GAC WEEK 5 SCHEDULE
Saturday, September 28, 2024
Oklahoma Baptist vs Henderson State 1:00 P.M
Carpenter-Haygood Stadium at GeoSurfaces Field – Arkadelphia, Arkansas
Series History: Henderson State leads 8-0
Last Meeting: HSU, 27-14 (September 30, 2023
Oklahoma Baptist Notes
Valiant Defensive Effort Last Saturday’s game with East Central brought one of the best defensive performances in OBU history. Not only did the Bison come up with interceptions by Brayden Johnson and Jylun Spence, but they also held the Tigers to 10 points and only 27 rushing yards. Since the program started Division II play in 2015, that’s the fourth-fewest rush yards allowed to an opponent in a single game. The previous best was last season when OBU held Northwestern Oklahoma State to 17 yards. In the 2015 campaign, the Bison also held NWOSU to 10 yards, the fewest rush yards allowed. Another Defensive Point The collective effort on defense against ECU had some other solid numbers. In addition to the rush yards allowed and interceptions, there were other great plays made. Brandon Spencer II notched two pass break-ups while Tainique Taylor and Triston De La Rosa added PBUs. Plus, four different defenders recorded QB hurries: KJ Price Jr., Austin Vincent, Thomas Gort III and Bryce Starlin. Speaking of Johnson Six-foot-four junior linebacker Brayden Johnson had one of his best games in a Bison uniform last week. He had nine tackles, a career-best 4.0 tackles-for-loss and an interception, his first. That pick, which came in the fourth quarter with OBU nursing a 13-10 lead, was a crucial moment and played a large part in the Bison win over East Central. This season, the Ringling, Okla., native ranks seventh in the GAC with 36 tackles and his 5.0 TFLs are slotted 10th in the league. Throw It Up There’s only one Great American Conference receiver with four touchdown catches this fall: Charles Whitebear. An imposing wideout, standing 6-foot-4, the Haslet, Texas native hauled in two more touchdown catches against East Central last week. A true redzone threat, three of Whitebear’s four scoring grabs have come within 10 yards. He had a 10-yard touchdown during week one’s game at Arkansas Tech. And then last Saturday, Whitebear hauled in six- and three-yard scoring grabs against the Tigers.
All Hail Maxwell Sophomore Patrick Maxwell was named GAC Special Teams Player of the Week on Sept. 30, his first career honor. The Georgetown, Texas native was awfully good in punting and field-goal situations last week against ECU. He punted six times for 248 yards, a 41.3-yard average, and pinned two inside the 20-yard line. One of Maxwell’s kicks went for a career-long 54 yards. In that department, Maxwell ranks tied for fourth in the GAC with five punts downed inside the 20-yard line. As for field goals, he made two, a 33-yarder and a career-long 43-yarder. By converting a pair, Maxwell moved one off the GAC lead with five made field goals this fall. Last Time vs. HSU A 17-point first-half deficit proved too much for OBU as they fell 27-14 against the No. 24 Reddies of Henderson State on Sept. 30, 2023 inside Crain Family Stadium. HSU held the Bison to 119 yards of offense in the first half while the opposition racked up 210 yards, including 125 yards on the ground. The Reddies led 24-7 at the halftime intermission. Aidan Thompson threw for 137 yards with one touchdown while EJ Moore carried nine times for 41 yards, a 4.6-yard average. Michael Marshall hauled in a team-high seven passes for 95 yards while Charles Whitebear caught two touchdowns. Defensively, Scooter Baker had 10 tackles, tying for the game-high lead. A Familiar Face The Bison defense will see the same Henderson State signal-caller on Saturday that it has faced the previous two seasons. Andrew Edwards, a 6-foot-3 redshirt junior from Bentonville, Ark., is back again for the Reddies. He currently leads the GAC averaging 215.8 passing yards per game with an efficiency rating of 133.6. Edwards has five touchdown passes but also five interceptions through four games. In the two previous matchups against OBU, Edwards has averaged 238 passing yards and two touchdowns. Defending The Reddies There are three skill-position players worth keeping an eye on: running back Jeremiah Davis and receivers Timieone Jackson and Jalen Abraham. For HSU’s rushing attack, Davis is fifth in the league with 298 yards and a 74.5 per-game average. He also has five rushing touchdowns. As for the two receivers, Jackson’s 23 catches are conference-best while Abraham’s 16.0 yards-per-catch is a top-15 GAC total. Playing in Arkadelphia There have been three previous games between Oklahoma Baptist and Henderson State in Arkadelphia: Nov. 5, 2022; Oct. 6, 2018; and Oct. 29, 2016. What’s transpired has been all Reddies as they have averaged 58 points per game including scoring 67 during the 2016 contest at Carpenter-Haygood Stadium.
