Carrollton, GA - For the second week in a row the UWG football team faced a top-ten team and came close to knocking off two in a row, but the Wolves came up short this evening, falling to North Alabama 31-28 in Gulf South Conference action in Florence, Ala. on Saturday night.

The Wolves, playing without starting quarterback Dallas Dickey, wasted no time in getting on the board as Emmanuel Taylor scored from 45 yards out on a zone read play to put the Wolves up 7-0 at the 11:40 mark in the first half.

On the ensuing drive, UNA was threatening into UWG territory until the Wolves' defense got a big play from Laronji Vason. The junior cornerback picked off Luke Wingo on the West Georgia 17 yard line to halt the North Alabama drive. The Wolves would not be able to capitalize as the Wolves were forced to punt.

The Lions got on the board on the next drive, a 14-play, 90 yard march capped off by a 17 yard touchdown pass from Luke Wingo to Dre Hall. The PAT was good, making a 7-7 game with 12:52 left in the first half.

That would be all the scoring in the first half as the Wolves ended the half on a Marcus Sayles interception as the Lions threw one last pass to the endzone.

North Alabama would open the second half with a fast 3:06 scoring drive ended by a one yard touchdown punched in by UNA quarterback, Luke Wingo.

The Wolves would answer th with an even quicker, lightning fast drive with the big play coming from Denarius Appling as the senior hauled in a 62 yard touchdown pass from Emmanuel Taylor to cap off a 4-play, 75-yard drive that took 1:28 off the clock.

After forcing a UNA punt, the Wolves faced third and long when an Emmanuel Taylor pass was picked off by Floyd Jones, setting up UNA in good field position in UWG territory. The Wolves' defense was up to the occasion as they made a big stop on third and goal and held the Lions to a field goal, giving UNA a 17-14 lead with 3:10 left in the third quarter.

UWG answered that score with a 10-play, 75-yard drive in which Emmanuel Taylor would score from 17 yards out on a great run, his second rushing touchdown of the game, giving UWG a 21-17 lead with 13:55 left on the clock in the final quarter.

After a UNA punt, West Georgia would be forced to punt as well, and a 31 yard return from UNA set the Lions up with excellent field position. Two plays later, the Lions regained the lead, 24-21 with 8:54 on the clock.

The ensuing West Georgia drive started on the 25 yard line and marched deep into UNA territory aided by a 51 yard pass from Taylor to Shaq Hall. After the teams traded five yard penalties, Emmanuel Taylor ran it from the four yard line for his third rushing touchdown of the night.

The Lions next possession was halted when Alex Armah forced a fumble after sacking Luke Wingo on a third and five play at the West Georgia 36 yard line. Dalvon Stuckey recovered the fumble and gave the Wolves the ball with the lead and with 5:12 left in the contest.

The Wolves would be forced to punt after six plays, giving the Lions the ball at the 20 yard line with just 2:04 left. The Lions marched down the field on the arm of Luke Wingo. With 44 seconds on the clock, Wingo found Delvon Carpenter for a nine yard touchdown, giving UNA a three point, 31-28 lead.

The Wolves would give it one last effort as Taylor's pass from the 35 yard line was intercepted as time expired, sealing the win for the Lions.

Emmanuel Taylor was spectacular on the night, throwing for 184 yards and one touchdown while rushing for 170 yards with three scores. Denarius Appling continued to be solid for UWG as Appling ran for 70 yards on 11 carries, while hauling in two receptions for 69 yards and a touchdown.

Defensively, Darrius Caldwell led with nine tackles including two and a half sacks. Laronji Vason, Zedekiah Brown, Gabe Freeman, and Carlos Hutton each had seven tackles on the night. The Wolves had two interceptions, one each from Laronji Vason and Marcus Sayles. The Wolves' defense also recovered two fumbles.

The loss puts the Wolves at 6-2 overall, and 2-2 in GSC play. The Wolves return home to the confines of Ra-Lin Field and University Stadium next Saturday, November 1, when the Mississippi College Choctaws come to Carrollton. That game is set to kickoff at 2:00 p.m.