RICHMOND, Ky. (November 23, 2024) – North Alabama fell just short in its regular season finale against No. 25 Eastern Kentucky at Roy Kidd Stadium on Saturday, dropping a heart-wrenching 21-15 decision to the Colonels despite the second-half heroics of senior quarterback TJ Smith.
The Lions (3-9, 3-5 in the United Athletic Conference) fought back from a 14-point halftime deficit and took their first lead early in the fourth quarter when Smith scrambled for an 18-yard touchdown. Scott Payne’s extra point put UNA ahead 15-14 with 10:37 remaining.
Smith completed 23-of-39 passes for 325 yards with one touchdown, a 24-yard strike to Tanaka Scott in the third quarter. Jayvian Allen followed by running in a two-point conversion as the Lions closed the gap to 14-8.
UNA had one last chance in the waning moments after the Colonels (8-4, 6-2) were forced to punt with 60 seconds remaining. The Lions drove into EKU territory, but Smith’s Hail Mary pass as time expired was intercepted in the end zone to keep the Colonels’ hopes of an FCS at-large playoff bid alive.
“I was proud of our guys for the way they fought to the end,†said UNA head coach Brent Dearmon. “It’s a summation of our season. We take a team that’s probably going to make the playoffs and had a chance to beat them. We come on the road, in a tough environment, and our guys fought all the way to the last play.
“I’m excited for the future, I’m excited for these seniors and the foundation that they’ve laid here.â€
Seventh-year senior wide receiver Takairee Kenebrew’s remarkable career with the Lions concluded with a four-catch performance against the Colonels. He finishes fourth on UNA’s career receptions list with 144.
Kenebrew is UNA’s record holder for career touchdown receptions (30) and receiving touchdowns in a season (tied with two others with 10 TDs in 2023).
Allen led the Lions with 79 yards on 17 carries and ends the year as UNA’s rushing leader with 545 yards.
Edwin White Schultz led the UNA defense with eight tackles and was credited with two pass breakups.
HOW IT HAPPENED
FIRST QUARTER
Eastern Kentucky 0, North Alabama 0: Neither team scored in the first quarter, marking the fourth time this season UNA’s defense held an opponent scoreless in the opening frame. The last time was Oct. 5 against Utah Tech, who was held scoreless until the fourth quarter. UNA allowed just 32 yards, including one passing yard on four attempts. UNA had 84 yards with 47 passing and 37 rushing.
SECOND QUARTER
Eastern Kentucky 7, North Alabama 0: The Colonels grabbed the first lead of the game at the 9:36 mark of the second quarter. UNA’s first drive ended with a tough break, as a deep third down pass to the redzone was caught by Takairee Kenebrew, but called incomplete as his toe was deemed slightly out of bounds after review. EKU went on a 10 play, 91 yard drive that ended with a two yard rush by quarterback Matt Morrissey. The extra point made it 7-0.
Eastern Kentucky 14, North Alabama 0: With 6:59 left in the half, sophomore punter Adam Watford pinned EKU deep with a bounce-back punt downed at the two-yard-line. However, EKU had a near-perfect drive that spanned 16 plays and over six minutes. Senior Kaleb Brown had two stops at the goal line for UNA, but on third down, EKU running back Brayden Latham broke into the end zone from two yards out to score with 34 seconds remaining. UNA got in deep field goal range with one play left in the half, but the 47-yarder missed slightly to the right.
THIRD QUARTER
Eastern Kentucky 14, North Alabama 8: UNA started its first drive of the second half on its own 12 yard line at the 11:12 mark. The next seven minutes turned into a brilliant display of ball movement and possession, as the Lions marched 88 yards on 12 plays. On 3rd-and-6 at the EKU 24, Smith connected with Scott in the end zone for six. An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on EKU moved the Lions a little closer to the goal line, as Coach Brent Dearmon elected to go for two. Juice Allen dove into the endzone to make it 14-8.
FOURTH QUARTER
North Alabama 15, Eastern Kentucky 14: The Lions ended the third quarter with a 24 yard catch by Dakota Warfield, then picked up the drive in the fourth quarter near midfield. UNA converted a third down on a 16-yard pass to Kobe Warden, then Warfield caught a 4th-and-9 a few plays later. The next play resulted in an 18-yard end zone run by Smith. Scott Payne’s point after made it 15-14 in favor of the Lions.
Eastern Kentucky 21, North Alabama 15: Morrissey was stuffed twice by UNA’s defense courtesy of seniors Kam’ron Green and Rush Lansdell, but then he threw a deep route to Marcus Calwise Jr. in stride, who raced to the end zone to regain the lead. The PAT made it 21-15 with 8:10 remaining. UNA got near the redzone with 1:49 remaining, but an interception allowed EKU to run more time. A third down stop gave UNA the ball with one minute to go. Smith engineered the offense from its own 11 to midfield, setting up a hail mary to end the game. EKU’s Mike Smith Jr. came down with it in the end zone.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
Redshirt junior defensive back Ashaad Williams tied KJ Smith (2019) for the FCS school record with his eighth pass breakup of the season in the first quarter.
Eastern Kentucky is only the third team from the Bluegrass State that UNA has played in football. The Lions are 5-3 all-time vs. Murray State, 1-0 vs. Kentucky Christian and now 0-3 vs. the Colonels.
Senior quarterback TJ Smith accounted for 2,286 all-purpose yards with 22 touchdowns since taking the helm as UNA's starting quarterback in the final eight games.
Sixteen of UNA’s opponents in 2023 and 2024 have been ranked or were receiving votes in the FCS or FBS at the time they faced the Lions. Eastern Kentucky was ranked 25th in the FCS coaches poll. UNA is 4-2 against the six unranked opponents the last two seasons.
UNA had four players catch at least four passes, led by Scott’s six catches for 109 yards, followed by Dakota Warfield with five receptions for 70 yards.
UNA has committed two turnovers or more in eight of its nine losses. Both UNA turnovers vs. Eastern Kentucky came late in the fourth quarter as the Lions offense tried to mount a rally.
EKU is 6-0 at home this season. The Lions were the closest team to a road win at Roy Kidd Stadium, falling by six points.
SEASON WRAP UP
The Lions finish with a 3-9 overall record and a 3-5 record in the UAC.
In the process, UNA defeated a ranked FCS opponent for the first time in program history with a 47-34 win against No. 10 Abilene Christian on Oct. 12. ACU went on to win the UAC with a 7-1 conference record. In that game, TJ Smith matched the all-time school record for touchdowns responsible for in a game with four passing and two rushing scores.
UNA’s other two wins include a 25-16 road victory at West Georgia and a record-setting 60-14 win over Utah Tech at home. The 60 points and 46-point margin of victory are both the highest totals of the FCS era.
Sixteen Lions celebrated senior day either last season or this season, including Takairee Kenebrew, Sam Contorno, Dakota Warfield, Kobe Warden, Kam’ron Green, TJ Smith, Jackson Bratton, Rush Lansdell, Logan Collier, Gregory Reddick, Marlon Krakue, AJ Phillips, Caleb McDougle, Scott Payne, Mickel Clay and Kaleb Brown.