Henderson State Notes
STORYLINES: SETTING THE SCENE
• Henderson State looks to bounce back in front of its home crowd at Carpenter-Haygood Stadium after suffering its first loss of the season last week. Through eight all-time meetings with the Bison, HSU is a perfect 8-0 with an average margin of victory of 17.4 points. • Oklahoma Baptist searches for its first-ever win over the Reddies. Four of its eight losses to Henderson have been decided by one possession.
REDDIES REPORT: OFFENSE
• Quarterback Andrew Edwards paces the GAC in passing yards (863) and completions (68). His 84-yard scoring strike to Cayden Davis against ECU remains the longest completion in the conference this season. • Jeremiah Davis earned GAC Offensive Player of the Week honors for his 158-yard, three-touchdown performance against Arkansas Tech two weeks ago. The junior from Montalba, Texas, currently finds himself in the top five on the GAC leaderboards for both rushing touchdowns (tied for second with five) and rushing yards (fifth with 298). • Timieone Jackson continues to lead the Great American Conference with 23 catches. His 187 receiving yards are also the most of any Reddie player and the fifth-most in the league. • Though he has moved to the running back room for the 2024 season, Jalen Abraham remains a key factor in HSU’s air attack. The senior from Shreveport, Louisiana, is second on team with 160 yards on 10 receptions, with two of those catches going for touchdowns. Abraham is ranked ninth in the GAC in receiving yards. • In the first four weeks of the season, 12 different players caught at least one pass for the Reddies. Four of those players (Jackson, Abraham, Cayden Davis, and Jody Easter) have more than 100 receiving yards each. Newcomer Bryson Corbin also has a touchdown and is fourth on the team with six receptions.
REDDIES REPORT: DEFENSE
• Gary Lewis recorded ten tackles in the loss at Harding – the most of any player for either team. The former Fordyce Redbug leads the Reddies with 28 tackles, including 19 solo stops, seven tackles for loss, and two sacks. Lewis is currently fifth in the conference in tackles for loss. • Cameron Thomas paces the Reddies’ secondary with two interceptions. Fellow defensive back Kolbi Crawford returned his only pick of the season thus far for a 43-yard touchdown against Arkansas Tech. Crawford is second on the team with 22 tackles. • Defensive lineman Jamarion Citizen recorded a career-high four tackles against Harding. Half of the Church Point, Louisiana, native’s stops were solo efforts. • Both Citizen and Jaylen Powell posted tackles for loss in last week’s contest.
REDDIES REPORT: SPECIAL TEAMS
• Axel Robertson averaged 44 yards per punt on six attempts at Harding, including a long of 65. • Through four games, Robertson has the second-best punt average in the GAC at 42.6 yards per attempt.
THE OPPONENT: OKLAHOMA BAPTIST
• Oklahoma Baptist picked up its first win of the year in a 20-10 effort at home against East Central last week. The Bison have not won a GAC game in Arkansas since October 30, 2021: a 44-40 victory over Southern Arkansas in Magnolia. • Quarterback Kenny Rosenthal is eighth in the league with 406 passing yards on 42 completions. His quarterback efficiency rating of 95.2 ranks 11th of 11 qualified passers in the conference this season. • Aidan Thompson took over as the Bison’s starting quarterback for the ECU game. The redshirt junior from Abilene, Texas, completed 16 of his 30 passes for 187 yards and two touchdowns. He added 30 yards on the ground in the victory. • Charles Whitebear finds himself amongst the GAC’s top 10 receivers with 143 yards on 11 receptions in 2024. His longest catch – a 61-yard touchdown against Arkansas Tech – served as his team’s first offensive score of the new campaign. He leads all GAC players with four receiving touchdowns after four games. • EJ Moore accounts for more than half of the Bison’s rushing yardage this year with 163 yards on 55 attempts. • Scooter Baker is third in the conference with 9.7 tackles per game in 2024. Baker did not appear in OKBU’s win against East Central. • Brayden Johnson paces the Bison’s defensive unit with 36 tackles (19 solo) and five tackles for loss. The junior from Ringling, Oklahoma, also has a pick and a fumble recovery to his credit this year. Jylun Spence joins Johnson as the only other Oklahoma Baptist player with at least 30 total tackles. • The Bison are third in the conference with five field goals made this season. All five makes belong to Patrick Maxwell, who has also done all of the punting for this season’s squad. • OKBU is last in the GAC with 1,529 total yards allowed and 11th in the league with 35.5 points allowed per game through four contests. The Bison have given up the most rushing yards in the conference (918) during that span.
