[October 14, 2006]

MAGNOLIA, Ark. - Southern Arkansas University celebrated Homecoming with a 48-33 win over Ouachita Baptist University Saturday. While the Mulerider offense piled up 24 first downs, 303 net yards rushing, and 102 yards passing, for a total offense output of 405 yards, the SAU defense limited the Tigers to 11 first downs, 71 net yards rushing, and 106 passing yards, for 177 net yards, on a sun-drenched afternoon. It was the second win of the season for Southern Arkansas, and first in Gulf South Conference play, for a 1-4 conference record and 2-5 overall. Ouachita Baptist fell to 1-6 overall and to 0-5 in league action.

The Muleriders had to overcome kicking game blunders in the first half to pull away from the Tigers. SAU All-Gulf South Conference cornerback Demarea Caldwell started the scoring by returning the opening kickoff 86 yards for a touchdown, the game only 16 seconds old. David Korff kicked the extra point, 7-0, Muleriders.

The first of a host of SAU kicking game errors came after a snap from center bounced back to the punter, and the Tigers recovered on the Mulerider 11. On third and 11, quarterback Lance Parker passed complete to wide receiver Julius Pruitt for 12 yards and a score, 7:33 left in the first quarter. Zac Wright’s PAT made it 7-7.

On the following series, a high snap from center was fumbled into the end zone by SAU, and OBU wide receiver Angelo Traylor recovered in the end zone for a Tiger touchdown. Wright’s conversion put the Parsons ahead, 14-7, 4:54 left in the opening period.

The Muleriders drove for 82 yards in 10 plays to knot it with running back Steven Ashley scampering in from the four for the touchdown. Korff’s extra point tied it 14-14, with 50 ticks left in the first period.

SAU quarterback Josh SanFilippo dashed 65-yards with a keeper with 12:30 to play in the second quarter, and Korff toed the extra point, 21-14, SAU. The Muleriders made it 28-14 on a five-yard burst up the middle by fullback Keith King with 9:10 left in the second stanza, and Korff tacked on the PAT. This touchdown was set by a 70-yard punt return by Ashley to the OBU five.

The Tigers stormed back, getting a 40-yard field goal from Wright at the 5:52 mark, a successful on-side kick recovery that led to a safety after blocking a Mulerider punt in the end zone, and an 85-yard kickoff return by wide receiver Bruce Steele for a touchdown with 3:30 remaining in the half, SAU 28, OBU 26.

Another SAU punt was blocked before the half by wide receiver Charles Hayes at the 12, who returned it to the one. An illegal block forced OBU back to the 16, and on the final play of the half, Wright’s field goal attempt was blocked by SAU noseguard Ryan Terry, leaving the Muleriders clinging to a 28-26 halftime margin.

After OBU went three and out to start the second half, SAU marched 71 yards in 11 plays to extend the lead to 35-26. Fullback Tony McDonald started it on first down with a 15-yard jaunt up the middle, running back D.D. Holyfield chipped in a 13-yard dash, and SanFilippo crunched over from the one for the touchdown. Korff’s kick was good, 35-26, 8:48 left in the third stanza..

After a fumble by Parker on a sack that was recovered by SAU end Cordell Upshaw at the Tiger 20, McDonald burst over from one-yard out for another score. The touchdown was set up by a 34-yard pass from SanFilippo to wide receiver Rasheed Rowe to the Tiger one following a 15-yard penalty on the Muleriders. A two-point conversion attempt failed, leaving SAU ahead, 41-26, 6:30 on the clock.

The Tigers did not quit, turning in a 68-yard, seven-play drive, with running back Willie Hopson scoring from the four. Wright added the PAT, 41-33, 4:10 remaining in the third quarter.

The only score of the fourth period was on a one-yard sneak by SAU quarterback Damian Melancon to finish an 18-play, 83-yard march that consumed almost eight minutes, 7:58, to be exact. Korff split the uprights, 48-33, 11:01 remaining.

McDonald rushed 16 times for 102 yards and a touchdown, to lead the Muleriders. SanFilippo had 74 yards on 11 totes, and two touchdowns. Melancon was four of nine passing for 68 yards, and SanFilippo was one of three for 34. Rowe hauled in three passes for 78 yards. Hopson had 91 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries for the Tigers. Parker was 11 of 32 for 106 yards and a touchdown, with one picked off.

On the defensive side of the ball, free safety C.J. Ellis had five tackles, and defensive lineman DeRalph Guy four with two for four yards loss, and a quarterback hurry. Linebacker Cliff Gardner led the Tigers with nine tackles; defensive lineman Jerry McNeil had eight, two for loss of 11, a pass deflected, and a sack for minus nine; safety Jamario McClain eight; linebacker Zach Campbell had eight with 1.5 for six yards in loss; linebacker Brandon Allen seven, with two for loss of three, a pass defended; and linebacker Channing Hill seven, one for six yards in loss, and two quarterback hurries.

At halftime, OBU had a possession time of 19:12 compared to only 11:20 by SAU. When it was over, SAU had a possession time of 37:06 to 22:54 for OBU. At halftime, OBU had two of eight third down conversions, and SAU zero of five, and zero of two on fourth down. In the second half, the Muleriders converted five of eight on third down, and three of three on fourth down, while the Tigers were one of three on third down.

Southern Arkansas plays Thursday at 7 p.m. in Searcy against Harding University in the televised GSC Game of the Week. The live broadcast can be seen locally in Magnolia on channel 24.

#SAU#