Football | 10/8/2021 5:37:00 PM

North Carolina A&T (2-2, 1-0 BIG SOUTH) vs. North Alabama (0-5, 0-1 BIG SOUTH)
Date: October 9, 2021 
Time: 1 p.m. EST
City/Venue:  East Greensboro, N.C./Truist Stadium (21,500) 
Series: First meeting      
TV: ESPN+/Nexstar

 Donal Ware (play-by-play); Al Swann (analysts); Billy Covington (analysts)

NORTH CAROLINA A&T AGGIES: The Aggies made program history last week when they defeated Robert Morris University 41-14 at Truist Stadium. The Aggies recorded their first-ever Big South Conference win in the football program's history. Historically, the Aggies earned their first-ever Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) win on Oct. 23, 1971. In addition, they earned their first-ever Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) win on Oct. 18, 1924. The Aggies walked away from the MEAC with 11 conference titles, and they collected five CIAA titles. They hope Saturday's win over RMU will be the beginning of success in the Big South. 

If the Aggies are going to be successful this season in the conference, Jah-Maine Martin (5-10, 220, RB, R-SR, Conway, S.C.) will play a big part. Martin scored his first two touchdowns of the season and recorded his first 100-yard game in 2021 in the win over RMU. Martin's two touchdowns give him 34 for his career, including the two he had when he was a player for Coastal Carolina. Saturday marked his ninth career 100-yard game. Zach Leslie (6-4, 210, WR, Lawndale, N.C.) also returned to the Aggies lineup after missing the season's first three games and caught a 22-yard touchdown pass. 

Defensively, the Aggies have looked impressive the past two weeks. Opponents have rushed for a combined 106 yards against the Aggies over the past two weeks. The Aggies have the No. 1 rush defense in the Big South, holding teams to 95.2 yards per game. Jermaine McDaniel (6-3, 240, DE, SR, Dillon, S.C.) had two sacks against RMU and three in two games. Amir McNeill (5-9, 167, R-JR, Laurinburg, N.C.) had six unassisted tackles and broke up two passes. 

A&T HEAD COACH SAM WASHINGTON: Sam Washington is a 1982 graduate of Mississippi Valley State. Washington is 21-7 (.750) as the Aggies head coach in his third season on the field and fourth overall. In his rookie season as a head coach, Washington was named the 2018 MEAC coach of the year after leading the Aggies to a MEAC title and a Celebration Bowl victory. In year two, the Aggies won the MEAC again under Washington and took home the Celebration Bowl. In addition, he has two HBCU national titles, and Washington is off to the best two-year start of any football coach in A&T history. He comes into Saturday's game 13-3 (.813) against conference opponents. 

NORTH ALABAMA LIONS: The Lions are coming off a 48-31 loss at the hands of the Campbell Camels last Saturday. UNA attempted to add to a 24-7 lead with 26 seconds left in the first half, but a blocked field goal returned to the Lions' 38-yard line instead. With four seconds left, the Camels scampered into the end zone to make it 24-14 and scored on their first three drives of the second half en route to their first Big South win of the year. UNA has yet to grace the win column despite holding the lead late in the third quarter in four games this season.

Redshirt junior wide receiver Dexter Boykin leads the team in receiving yards (283) and average yards per game (56.60). He is also tied for the team lead in receptions (19) and touchdowns (2). Boykin has caught a pass in every game he has played in his career. He is coming off his best game of the year with seven receptions for 112 yards and two touchdowns against Campbell for his first 100-yard receiving game in 2021.          

Senior defensive end Wallace Cowins, Jr. has been filling up the stat sheet for UNA on the defensive side of the football. He leads the team in sacks (1.5) and is the only Lion to force and recover a fumble this year. He also has a quarterback hit, a pass break up and 2.5 tackles for loss, as well as 21 tackles overall. 

UNA'S HEAD COACH: Lions head coach Chris Willis is in his fifth season at the helm and his 20th season overall at UNA. He was announced as the 10th head coach in the program's history on December 22, 2016, and had spent the previous five seasons as the Lions defensive coordinator. He has an overall record of 16-24 (.400). 

THE QUARTERBACKS:  Jalen Fowler (6-4, 235, QB, JR, Spartanburg, S.C.) had his best game of the season. He threw for 206 and two touchdowns and an interception, and he rushed for 76 yards on seven carries. Fowler completed 15 of 20 passes (.750) in the process. He leads the Big South in passing efficiency, and he is second in passing yards per completion (13.51). The Lions have four quarterbacks on their roster. Unfortunately, injuries have plagued the quarterback room. Each QB has played in at least two games. Three of them have attempted 45 or more passes. Redshirt sophomore QB Rett Files, who started last game against the Camels, completed 31-of-46 passes for 379 yards and three touchdowns with one interception. Files is not; however, the quarterback with the most touchdown passes on the roster. That would be junior QB, Jaylen Gipson. 

Gipson was named the starter for the season-opener against Southeast Louisiana, a game where he shined, completing 23 passes for 350 yards and four touchdowns. Unfortunately, his touchdown numbers have not changed four weeks later because of an injury he sustained a week later against Chattanooga. 

OPPOSING POINT OF VIEW: "They are new to the Big South, but we are certainly aware of their reputation as a strong, well-coached football program. They were nationally ranked in the preseason, and they are receiving votes, even though they are 2-2 because their losses were to Duke and Furman. They are a team that likes to line up and run the ball right at you, and that will be a challenge for us defensively. They'll be one of the best running teams that we will face all season." 

North Alabama head coach Chris Willis on facing the Aggies

GAME NOTES: 

• A&T is 42-6 at home over the past 10 seasons. The Aggies have finished undefeated at home five times in the last 10 seasons. 
• Jah-Maine Martin had two touchdowns against RMU. It was his ninth career multiple touchdown game. 
• North Alabama dominated on the Division II level before transitioning to Division I-FCS in 2018. They own three Division II national championships and went to the playoffs 21 times. 
• The Aggies have won their last 20 home games by an average of 29.5 points.