FLORENCE, Ala. — Sam Franklin ran for a career-high 221 yards and two long touchdowns in the fourth quarter and UT Martin dominated the second half for a 37-21 win over North Alabama on Saturday night.
Trailing 21-10 at the half, the Skyhawks used a long drive and a muffed punt to take the lead. Franklin then scored on runs of 74 and 43 yards to ice the win. Franklin, a sophomore, now has five career TDs of at least 65 yards and 10 of at least 20 yards.
North Alabama had a missed field goal, two punts, two failed two-point conversions and an interception end its second half possessions.
Marlon Cook scored on a four-yard run to cap an 80-yard drive then Kinkead Dent found Zoe Roberts for a 17-yard touchdown after Wyatt Gilbert recovered a muffed punt at the 19 to give UT Martin a 23-21 lead.
Dent was 13 of 30 for 172 yards with a touchdown and an interception for the Skyhawks (3-1), who had 308 yards on the ground.
Noah Walters was 30 of 52 for 286 yards and three touchdowns with an interception for the Lions (2-3), who honored their 1993 DII national championship team before and after the game. Walters had a short touchdown pass to Takairee Kenebrew and a 41-yard connection with Dakota Warfield in the first quarter. He found Kobe Warden for 11 yards in the second quarter. Warden had 11 catches for 106 yards.
UNA Athletics says the team is averaging 17 points scored off turnovers the last two weeks after scoring all 20 off turnovers against Tennessee Tech.