North Alabama set for big Texas showdown

The saying goes that everything is bigger in Texas. And in the Division II regular season it doesn't get much bigger than Saturday's Texas showdown between No. 4 North Alabama and No. 3 Abilene Christian.

The game is part of a Division II triple-header to be held at the palatial Cowboys Stadium, an 80,000-seat, retractable-roof facility that cost more than $1 billion to build. UNA and Abilene will play in the second game of the day, with kickoff scheduled for 4 p.m.

"This is a great opportunity and will be a great experience for our players to get to play in one of the best sports venues on the planet," UNA coach Terry Bowden said. "But that doesn't diminish the fact that we are playing a very good football team and we have to go out there and take care of business. Our focus will be on a team that won its league a year ago and has been in the playoffs five straight years."

The Lions (2-0) are coming off a 48-21 victory over Glenville State after opening the season with a 31-10 win over Central Oklahoma. The UNA offense rolled up a total of 858 yards in those two games, with quarterback Lee Chapple throwing for 503 yards and four touchdowns. But the Lions already have committed seven turnovers.

UNA has struggled somewhat on defense, allowing an average of nearly 400 yards per game. That could pose a problem against Abilene Christian (1-0), which gained 335 yards passing and 101 yards rushing in a 27-24 victory over Tarleton State two weeks ago. Quarterback Mitchell Gale completed 26 of 49 passes and threw for three touchdowns in that game.

"Abilene Christian is definitely a team that I would like to see in the third or fourth round of the playoffs, not in the third game of the regular-season," Bowden said. "We have two good wins, but we will have to elevate our play on both sides of the ball against an Abilene team that is this talented. We won't have to play beyond our abilities, just to our abilities."

UNA definitely has shown the ability to beat opponents from outside the Gulf South Conference over the years. The Lions have won 15 consecutive regular-season games against nonconference teams dating to 2000. The Lions are 92-28-1 since the GSC's formation in 1972.

Alabama A&M vs. Tuskegee, 6 p.m.

Alabama A&M and Tuskegee will both be seeking their first victory when they meet in the second annual Louis Crews Classic.

A&M (0-2) was stagnant on offense last week in losing to Southern 21-6. The Bulldogs managed only 60 yards rushing and failed to reach the end zone, relying on Chance Wilson's two field goals for all their scoring.

Meanwhile, the Golden Tigers (0-1) fell to Langston 33-19, their first loss in a home opener in 13 years. Tuskegee had two turnovers, including a fumble that was returned for a touchdown, and went 1-for-13 on third-down conversions.

"We had a number of things go wrong," Tuskegee head coach Willie Slater said. "We have a young team, and we played like a young team."

Alabama State vs. Grambling State, 7 p.m.

Alabama State (1-1, 1-0 SWAC) enters its home opener with uncertainty over who will start at quarterback. Greg Jenkins injured his hip late in the first half of the Hornets' 14-7 loss to Eastern Michigan last week and did not return.

Devin Dominguez started for ASU in the second half of that game and completed 11 of 19 passes for 136 yards and a touchdown. Jenkins and Dominguez have combined to throw 64 passes this season without an interception.

Grambling (1-1, 1-0) is coming off a 35-7 loss to Louisiana-Monroe, but the Tigers opened the season with a 21-14 victory over SWAC opponent Alcorn State, holding the Braves to 266 yards in total offense.

"Their defense is really good. They play fast and with a lot of energy," ASU coach Reggie Barlow said. "We know we have a huge challenge."

Jacksonville St. vs. Georgia St., 2:30 p.m.

Jacksonville State sophomore linebacker Clarence Jackson, a transfer from Ole Miss, has been cleared by the NCAA to play this week against Georgia State.

Jackson's presence could help the Gamecocks (1-1), who gave up 508 yards in last week's 38-17 loss to Chattanooga (296 passing, 212 rushing). It was the most yards allowed by JSU in seven seasons.

"We have many players capable of making plays who didn't make them," JSU coach Jack Crowe said.

Georgia State also is trying to bounce back from a big loss after falling to Old Dominion 40-17. JSU defeated the Panthers last season 34-27 in overtime.

Gamecocks quarterback Coty Blanchard completed 13 of 23 passes for 164 yards with an interception in his first start since Marques Ivory sustained a fractured leg bone.

West Alabama vs. Central State, 7 p.m.

West Alabama (1-1) will play a team from Ohio for the first time in the program's 80-year history when Central State comes to Livingston.

UWA had 446 yards in total offense in last week's 42-35 victory over Tarleton State.

Central State, which is coached by former Alabama player E.J. Junior, lost to North Carolina Central last week 42-3.

Stillman at Kentucky State, 6 p.m.

In order to have a chance against undefeated Kentucky State (2-0), Stillman (1-1) will have to improve on a running game that managed only 45 yards on 35 carries in last week's 48-6 loss to Samford.

Kentucky State has opened the season with victories over Central State, 39-21, and Lincoln, 43-27.