THE LAST MEETING
• Henderson State’s offense put up three touchdowns while finishing the day with less than 300 total yards. HSU scored 24 of its 27 points in the first half. • The Reddies tallied 184 yards on the ground. Jeremiah Davis and Frederick O’Donald both posted more than 50 rushing yards apiece. Davis hit pay dirt with a 10-yard score on the first play of the second quarter. • Oklahoma Baptist’s Michael Marshall led both teams with 95 yards on seven catches. • HSU’s Jakob Neel and OKBU’s Scooter Baker both had 10 tackles each. • Kolby King went three-of-three on PATs and made field goals from 33 and 38 yards out.
AROUND THE GAC
• Arkansas schools enter the week 12-0 in GAC play against Oklahoma teams. • No. 1 Harding aims to bring its win streak to 25 games at Southwestern Oklahoma. • No. 14 Ouachita travels to Southeastern Oklahoma State. • Southern Arkansas hosts Southern Nazarene in the conference’s only night game.
[1/1] Harding vs Southwestern Oklahoma State 2:00 P.M.
Flex-Chem Field at Milam Stadium – Weatherford, Oklahoma
Series History: Harding leads 13-5
Last Meeting: HU, 64-0 (September 30, 2023)
Harding Notes
Harding Team Notes
• Coming off a 66-0 victory Saturday against No. 20 Henderson State, No. 1 ranked Harding plays its first of five day games Saturday against Southwestern Oklahoma … kickoff at Flex-Chem Field is at 2 p.m. • Harding enters the game with a 23-game overall winning streak, the longest streak in NCAA football, a 19-game conference winning streak, and an 11-game road winning streak … HU has won its last nine games in Oklahoma. • KEY STAT: HU’s rushing defense is 3rd nationally, allowing 48.0 yards per game, while SWOSU ranks 137th, allowing 197.0 yards per game … only two of Harding’s last 11 opponents have rushed for more than 100 yards in a game. • This will be the 19th meeting between HU and SWOSU with the Bisons holding a 13-5 lead … HU has won the last seven overall and the last two meetings in Weatherford … the average score during HU’s winning streak is 48-12. • Tenth-ranked Harding dominated SWOSU 64-0 in GAC play last season in Searcy, extending its winning streak to nine games, behind 587 total yards, 462 rushing yards, and a stifling defense that held Southwestern to just 79 yards and four first downs. • Harding is ranked No. 1 in the AFCA Preseason Top 25 Coaches Poll … Harding has appeared in 69 consecutive AFCA polls, dating to the final poll of the 2017 season … Harding is 1st on the D2Football.com poll and 1st at MasseyRatings.com. • Harding is 72-9 (.889) in GAC games since 2016. The Bisons have lost one conference game by more than 10 points since 2015. • Harding leads Division II in scoring offense at 61.3 points per game … the Bisons have scored 59 or more points in four straight games, the first time in program history to score 50 or more in four straight … HU needs 29 points to break the school record of 287 points scored (in 2021) over five consecutive games. • For only the seventh time in program history, Harding’s defense has allowed fewer than 10 points in four consecutive games … the only longer streak came over a 7-game stretch that spanned the 1928 and 1929 seasons. • Harding has eclipsed 500 yards of total offense in each of the first four games (and six straight games dating to last season) … HU ranks second in D2 with 576.0 total yards per game and leads D2 with 8.47 yards per play and 32 offensive TD. • Harding leads D2 with 488.8 rushing yards per game (Eastern N.M. is 2nd at 396.5), 7.79 yards per rush (Mo. Western 2nd at 6.65) and 28 rush TD (Eastern N.M. 2nd at 16) … two of HU’s top eight rushing totals have come this season (7th, 554, vs. Southern Nazarene; 8th, 546, vs. Henderson St.). • OPPONENT WATCH: SWOSU leads the conference and ranks 10th nationally in turnover margin (+1.50) and is tied for 1st in turnovers gained (14) … QB Kai Kunz ranks 1st in the conference and 35th nationally in rushing yards (351), and 2nd in the conference and 21st nationally in rushing yards per carry (6.38).
