GAC WEEK 6 SCHEDULE
Thursday, October 10, 2024
Southern Arkansas vs Oklahoma Baptist 6:00 P.M
Crain Family Stadium – Shawnee, Oklahoma
Series History: Southern Arkansas leads 7-1
Last Meeting: SAU, 63-24 (October 7, 2023).
Southern Arkansas Notes
WEEK 6 MATCHUP
• The (RV) Muleriders have just two more trips into the state of Oklahoma as they prepare to meet the Bison in Shawnee for just the fourth time since Oklahoma Baptist began its NCAA Division II Era in 2015. • Like OBU’s rival Southern Nazarene, the Bison have just one victory against the Muleriders, which came inside Wilkins Stadium at Rip Powell Field. • The last, and only current, time that Southern Arkansas had fallen to the Bison, came just prior to the Brad Smiley Era in Magnolia. • Two campaigns ago, when the Muleriders made their latest trip to Shawnee, Southern Arkansas came out on top in a big way for year one under Smiley. SAU ran away with the contest after the second quarter and defeated the Bison 52-20. • Last season in Magnolia, SAU scheduled Oklahoma Baptist for Homecoming for the first time since OBU’s inaugural season in the NCAA. • Southern Arkansas smothered the herd in the last go-around with the series’ second-largest difference with a Mulerider 63-24.
NOTABLES: Oklahoma Baptist
• The Bison have gotten off to a bumpy start as they have begun their 2024 season at 1-4, with the group’s lone victory coming two weeks ago against in-state opponent East Central (20-10). • Oklahoma Baptist is coming off quite the lopsided loss as they return home for the Thursday night lights after being overwhelmed by (RV) Henderson State 52-7. • While they may have not won many of their contests, the OBU Bison have proven to be very disciplined as they have recorded the fewest amount of penalty yardage in the league with just 216 thus far (16th nationally). • At the same time, the Bison average just 43.30 penalty yards per outing, which ranks 10th nationally (Minot State | 29.33). • The Oklahoma Baptist offensive line has been sufficient as they rank amongst the top-half of the conference in tackles for loss allowed per game (6.20). • OBU’s Darius Melton is the Great American Conference’s leader in kickoff return yards as the sophomore has put together 422 return yards and ranks eighth in the country.
SOUTHERN ARKANSAS BY THE NUMBERS
332 – The yards through the air that junior quarterback Judd Barton threw for in the contest on Saturday against Southern Nazarene. Barton’s passing yardage was the most by a quarterback that has played for Brad Smiley in the Blue & Gold. The yardage is also the most by a QB since Hayden Mallory in a shootout with Henderson State (9/25/21)
90 – The percentage of success that the Mulerider offense has shown in the redzone this season. In last week’s contest, Southern Arkansas went 5-6 in the redzone with all five of the successful trips ending in the endzone. This season, SAU is 18-20 in the redzone with 2 field goals, 6 passing touchdowns, and 10 rushing touchdowns. The Blue and Gold ranks 16th in the nation for their redzone percentage. and second in the GAC. (OUA | 90.5)
11 – The number of turnovers the Mulerider defense has forced so far into the 2024 campaign. In the league, Southern Arkansas is tied for third in turnovers gained with #1/1 Harding and Northwestern Oklahoma State. In the country the three rank 16th nationally. SAU’s turnover margin remains the best in the conference as the Muleriders have only given up three turnovers thus far and have a margin of 1.60 (6th nationally).
4 – The number of schools from the Sooner State that have been able to defeat a Brad Smiley-led Mulerider club. The third-year head coach has not been defeated by an Oklahoma program since his first season as head coach of the Muleriders. Smiley and his troupe are riding a 9-game winning streak against Oklahoma schools.
Oklahoma Baptist Notes
Thursday Night Football
October 10th’s game with Southern Arkansas, and this might surprise some, is the second Thursday-night contest since Oklahoma Baptist brought back football in 2013. During the 2016 campaign, the Bison played Northwestern Oklahoma State on Saturday, Oct. 15 before turning around five days later to play at Southwestern Oklahoma State. That Oct. 20 Road date with the Bulldogs was a close one, with the hosts winning 37-35 on a time-expiring, 41-yard touchdown pass at ASAP Energy Field.
