Riddick's last-minute tip saves North Alabama's 31-30 win over Utah Tech

Oct 22, 2023, 04:09 am

FLORENCE, Ala. -- — Gregory Reddick stretched his 5-foot 11-inch frame to its limit at the back of the end zone to tip away a 2-point conversion pass from Kobe Tracy with 31-seconds left to preserve North Alabama's 31-30 United Athletic Conference win over Utah Tech on Saturday night.

The victory was the first in four UAC games for the Lions (3-5).

Noah Walters found Dakota Warfield between two defenders in the middle of the field for a 28-yard touchdown with 1:37 left in the game to cap a nine-play, 74-yard drive to put North Alabama in front, 31-24, but the Trailblazers answered by driving 69 yards to get within a point after Tracy found Beau Sparks from 19 yards out. Eschewing a PAT to tie, Tracy threw to the back of the end zone only to have Riddick make a game-saving defense.

Utah Tech drove 99 yards in 11 plays to open the third quarter, tying the game on Ronnie Walker Jr.'s 1-yard plunge to make it 17-17. The Lions answered with an 81-yard, 15-play drive to retake the lead on a 1-yard run by Dennis Moody.

Tracy found Sparks for the first of their two touchdowns with 6:11 left to tie game at 24-all.

Walters completed 13 of 19 passes for 118 yards and a touchdown and added 105 rushing yards on 12 carries, leading a ground game that gained 302 yards for North Alabama.

Tracy was 26-of-40 passing for 397 yards and three touchdowns to lead Utah Tech (2-5, 1-1). Jaivian Lofton had four catches for 105 yards and Rickie Johnson had seven for 100 yards and a touchdown. Keith Davis caught six balls for 94 yards and Sparks caught eight for 92 yards and two scores.

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