Harding Player Notes
• QB COLE KEYLON … 28-2 as a starter … 8th in career rush TD at HU (23, needs 2 for 6th; 13th among active D2 players) … 11th in career passing TD (17, needs 2 for 10th) … need 26 rush yards for 1,500 in his career … 125 pass yds, 2 TD vs. SW in ‘23 • FB BLAKE DELACRUZ … 41 rush TD is 3rd at HU & 5th active D2 … 6th at HU & 7th active D2 with 2,659 rush yards, needs 31 yards for 5th (Zach Shelley, 2,689, 2014-17) … 30 rushes, 186 yards, 3 TD career vs. SWOSU … 7th active D2 with 6.0 yds/rush • SB JHALEN SPICER … 14th in career rush yards (1,784) … 7 rushes, 108 yards, 2 TD vs. SW in ‘22 … 4 100-yard games • SB BRADEN JAY … has scored 7 TD on 17 touches in ‘24 … second career 3TD game vs. HSU … 13.78 yards per carry career • WR DARIUS BROWN … 6 career receptions for 175 yards, 29.2 yards per catch • WR DANE ROMBERGER … scored 53-yard TD vs. UAM, 1st career TD • RT JAKE DUGGER … 26th start, most among HU OL … 2023 HM All-GAC … 3rd among active D2 OL with 41 games played • DL DRE HALL … 3rd at HU and 6th active D2 w/20.5 sacks (needs 4 for HU record) … 29.0 career TFL, 8th at HU/17th active D2 • DL GAGE PRICE … has 5 career blocked kicks … 11.5 career sacks, 20.0 TFL … 3rd in GAC sacks (3.0) and 9th in TFL (5.0) • DL TIRRELL JOHNSON … 2.5 TFL, 1.0 sack, 2 QBH in ‘24 … all three of his tackles have been for losses • DL WESLEY COLEMAN … 8 tackles, 2.0 TFL in three career games vs. SWOSU • LB CLARK GRIFFIN … has team-high 21 tackles … has 11 tackles, 2.0 TFL in 2 games vs. SW … needs 13 tackles for 200 career • LB CAYDEN PIERCE … second on the team with 14 tackles and two PBU • DB TY DUGGER … 3rd in GAC and 15th in D2 with 11.9 yards per punt return … 28th active D2 with 203 punt return yards • DB TRAVIS GREENAWALT … had one tackle vs. SWOSU in ‘23 • DB JEREMIAH JORDAN … needs two PBU for 10 in his career • DB KYLE MCDONALD … needs three tackles for 50 in his career … 6 tackles, 1.0 TFL in 3 games vs. SWOSU • DB DARION DUNLAP-JOHNSON … had a 23-yard INT TD return vs. SWOSU in ‘23 • RS KENDALE ALLEN has 1,158 career return yards, third at HU … had first career INT vs. HSU • K MAGNUS LEPAK … 2nd in GAC scoring (43 points) … 16 of his 41 kickoffs have gone for touchbacks
Southwestern Oklahoma State Notes
A home matchup with No. 1-ranked and undefeated Harding awaits SWOSU Football on Saturday when the Bisons visit Weatherford for the first afternoon kickoff of the season.
The Bulldogs (2-2) enter week five riding a small win streak thanks to victories over East Central and Southern Nazarene in weeks three and four.
Last week against SNU, the Dawgs racked up 233 yards on the ground (5.0 yards/carry) where five different runners logged at least seven carries. Kai Kunz headed that rushing attack from the quarterback spot. He totaled 93 yards on 13 attempts and scored three times including a 37-yard run in the fourth quarter for the go-ahead, game-winning score. He now has at least two rushing touchdowns in each of the last three games and his seven rushing touchdowns ranks second in the league behind Harding’s Blake Delacruz.
Meanwhile, on only seven touches, Michael Arceneaux II moved the chains regularly. Arceneaux averaged nearly 11 yards per carry in his first showing of the season at running back.
In SWOSU’s back-to-back wins, they have a combined 504 yards rushing. In two losses this year, that number shrinks to a combined 242.
The Bulldogs forced another four turnovers last week against SNU and now have 14 takeaways this year – ranked second nationally. SWOSU now has nine interceptions total – four from Desmond Greene and three from Wyatt Rohmer – and has four players who have recovered five total fumbles led by Cadynce Hall with two.
Interceptions might be hard to come by on Saturday. Harding has thrown 21 total passes in four games with zero interceptions. They have fumbled five times this season.
Harding enters the game with a defense statistically ready for SWOSU’s run game. Through four games the Bisons are allowing just 48.0 yards per game, ranking fourth in Division II, and have not surrendered a rushing touchdown. They’ve been even better defending the pass, averaging just under 90 yards (89.5) per game – a number that leads D2.
Offensively, it’s no secret – Harding is going to run the ball. They average 488.8 yards per game and nearly 8 yards per rush out of the flexbone and have scored 28 times. As a unit, they’re putting up 61.8 points per game and allowing just 2.5. Both also lead D2.
SWOSU has lost seven-straight to Harding. The last win came in Weatherford back on Oct. 31, 2015. The Bulldogs are 2-10 against the Bisons in the GAC, but 2-2 at home in that time.