Filling Some Big Shoes
Sophomore Tyler Johnson filled in for the injured Brayden Johnson last Saturday at Henderson State. And boy did he make some noise. The 5-foot-11 sophomore from Tulsa came up with a career-high 13 tackles. That included three solo and 10 assisted stops. To date, that’s the second-most tackles by a Bison defender in a single game this fall.
Peevey’s Scamper
Sophomore Caden Peevey broke off a second-quarter, 53-yard run against the Reddies. That was the speedy back’s longest career rush, and it marked just the 11th time in the D2 era (2015-present) that a Bison running back ripped off a 50-plus yard rushing effort. The longest run from scrimmage since 2015 came courtesy of Tyler Stuever in 2019 when he had an 87-yard carry against Southwestern Oklahoma State. Prior to Peevey, a season ago EJ Moore had a 72-yard burst at East Central on Sept. 23.
Mr. 100
Redshirt senior Michael Marshall hauled in four catches for 34 yards against Henderson State. With that, Marshall eclipsed 100 catches, becoming one of only six OBU players to ever haul in at least 100 passes. Marshall currently is in sixth all-time and trails Josh Pettijohn (2015-18) who attained 130 receptions. All-time great Keilahn Harris has the most catches in program history with 196.
On the Ground
OBU did a decent job with its rushing attack last week in Arkadelphia. The team ran for 113 yards, marking the second-straight contest it went over 100 yards rushing. EJ Moore had a touchdown with 61 yards while Peevey carried four times for 55 yards.
Passing Game Struggles
Alternatively, the Bison passing attack did not pose a threat to Henderson’s defense. The team threw for just 85 yards. That was the lowest total in eight years when the Bison reached 57 yards passing against Southern Arkansas on Oct. 8, 2016. Furthermore, it was only the fifth time in 94 Division II games that the green and gold did not throw for over 100 yards.
A Balanced Team
Southern Arkansas has one of the most balanced attacks in the GAC this season. With the help of quarterback Judd Barton, SAU boasts the second-best passing offense in the conference. That unit averages 223.6 passing yards per game. On the ground, Southern Arkansas is talented, too. The Muleriders are fourth, averaging 162.4 yards.
Individually Speaking
SAU’s Barton is second in the GAC in completion percentage (62.0) and ranks third with seven touchdown passes. His favorite target is Rasheen Green who is sixth in the league with 16 catches. After Green, Jakarion Lockett boasts a top-six yards-per-catch average (22.5). Running back Jariq Scales is slotted fourth in the conference with 307 rushing yards with six touchdowns. On the defensive end, Dawson Scott’s 8.0 tackles-for-loss is a top-five GAC mark. Plus, his 6.5 sacks are best in the conference and fourth in the nation. In the secondary, Zay Woods leads with eight pass breakups. Regarding special teams, Scales is a dangerous returner. He has returned nine punts for 205 yards, a 22.8 average, a mark that’s second-best in the GAC. Punter Andrew Schreiner is slotted fifth in the league with a 41.1 per-punt average and includes five punts downed inside the 20-yard line.
Historically Speaking
Southern Arkansas leads the all-time series 7-1. In six of those eight games, the Muleriders have scored at least 40 points including pouring in 63 a season ago. OBU’s lone win in the series came during the 2021 season when it rallied for a 44-40 win in Magnolia on Oct. 30.
Saturday, October 12, 2024
East Central vs [10/12] Ouachita Baptist 12:00 P.M.
