FLORENCE -- Lee Chapple threw for 321 yards and three touchdowns and Jarmon Fortson pulled in six passes for 126 as the University of North Alabama opened its 2010 season with a 27-10 win over Henderson State at Braly Stadium. The No. 4 ranked Lions led 13-0 early before the Reddies closed the gap to 13-10 at the half. The Lions dominated the final 30 minutes but managed just two more scores for the win.

 

Although both teams are members of the Gulf South Conference, this was a non-conference battle. It was UNA's 25th consecutive victory over schools from the state of Arkansas and the Lions' 14th straight win over Henderson State dating back to 1971.

 

Chapple, a transfer from Georgia Southern, directed the Lions to the win. He completed 21 of 35 pass attempts for 321 yards and three scores, but was intercepted twice. Fortson, a transfer from Florida State, caught six passes for 126 yards and one touchdown.

 

UNA broke on the board first, driving 81 yards in six plays on its first possession of the season for a touchdown. Chapple hit Fortson with a 37-yard TD pass and Josh Montgomery added the extra point to give UNA a 7-0 lead at 11:20 of the first quarter.

 

North Alabama was again on the march on its second possession, driving 60 yards in 13 plays. The drive stalled at the Henderson five yardline and Montgomery came on to boot a 22-yard field goal to make it 10-0 at 2:09 of the first quarter.

 

A Chad Daniel interception at the UNA 12 halted a Henderson State drive in the second quarter and the Lions drove 75 yards in 11 plays for their next score. Montgomery hit a field goal from 30 yards out to make it 13-0 with 5:52 left in the half.

 

Henderson State came on in the final minutes of the half, however, as Sean McGrath pulled in a 33-yard pass from Nick Hardesty to make it 13-7 with 2:03 left. Then a 32-yard Eric Torres field goal made it 13-10 on the final play of the half.

 

The third quarter was relatively quiet until Lucas Darr picked off a Hardesty pass and returned it to the UNA 47. On the next play, Chapple hit Donald Bowens with a 53-yard scoring strike.  Montgomery's PAT made it 20-10 with 6:36 left in the third.

 

A 21-yard TD run by Wes Holland on a shovel pass with 2:28 left in the third would prove to be the final score of the game.

 

UNA gained 439 total yards on 75 offensive plays, while Henderson State was held to 274 yards on 64 plays. The Lions rushed for 118 yards and passed for 321. The Reddies gained 38 on the ground and 236 through the air.

 

Hilliard Foster led UNA with nine tackles.

 

North Alabama plays at Glenville State next Saturday at noon in Glenville, W.V.