[14/14] Ouachita Baptist vs Southeastern Oklahoma State 2:00 P.M.
Paul Laird Field – Durant, Oklahoma
Series History: Ouachita Baptist leads 36-19-4
Last Meeting: OUA, 34-7 (September 30, 2023)
THE SERIES
Saturday’s meeting is the 60th all-time between the Tigers and Savage Storm in football. Ouachita holds the all-time series advantage 34-21-4. The series began in 1913 with a 0-0 tie, and then Ouachita rattled off eight wins in a row over the next 40 years. Since the two squads became charter members of the GAC, the Tigers hold a 9-3 advantage. During that time, nine of the 12 meetings were decided by two scores or less.
[14/14] Ouachita Baptist Notes
TIGER TRACKS
TOP 15
4-0 Ouachita moved into the top 15 of both national polls this week, earning the No. 14 spot in both the American Football Coaches Association Top 25 and the D2Football.com Top 25. The Tigers have been ranked nationally by the AFCA in 68 of the last 69 polls, reaching as high as No. 3 during the 2022 season. Ouachita is one of four teams in the GAC receiving national recognition this week. Harding is No. 1 in both polls. Henderson State and Southern Arkansas are both receiving votes in the AFCA poll.
TIGERS MENTIONED ON NCAA.COM
NCAA.com D2 columnist Wayne Cavadi publishes weekly power rankings that highlight the top 10 teams in the nation. Ouachita was included in this week’s first five out: “The Tigers haven’t played the toughest schedule, but they have also utterly dominated the teams they played. There is a long way to go, but they deserve this lofty ranking for now.”
SECOND TRIP TO THE SOONER STATE
Ouachita is 31-3 in the state of Oklahoma since the formation of the Great American Conference in 2011. The Tigers have not lost in Oklahoma since week two of the 2016 season, a 45-38 setback in Durant against this week’s opponent, Southeastern Oklahoma State.
LAST TIME OUT VS. SOUTHEASTERN
The Tigers controlled the pace from the beginning in last year’s 34-7 homecoming victory at Cliff Harris Stadium. Southeastern was limited to just five plays in the first quarter and didn’t score until the final minute of the game. Ouachita outgained SE 319-273.
OUACHITA STAT NOTABLES
• For the fourth week in a row, Ouachita leads all of NCAA Division II in tackles for loss with an average of 12 per game. The Tigers hit right at that average in last week’s win over UAM. • Mikey Gonzalez is third in the GAC and seventh in the nation in tackles for loss (2.3 per game). He is second in the GAC and fifth in the nation in sacks (1.25 per game). • Ouachita is one of 19 teams in the nation and two teams in the GAC to remain unbeaten. • Quarterback Eli Livingston leads the GAC in eight different categories: passing efficiency (187.8), passing touchdowns (8), passing yards per completion (16.8), points responsible for (16.5), rush yards per carry (7.7), passing yards per attempt (10.56), and total offense (246.8). • Connor Flannigan leads the GAC and ranks second in the nation in punt returns with an average of 24.5 yards per return. As a team, Ouachita is second in the GAC and ninth nationally at 21.0. • Carter McElhany is one of two players in the GAC to have a kickoff return for a touchdown this season. He is second in the GAC and 17th nationally with an average of 32 yards per return. • Holding UAM to just two scores kept Ouachita’s scoring defense average below 10 per game at 9.8, which ranks second in the GAC and fifth nationally. • The Tigers also rank second in the GAC and fifth nationally in scoring offense at 43 points per game. Ouachita has scored at least 42 points in three of the four games this season. • The Tigers have one of the best kickoff and punt return defenses in the nation. The Tigers lead the GAC and rank third nationally in punt return defense, actually pushing opponents into the negative with an average of -2 yards per punt return. The kickoff cover unit is third in the GAC and fifth nationally, only allowing opponents an average of 12.9 yards per return. • The Tigers lead the GAC and rank second nationally in net punting at 44 yards per punt. If punter Tom Weston met the NCAA minimum of 3.6 punts per game, he would rank seventh in the nation with an average of 45.38 yards per punt. The Australia native has four kicks of at least 50 yards this season and 10 punts that have been downed inside the opponent 20-yard line. • Ouachita is second in the GAC and fourth nationally in third downs, converting at 56.1 percent. • Ouachita is second in the GAC in both red zone offense and red zone defense. On offense, the Tigers are scoring 90 percent of the time. On defense, the Tigers are holding opponents scoreless 57 percent of the time. • Josiah Johnson’s blocked punt last week against UAM made Ouachita one of 49 teams in D2 to have at least one blocked punt.