Cliff Harris Stadium – Arkadelphia, Arkansas
Series History: Ouachita Baptist leads 21-5
Last Meeting: OUA, 31-14 (October 7, 2023)
East Central Notes
Ouachita Baptist Notes
TIGER TRACKS
BATTLE OF THE TIGERS
It’s the purple Tigers and the orange Tigers at Cliff Harris Stadium this Saturday, October 12. Ouachita enters the game at 5-0 following a 25-9 road win over Southeastern Oklahoma State last Saturday in Durant. East Central is 1-4 after recording its first win of the season last Saturday at home over Arkansas-Monticello by a final score of 42-17.
BACK IN THE TOP 10
Ouachita is back in the top 10 following its 25-9 road victory over Southeastern Oklahoma State last Saturday in Durant. The Tigers moved up four spots to No. 10 in this week’s American Football Coaches Association Coaches Poll. Also this week, Ouachita moved up two spots to No. 12 in the D2Football.com Top 25. The Tigers have been ranked nationally by the AFCA in 69 of the last 70 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. For the second straight week, the Tigers were included in this week’s first five out: “The Tiger train just keeps rolling, and until someone slows it down just a little, tough schedule or not, this is a top team in DII.”
HOMECOMING
It is Homecoming for Ouachita with numerous activities going on throughout the week, including the popular Tiger Tunes shows produced by the Ouachita Student Foundation featuring various social clubs and organizations, events for prospective students, and events catered to returning alumni and friends. As far as the football action goes, the Tigers have won five straight and are 11-2 over the past 13 Homecoming games. Last year on Homecoming, Ouachita beat Southeastern Oklahoma State 34-7. Other memorable moments for the Tigers on Homecoming include the 2015 game when Ouachita rallied back in the fourth quarter to beat 12th-ranked Harding 26-21. Fans may also remember the 2010 game, when Ouachita knocked off 10th-ranked North Alabama by a score of 24-23. It was a blocked extra point in overtime that sealed the win.
OUACHITA STAT NOTABLES
• Ouachita is just one of 14 unbeaten teams in all of NCAA Division II. • Ouachita has tallied 27 touchdowns so far this year and has only allowed six. Only one of the six touchdowns allowed has been rushing. The other five have either been passing or a defensive score. • Ouachita leads the GAC as the fewest penalized team in the league with 27 total flags for an average of just 5.4 per game. • Ouachita leads the nation in kickoff returns with an average of 31.2 per return. Carter McElhany leads the GAC and is 10th in the nation individually at 32 yards per return. • Ouachita is third in the GAC and sixth in the nation in kickoff return defense, only allowing opponents an average of 13.8 yards per return. • Ouachita leads the GAC and ranks second in the nation in net punting with an average of 43.8 yards per punt. Tom Weston now leads the nation individually with an average of 46.1 yards per punt. Weston punted nine times last week against Southeastern for an average of 47.2 yards per punt. Overall this year, Weston has 14 punts downed inside the opponent 20-yard line and seven punts of at least 50 yards. He had a career-long 76-yard punt last week against Southeastern. • Ouachita leads the nation in punt return defense, actually holding opponents to a negative average of 4.5 yards per return. • Ouachita is second in the GAC and ninth in the nation in punt returns with an average of 21 yards per return. Connor Flannigan leads the GAC and ranks second in the nation individually with an average of 23.3 yards per return. • The Tigers lead the GAC and rank 15th nationally in red zone offense, scoring 90.5 percent of the time. • The Tigers are one of four teams in the nation with a scoring defense average still in the single digits. Ouachita ranks fourth nationally at 9.6 points allowed per game. • Ouachita leads the GAC and ranks second nationally in tackles for loss, averaging 10.8 negative plays per game. The Tigers have totaled 54 tackles for a combined loss of 184 yards. • Quarterback Eli Livingston leads the GAC and ranks seventh nationally in passing efficiency with a QB rating of 182.5. He also leads the GAC in yards per completion (16.9) and points responsible for (16.8). • Not only has he been efficient as a passer, Eli Livingston is also the best rusher in the GAC so far this year, leading the league in rushing yards (411), rushing yards per game (82.2), and rush yards per carry (8.1). • Defensive end Mikey Gonzalez is second in the GAC and seventh nationally in sacks with five. He is 14th nationally in tackles for loss with an average of 1.8 per game.
