Florence, Ala. – In an exciting matchup on Saturday night, TJ Smith showcased his talent by throwing two touchdown passes to Kobe Warden as North Alabama rallied from an eight-point deficit late in the third quarter to secure a 47-34 victory over Abilene Christian.

Abilene Christian entered the contest as the top team in the United Athletic Conference, boasting a 3-0 record. With their loss, the Wildcats drop to 4-3 overall while North Alabama improves its standing to 3-1, placing them in a tie with Abilene Christian and a half-game behind the league leaders, Tarleton State (6-1, 3-0).

The dynamic performance by Smith began early, as he delivered two touchdown passes within the first five minutes of the game, including an impressive 23-yard connection with Tanaka Scott. He further bolstered the Lions’ lead by scampering 46 yards into the end zone, giving his team a 20-14 advantage after the first quarter. However, Abilene Christian answered back in the second quarter, with Sam Hicks scoring two touchdowns, allowing the Wildcats to take a 27-20 lead at halftime.

The second half commenced with Smith throwing a 23-yard touchdown to Justin Luke, momentarily narrowing the gap. Yet, Isaiah Johnson scored to maintain Abilene Christian’s lead at 34-26, with just over 12 minutes remaining in the third quarter. Shortly after, Smith found Warden for a 37-yard touchdown pass, closing the distance to 34-33 as the quarter wrapped up. Jalen Fletcher later capped off an impressive eight-play, 88-yard drive with a 24-yard run, allowing North Alabama to take the lead for good. Smith and Warden connected once more with an eight-yard touchdown pass, solidifying the Lions’ victory with just 1:51 left in the game.

Smith completed 17 of 24 passes for 220 yards, adding four touchdowns to his tally despite one interception. He also contributed with his legs, rushing for 94 yards and two scores on nine carries. Meanwhile, Fletcher had an impressive outing with 123 rushing yards on 10 carries, and Warden made nine catches for 112 yards.

For the Wildcats, Maverick McIvor had a productive passing night, completing 30 of 48 attempts for 275 yards, accompanied by one touchdown and one interception. Hicks led the ground game with 99 yards on 13 carries, while Nehemiah Martinez emerged as a reliable target, catching 13 passes for 93 yards.