SCOUTING THE SAVAGE STORM
After starting the season 0-2 with losses to Southern Arkansas (36-31) and Henderson State (34-17), the Savage Storm has reeled off two wins in a row heading into this week’s matchup with the Tigers. Southeastern beat Oklahoma Baptist 29-10 in week three before beating Northwestern Oklahoma State last Saturday by a final score of 27-21. Southeastern’s defense has been explosive this season as one of 19 teams to have at least two defensive scores so far. The Storm ranks near the middle of the pack or above in the GAC in most statistical categories. Junior linebacker Braeden Winters, the reigning D2Football.com national defensive player of the week, is second in the league and fifth in the nation with an average of 11 tackles per game. Last week against NWOSU, he totaled 14 tackles, including four tackles for loss and two sacks. Bo Atterberry is in the second year of his second stint as head coach at Southeastern and his seventh overall season with the Storm. He was also the head coach at Southeastern from 2014-18
Southeastern Oklahoma State Notes
Noteworthy…
• The 2024 season marks 111th season of Southeastern football overall, 27th since joining NCAA Division II, and the 14th season as a member of the Great American Conference. • Southeastern will be taking on a ranked foe for the second time this season after falling at then #24 Henderson State in week two. The last time SE picked up a win over a ranked opponent was in 2021 when it downed then #5 Ouachita Baptist 35-21 on the road. SE picked up a pair of ranked wins that season but has dropped its last six matchups with ranked opponents. Overall, SE is 5-34 since 200 versus nationally ranked competition. • SE trails the series against Ouachita Baptist 19-36-4 in what is easily its most played series against an Arkansas program with Saturday being the 60th meeting between the teams on the gridiron. The teams first met in 1914, playing to a 0-0 tie. Since joining the GAC together Ouachita has held an edge, winning nine of the 12 matchups. However, prior to that, between 1988 and 2003, SE owned a 10-4 record. • Southeastern junior linebacker Braeden Winters was named the D2Foot- ball.com Defensive Player for the Week following his 14 tackles, four TFL, and two sack performance in the week four win over Northwestern Oklahoma State. • SE heads into the 2024 season picked to finish fifth in the GAC Preseason Poll. The poll, voted on by the league’s coaches, saw the Savage Storm pick up 72 points in the voting, finishing eight points ahead of Arkansas Tech in sixth. Harding was the preseason top pick with 10 of the 12 possible first-place votes, followed by Ouachita Baptist in Second and Southern Arkansas in third place with one first-place nod apiece. Henderson State was fourth just ahead of the Storm, while Oklahoma Baptist checked in seventh, followed by Arkansas-Monticello and East Central in eighth and ninth, respectively. Southern Nazarene, Southwestern Oklahoma State, and Northwestern Oklahoma State would round out the poll in order. • SE returns a pair of All-GAC honorees, both in the backfield as DJ Brown was the team’s leading rusher and was a second team pick at running back, while Ryan Hirt was the number two rusher and was a selection for his special teams play. • The Storm returns five players who started at least five games last season on offense, and six on the defensive side. • SE’s initial 2-deep features plenty of youth as 10 of the 22 listed offensive players are sophomores in standing or younger, including three starters. Defensively the number is also 10, with four in starting roles. Storm special teams has just one but returns all its starters from last season. • SE RB DJ Brown is one of a record 178 nominees for the 2024 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team which features players and coaches from across the country and at every four-year collegiate level. A junior from Leonard, Texas, he becomes the fourth Savage Storm player in the last eight seasons to earn a nomination to the team. He put together 641 yards and four touchdowns on the ground in his first season with the Storm and added 94 yards and two scores receiving on his way to a second team all-GAC honor. Off the field, he has been an academic All-GAC selection and will be the president of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee for the upcoming season.
Arkansas-Monticello vs East Central 3:00 P.M.
Koi Ishto Stadium – Ada, Oklahoma
Series History: East Central leads 11-6
Last Meeting: UAM, 35-28 (September 30, 2023)
Arkansas-Monticello Notes
No notes available.
East Central Notes
No notes available.
Arkansas Tech vs Northwestern Oklahoma State 3:00 P.M.
Ranger Field – Alva, Oklahoma
Series History: Arkansas Tech leads 15-5
Last Meeting: ATU, 44-21 (September 30, 2023)
THE SERIES
This will be the 21st meeting all-time between Arkansas Tech and Northwestern Oklahoma in a series that dates back to 1956. After that initial meeting in Russellville, the two NAIA schools didn’t play until 1987, and then played eight-straight years until Tech moved to the NCAA. In 2012, NWOSU joined Tech in the GAC and became conference opponents. In that time span, Tech leads the series 10-1 Overall, Tech leads the series 16-4.