10 IN A ROW OVER ECU
Saturday’s matchup against East Central is the 27th all-time meeting against the orange and black Tigers. Ouachita holds the all-time lead at 21-5, most recently recording a 31-14 road victory last year in Ada. The purple Tigers have won 10 in a row over ECU, leading 11-1 in the GAC era. The only win for ECU since both teams became members of the GAC came in 2012, a 37-27 outcome in Ada. The series began in the 1947 and 1948 seasons with Ouachita coming away with wins both years. The two squads met every year from 1988-1999, and then resumed the series in 2011 as charter members of the GAC.
SCOUTING THE ORANGE TIGERS
ECU earned its first victory of the season last Saturday, taking down Arkansas-Monticello 42-17 at home. The orange Tigers started the year with losses to Henderson State (41-17), Southern Arkansas (28-20), Southwestern Oklahoma State (19-3), and Oklahoma Baptist (20-10). ECU ranks in the bottom half of the league in most stat categories with its highest rankings in time of possession (4th-29:54) and scoring defense (5th-25 points allowed per game). John Litrenta is in his second season as head coach for ECU. He was defensive coordinator for the orange Tigers prior to being named interim head coach before last season.
LAST TIME OUT VS. EAST CENTRAL
Ouachita clinched a winning season and moved to 6-0 for the 11th time in program history with a 31-14 road win over ECU last year in Ada. Ouachita jumped out to a 17-0 lead, forcing ECU to play from behind for the entirety of the game. Ouachita ended up outgaining ECU 404-278. Riley Harms was 19-for-28 for 218 yards and three touchdowns. Harms also led Ouachita in rushing with 79 yards on 11 carries. Connor Flannigan had 11 receptions for 104 yards and two touchdowns. Defensively, the purple Tigers held the orange Tigers to just 2-of-9 on third downs and forced two turnovers. Mario Ganter, Jr. and Dawson Miller each had interceptions.
Northwestern Oklahoma vs Harding 2:00 P.M.
State First Security Stadium – Searcy, Arkansas
Series History: Harding leads 14-4 [1/1]
Last Meeting: Harding, 62-0 (October 7, 2023)
Northwestern Oklahoma Notes
Harding Notes
Harding Team Notes
• Coming off a 57-3 victory Saturday at Southwestern Oklahoma, No. 1 ranked Harding plays its second straight day game Saturday against Northwestern Oklahoma … kickoff at First Security Stadium is at 2 p.m. • Harding enters the game with a 24-game overall winning streak, tied for the 15th-longest streak ever in NCAA II football, a 20-game conference winning streak, and an 12-game home winning streak (two short of the school record, 14, 2018-21) • KEY STAT: Harding has not allowed a point in the first quarter this season. Northwestern Oklahoma has not scored a point in the first quarter this season … Harding has scored 42 touchdowns and allowed one touchdown. • This will be the 17th meeting between HU and NWOSU with the Bisons holding a 14-2 lead … HU has won the last 12 meetings overall and all seven in Searcy … the average score in the seven games in Searcy is 31-9. • Ninth-ranked Harding extended its then-NCAA Division II-best winning streak to 10 games, dominating Northwestern Oklahoma 62-0 last season in Alva behind 381 rushing yards, six defensive turnovers, and two interception returns for touchdowns. • Harding is ranked No. 1 in the AFCA Preseason Top 25 Coaches Poll … Harding has appeared in 70 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 73-9 (.890) in GAC games since 2016. The Bisons have lost one conference game by more than 10 points since 2015. • Harding leads D2 with 469.6 rushing yards per game and have eclipsed 500 yards twice … the Bisons rushed for a college football record 6,160 yards last season, but this season’s Bisons are well ahead of last season’s 410.7 yards per game. • Harding leads Division II in scoring offense at 61.3 points per game … the Bisons have scored 57 or more points in five straight games, the first time in program history to score 50 or more in five straight. • For only the second time in program history, Harding’s defense has allowed fewer than 10 points in five consecutive games … only longer streak came over a 7-game stretch in 1928 and 1929 … HU allows a D2-best 2.6 points and 129.0 yards per game. • Harding’s defense is the only one in D2 that has allowed fewer than three touchdowns this season and one of two that is yet to allow a rushing touchdown … in fact, Harding’s defense and special teams units have outscored HU’s opponents 21-13. • Harding’s defense has allowed fewer than 200 total yards in eight straight conference games and has allowed fewer than 100 rushing yards in 15 of its last 20 games overall … twice this season, HU has allowed fewer than 25 passing yards in a game. • OPPONENT WATCH: LB Coby Tillman, who started his college career as a fullback at Oklahoma, ranks 3rd nationally in total tackles (11.6 per game) and 4th in tackles for loss (2.3 per game) … of 159 Division II teams, Northwestern Oklahoma ranks 155th in rushing offense (53.4 yards per game) and 156th in third-down conversions (20.6%).
