' defensive front continued to give the Samford offense fits while UNA's offense sustained drives to chew clock and punched in another touchdown to extend their lead.

Saturday marks the first time UNA has opened the season with a win since 2019.

"We got some stuff to clean up on offense, but our starting quarterback never, never blinked. That's one thing I'm excited about," Dearmon said. "He would go down to the defense and rally them up, tell them they're winning this game for us tonight. I saw a team grow closer together tonight."

"We haven't been 1-0 since I've been here. First time me being 1-0. So right now I'm going to enjoy this for those kids going back."

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