Arkansas Tech Notes
KICKING OFF
The Arkansas Tech football team hits the road this week and will head towards the panhandle of Oklahoma to take on Northwestern Oklahoma in search of snapping a two-game losing skid. Despite being played on the first Saturday in October, the forecasted temperature for the day is expected to be in the mid 90s in Alva. Other weather variables might play a factor as well with predicted winds of 15-25 MPH from the SSW as well as the possibility of higher wind gusts. Kick-off for the game is scheduled for 6 p.m.
TECH(NICALLY) SPEAKING
LAST GAME
The Wonder Boys are coming off a tough loss on the road at No. 20/17-ranked Henderson State this past Saturday. In that game, the Wonder Boys more than rose to the challenge of playing a highly-potent Reddies offense on the road as Tech held Henderson to just 230 yards of total offense with only 79 of those coming through the air. Coming into the game, the Reddies were averaging 533.5 yards of total offense with 333.5 of those yards coming in the passing attack.
SCOUTING THE OFFENSE
Offensively after four games, the Wonder Boys are averaging 22.3 points per game and 363.0 yards of total offense. Their ppg average ranks seventh in the GAC, while their total offense ranks third. In the passing game, the Wonder Boys used a trio of quarterbacks with Ethan Forrester getting the start against Oklahoma Baptist in the season-opener and Ethan Everson starting the next two games before Hunter Loyd received the nod most recently against Southern Arkansas. In his game played against Oklahoma Baptist, Forrester was 15-of-18 passing for 197 yards and two touchdowns. He also added 78 yards of rushing on eight carries. Overall, Everson has played in all four games and has thrown for 649 yards on 48-of-80 passing with four touchdowns and two interceptions. On the ground, the Wonder Boys have had 10 different ball carriers against this season. Deuce Wise has shouldered the largest load with 55 carries and leads the team in net yards with 194. Luke Gall is next with 182 yards rushing on 41 carries with a team-high two touchdowns. Jordan Edington, who handles most of the short-yardage downs, has recorded one of the other two rushing touchdowns with Myles West accounting the other. In terms of receiving, Tech has had pass completions to 12 different targets. Caleb Tanis leads the team in receptions with 22, yards at 351 and touchdowns with two. Joyrion Chase has gone over 200 yards receiving through four games and has a touchdown.
SCOUTING THE DEFENSE
Defensively through four games, the Wonder Boys allow an average of 278.3 yards of total offense per game by their opponents and 28.0 points per game. The total defense ranks eighth in the GAC, while their scoring defense is third. Individually, Tech has eight players that registered at least 15 tackles overall are led by Jyrin Steward and his 38 stops. Steward also lead the team in tackles for loss with 14.0 and has 2.0 sacks. Israel Whitmore is currently the team leader in sacks with 2.5. In terms of takeaways, the Wonder Boys have recovered a fumble and come away with four interceptions. Three of the picks have been hauled in by CJ Palmer, while the fumble recovery was secured by Jordan Thompson.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Christopher Baldazo has assumed the placekicking duties for the Wonder Boys and in three games he is 6-for-7 in field goals with a long of 47 yards against Oklahoma Baptist. He is also 3-of-5 in extra point kicks. In the punting game, Logan Tymeson has been called upon to punt 20 times this season and is averaging 40.4 yards per punt. In the return game, Tyrique Jones leads the team in kickoff return yards with 90 yards on three returns. His long is 40 yards. On punts, he has returned three for 22 yards with a long of 16.
KNOW YO FOE
LAST GAME
The Northwestern Oklahoma Rangers enter the game against Tech having lost their most recent game at home to Southeastern Oklahoma, 27-21. In that game, Southeastern jumped out to a 20-0 lead and led 20-7 heading into the fourth quarter. The Rangers would score a pair of touchdowns in the final period. Those bookended Southeastern’s final touchdown to bring the game to a one-possession margin.
THE COACH
The Rangers are coached by Ronnie Jones, who is in his second year as the head coach at his alma mater, Northwestern Oklahoma. A long-time coach, Jones had four prior seasons of head coaching experience prior to coming back to NWOSU and was 11-31 in that time. Overall, Jones is 13-44.