Harding Player Notes
• QB COLE KEYLON … 29-2 as a starter … 3rd in GAC passing TD (7) and 8th in rushing TD (4) … 6th in HU career rush TD (25) and 10th in pass TD (20) — only HU player ever with 20+ rush TD and pass TD … rush TD & pass TD vs. NWOSU in ‘23 • FB BLAKE DELACRUZ … GAC leader, 2nd in D2 in rush TD (9) … 8th in GAC rush yards (307) … 3rd in HU career rush TD (41) and 5th in rush yards (2,708) … needs 116 rush yards for 4th (Jim Howard, 2,823, 1964-67) … 215 rush yards, 2 TD vs. NWOSU • FB ANDREW MILLER … 3rd in GAC rush TD (6) and 6th in rush yards (325) … needs 191 rush yards for 1,000 career • SB JHALEN SPICER … 12th in HU career rush TD (19) and 14th in rush yards (1,803) … 3 rush, 69 yards vs. NWOSU in ‘23 • SB BRADEN JAY … 2nd in GAC all-purpose yards (118.20) and receiving TD (3) … 3rd in GAC rush yards (358) and 5th in rush TD (5) … HU career leader in yards/rush (13.70), 7th in TD (28), 16th in rush yards (1,726) … 37-yard TD rush vs. NWOSU in ‘23 • WR DARIUS BROWN … HU leader with 4 receptions … 34-yard TD rec. vs. NWOSU in ‘23 • WR DANE ROMBERGER … appearing in 25th game at HU • DL DRE HALL … 8th at HU in career TFL (28.0) and 3rd in sacks (20.5) … had sack vs. NWOSU in ‘23 • DL GAGE PRICE … 3rd in GAC sacks (4.0) and 7th in TFL (7.0) … has a sack in three straight games and a TFL in six straight • DL TIRRELL JOHNSON … has a TFL in three straight games • DL WESLEY COLEMAN … had sack vs. NWOSU in ‘22 • LB CLARK GRIFFIN … needs 7 tackles for 200 career and 22 tackles for HU career top 10 • LB CAYDEN PIERCE … had season-high 9 tackles vs. SWOSU … needs 17 tackles for 100 career • DB TY DUGGER … 3rd in GAC and 17th in D2 with 11.9 yards per punt return … HU active leader with 5 INT • DB TRAVIS GREENAWALT … had 51-yard INT TD vs. NWOSU in ‘23 • DB JEREMIAH JORDAN … had 30 tackles in 20 games with 8 PBU • DB KYLE MCDONALD … needs one tackle for 50 in his career … 5 tackes, INT vs. NWOSU in ‘23 • DB DARION DUNLAP-JOHNSON … 2 tackles vs. NWOSU in ‘23 • RS KENDALE ALLEN … has 1,182 career return yards, third at HU • K MAGNUS LEPAK … 2nd in GAC in scoring (52), 4th in field goal pct. (66.7), 5th in FG per game (0.80)
Southeastern Oklahoma State vs Arkansas-Monticello 2:00 P.M.
