The University of West Alabama closed out the 2008 football season with a 41-9 setback to in-state rival North Alabama on Saturday night at Tiger Stadium.

UWA finished the campaign 4-7 overall and 2-6 in Gulf South Conference play.

The Tigers fell behind early in the contest after the Lions (10-1, 7-1 GSC) scored 17 of their 24 first half points in the second period. The UNA running back duo of Mike McClendon and David McCants each scored a touchdown in the session to extend UNA’s lead to 21-3.

McClendon, who posted a game-high 127 yards rushing, finished with a pair of touchdowns in the half.

The lone UWA points in the first half came on a 26-yard field goal by Mitch

Warfield, who closes out his career as UWA’s all-time scoring leader with 180 points.

UNA opened the second-half scoring with a 74-yard punt return by Charles McClain to extend the lead to 31-3.

The Tigers put their lone touchdown on the board near the end of the third period after quarterback Terry Allen scampered 70 yards to the promised land. Allen came up six yards shy of registering his third-consecutive contest with 100-plus yards.

UNA completed the scoring at the 7:00 mark of the final period on a 47-yard touchdown pass from Genario McNealy to Antyon Gray. As a team, the Lions racked up 403 total yards with 208 on the ground.

All of UWA’s 239 yards came by way of the rushing attack.

On special teams, freshman punter Brock Sharp was credited with 320 yards punting on eight attempts, tying a career-best for Sharp. He also registered his first career rush on a fake punt attempt that turned into a first down for the Tigers in the fourth quarter.

The contest marked the final game for 15 departing Tigers.