SCOUTING THE OFFENSE
Offensively, the Rangers feature a spread offensive attack. Through four games this year, NWOSU has the 11th-ranked scoring offense in the GAC at 11.0 ppg and the 11th-ranked total offense with an average of 198.8 ypg. Through the air, the Rangers are averaging 140.5 ypg to rank 9th in the GAC. On the ground, NWOSU is averaging 58.3 ypg to rank 12th in the GAC. The leading rusher thus far has been Darien Gill with 126 yards gained. The lone rushing score was by Giorgio Spiropoulos. In the passing game, the Rangers have used two different quarterbacks with Brodey Jonhson and Beck Moss sharing duties. Both have attempted over 40 passes. Johnson has the most attempts with 54. He also has the most passing yards with 374 on 34 completions. Johnson has three of the team’s four passing touchdowns and has one interception. The leading receiver for NWOSU is Jahmiq Johnson with 114 yards on six receptions. Chase Davidson and Mark Zamora are tied for the team-lead in receptions with 12. Kyle Royal leads the corp. in touchdown receptions with two.
SCOUTING THE DEFENSE
Defensively, the Rangers base out of the 4-3 scheme and currently rank 10th in scoring defense, allowing 31.0 ppg. Their total defense ranks ninth in the GAC allowing 356.5 ypg of total offense by their opponents. Through the air, NWOSU ranks 11th in the GAC with 214.8 average ypg allowed. On the ground, the Rangers allow an average of 141.8 ypg and rank sixth in the GAC. Individually, Northwestern Oklahoma has seven players with double-digit or more and are led in stops by Coby Tillman with 48. Tillman also leads the team in tackles for loss with 11.0 and is second in sacks with 1.5. The Rangers defense has forced 10 turnovers with six INTs and four fumble recoveries.
Northwestern Oklahoma State Notes
No notes available.
Southern Nazarene vs Southern Arkansas 2:30 P.M.
Wilkins Stadium – Magnolia, Arkansas
Series History: Southern Arkansas leads 10-1
Last Meeting: SAU, 28-21 (September 30, 2023)
Southern Nazarene Notes
No notes available.
Southern Arkansas Notes
WEEK 5 MATCHUP
• Mulerider Football enters week five after securing their largest victory of the season while also being the only game in which the final score was determined by more than one score (W, 36-31 | W, 28-20 | L, 20-25 | W, 38-7). • The matchup between the Muleriders and the Crimson Storm the past two seasons have been quite the story to talk about as Southern Nazarene last traveled to Magnolia, Arkansas in 2022 on Southern Arkansas’ Senior Day. The Storm claimed its first victory over the Muleriders since joining the Great American Conference with a Gage Porter final minute drive to take the lead and the game in a wild shootout (44-49). • Last season’s matchup saw the Muleriders travel to Bethany, Oklahoma in order to avenge that home loss a year prior. SAU did just that, but in more defensive fashion as they held the eventual two-time GAC Offensive Player of the Year (Porter) to 124 passing yards and 59 rushing yards, a 2023 season-low. • In that game, Southern Arkansas’ OB Jones and Jariq Scales both rushed for over 120+ yards, and combined for 257. 2024 Overall Record: 2-1 || GAC Record: 2-1 Home Record: 1-1 || Road Record: 1-0 || Neutral Record: 0-0 Streak: L1
NOTABLES: SOUTHERN ARKANSAS
• In last week’s game against Arkansas Tech, Scales set a new record for the all-purpose yards in a career for the Mulerider Football, but the senior is not done record setting. The Osceola, Arkansas native is just 32 rushing yards away from being the only Mulerider in the program’s history with 4,000 rushing yards in a career. • With 193 all-purpose yards, Scales would also become the only non-quarterback player in the program’s history to surpass 5,000 all-purpose yards in a career. • Southern Arkansas had lost a turnover in every game up until last week’s battle as the Muleriders forced their eighth turnover of the season and remained at three given up. • The Blue & Gold defense held to the strongest it has all season as the wall of defenders allowed just 91 rushing yards to a fairly talented Arkansas Tech backfield. The group’s efforts kept the Wonder Boys to averaging just 3.7 yards per play (2.5/carry | 8.7 per completion). The squad’s lone flaw on paper was the only touchdown score by ATU late in the fourth when the game was already chalked.
NOTABLES: SOUTHERN NAZARENE
• Southern Nazarene is still in search for their first triumph of the season as the Crimson Storm is off to an 0-4 start to 2024. The start for the Storm is the worst since 2021 when SNU start their season 0-6 and eventually ended 2021 at 1-10. • The Crimson Storm is quite the transition phase in terms of their field general as Southern Nazarene its first season in five seasons without former Harland Hill Trophy finalist and two-time Great American Conference Offensive Player of the Year, Gage Porter. • The Muleriders have not lost to a school out of the Sooner State in eight-consecutive matchups. The last team to do-so, was the Crimson Storm back in 2022 when the two faced an intense shootout that is still talked about today. • That shootout victory for the Storm was the lone win the troupe has had over the Muleriders since both joined the Great American Conference. • The Muleriders 28-21 victory last fall was the tenth win for SAU over SNU