Willis “Convoy” Leslie Cotton Boll Stadium – Monticello, Arkansas
Series History: Southeastern Oklahoma State leads 9-4
Last Meeting: SE, 22-21 (October 7, 2023)
Southeastern Oklahoma State Notes
Arkansas-Monticello Notes
Henderson State vs Southern Nazarene 2:00 P.M.
SNU Football Stadium – Bethany, Oklahoma
Series History: Henderson State leads 10-1
Last Meeting: HSU, 42-28 (October 7, 2023)
Henderson State Notes
STORYLINES: SETTING THE SCENE
• Henderson State aims to win its sixth straight meeting with the Crimson Storm. The Reddies narrowly escaped SNU Football Stadium with 42-41 overtime victory in their last trip to Bethany. • Southern Nazarene seeks its first win of the 2024 season as well as its first triumph over HSU since 2017. The Crimson Storm has never defeated the Reddies at home.
REDDIES REPORT: OFFENSE
• Quarterback Andrew Edwards earned his second GAC Offensive Player of the Week Award this season by completing 15 of his 21 passes for 242 yards and a career-high six passing touchdowns against Oklahoma Baptist. He also led the Reddies with 73 rushing yards on seven carries. This is Edwards’ eighth career weekly award from the GAC. • Edwards has completed passes to 14 different teammates through five games this season. Half of those 14 players have caught five or passes, with four having recorded more than 130 receiving yards each. • Timieone Jackson paces the Great American Conference with 30 receptions through five games. His 252 yards are the fourth most of any player in the league. • Despite having only six catches on the year, tight end Cayden Davis is 11th in the conference with 189 receiving yards. He hauled in a 52-yard scoring strike against the Bison last week – his second touchdown catch of 50 or more yards this year. • Freshman Dylan Jones led all Reddie running backs with 69 yards on 12 touches (5.8 yards per carry) last week. • HSU currently finds itself amongst the top five teams on the GAC leaderboards for rushing offense (162.4 yards per game), passing offense (221 yards per game), and total offense (383.4 yards per game).
REDDIES REPORT: DEFENSE
• Gary Lewis continued his dominance at defensive end by recording seven tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, a sack, and a forced fumble against Oklahoma Baptist. The reigning Second Team AFCA All-American is third in the GAC for tackles for loss (9.5). He also appears in the league’s top 12 for sacks (three) and total tackles (35). • Cameron Thomas picked up his team-leading third interception of the season last week. The senior from Shreveport, Louisiana, is currently tied for second in the league in picks. • Leo Morris and Jamarion Citizen both set new career highs with six tackles each against the Bison. • In addition to Thomas’ interception, the Reddie defense tallied a combined five quarterback hurries and four pass breakups in week five’s game.
REDDIES REPORT: SPECIAL TEAMS
• Jody Easter earned GAC Special Teams Player of the Week honors for the first time in his career after returning the opening kickoff against OKBU for a 93-yard touchdown. • Kolby King went seven-for-seven on PATs and made a field goal from 23 yards out last week.
THE OPPONENT: SOUTHERN NAZARENE
• Southern Nazarene has not defeated a GAC team from Arkansas at home since October 12, 2019: a 41-24 victory over Arkansas Tech. • Linebacker Carter Brock is tied for second in the conference with 49 total tackles. • Five different Crimson Storm players have recorded at least three tackles for loss through five games this season. Emmanuel Obinna leads the pack with eight tackles for loss. David Omoshigo accounts for two of the team’s four sacks in 2024. • SNU has recovered six fumbles this year as a team – tied for the second-most of any GAC team. Aaron Randle tops the team leaderboard with two recoveries. • Quarterbacks Bryson Evans and Rasheed Noel have attempted more than 40 passes apiece. The duo has gone a combined 47-for-100 through the air for 610 yards, one touchdown, and five interceptions. • Evans has a team-best 112 yards and two touchdowns on the ground in 2024. Noel has two rushing touchdowns of his own. The only other Southern Nazarene player with a rushing touchdown is Carlos Zepeda, who has rushed 84 yards and one score on 31 carries. • Kolbe Branch leads the Crimson Storm’s receiving corps with 112 yards on nine catches. Braxton Burd and Dalen Smith are each averaging more than 20 yards per catch through limited samples (five receptions or less apiece). Burd recorded SNU’s only receiving touchdown of the year thus far on an 83-yard scoring strike during last week’s game against Southern Arkansas. • Adam Atwell has punted 27 times for a combined 1,083 yards up to this point in the season. His seven punts of 50 or more yards have contributed significantly to a 40.11 yard per punt average, which is ranked seventh in the GAC. • Kicker Kameron Van Prooyen is three-for-five on field goal attempts and a perfect six-for-six on PATs heading into this week’s matchup. In week two, he made a season-best 48-yard field goal against Arkansas Tech.
THE LAST MEETING
• SNU quarterback and eventual Harlon Hill Award finalist Gage Porter totaled 391 total yards and three touchdowns in a losing effort. • Jeremiah Davis (144) and Frederick O’Donald (108) rushed for more than 100 yards apiece in a 42-28 victory. • Chris Hatzis hauled in four catches for 146 yards and two touchdowns. He accounted for nearly 75 percent of the Reddies’ receiving yards during the game. SNU’s Dalen Smith led the Crimson Storm’s receiving corps with 101 yards and two scores on just four receptions. • Carter Brock led both teams with 12 total tackles and nine solo stops. The Southern Nazarene linebacker also recorded an interception and half of a tackle for loss.
AROUND THE GAC
• No. 1 Harding hosts NWOSU after winning 25th game in a row a week ago. • No. 10 Ouachita Baptist hosts East Central in a battle of the GAC Tigers. • Southern Arkansas travels to Shawnee for a Thursday night game at Oklahoma Baptist. • SWOSU seeks to even its 2024 record with a road matchup at Arkansas Tech.
Southern Nazarene Notes
INSIDE THE SERIES
Overall: 12th Meeting, HSU Leads 10-1 Current Streak: HSU (W5) Last Meeting: Oct. 7, 2023 (L, 42-28) Series Notes: The Crimson Storm will look to find their first Great American Conference victory of the season. A tough Henderson State team will make this difficult for SNU. The Reddies come off of a strong win against Oklahoma Baptist and SNU comes off of a loss at Southern Arkansas. The Storm will look to continue their offensive momentum from last week to give the Reddies some trouble.
STORM WARNING
WHEN THESE TWO TEAMS LAST MET…
The Crimson Storm traveled to Arkadelphia to take on the Reddies. In a competitive contest, Henderson State ultimately claimed the victory, 42-28. The Reddies dominated the first quarter as they tacked on two field goals to lead 14-0 after one quarter of play. Henderson State kept their momentum going into the second quarter as they tacked on another touchdown to lead 21-0. SNU had a response as Donald May made an 11-yard rush for a touchdown to make the score 21-7. HSU continued to maintain their lead adding on another touchdown to extend their lead once more. Gage Porter responded shortly after finding the endzone to put the Storm within 14. SNU continued to battle as Dalen Smith caught a pass in the endzone to put SNU within just one score. Henderson found the endzone once again as well to push them back ahead by 14. The offense kept working for both squads into the fourth quarter. The Reddies added on a 59-yard touchdown to extend the lead 42-21. The Storm was not done, as Gage Porter found Smith once again to chip away at the score. The Henderson defense stopped the Crimson Storm there as they defeated SNU 42-28.
Southwestern Oklahoma State vs Arkansas Tech 4:00 P.M.
Simmons Bank Field at Thone Stadium – Russellville, Arkansas
Series History: Arkansas Tech leads 11-8 Arkansas Tech
Last Meeting: ATU, 9-7 (October 7, 2023)
Southwestern Oklahoma State Notes
No notes available
Arkansas Tech Notes
No notes available
