[October 26, 2006]

MAGNOLIA, Ark. - Southern Arkansas University found its offense, but it still wasn’t enough as they fell to Arkansas Tech University, 36-29, Thursday at Wilkins Stadium. The Wonder Boys, getting their 500th all-time win, improve to 6-3 overall and 4-3 in the Gulf South Conference, while the Muleriders, in their final home game of the season, fall to 2-7 and 1-6.

A cloudy, foggy evening, with rain forecast, and coming late in the game, SAU observed not only senior night for their 12 seniors, but they were also playing in the GSC televised Game of the Week. Southern Arkansas won the coin toss but deferred their option to the second half, giving ATU first possession. Tech would not keep the ball long as the Muleriders’ Cordell Upshaw intercepted Cole Barthel’s pass to set up SAU at the Wonder Boy 19. Five plays later, all rushes, Keundric Loucious reached the end zone on a three-yard jaunt. ATU’s Jamal Johnson blocked David Korff’s PAT to Southern Arkansas to a 6-0 lead with 11:30 remaining in the first period.

With 6:50 left in the second, Korff connected on a 36-yard field goal to give the Muleriders a 9-0 lead. Arkansas Tech took their ensuing possession and drove 64 yards in seven plays in 2:13, capping it off when Justin Ray found Mark Caldwell for a nine yard touchdown pass. Travis Cockerham added the PAT, 9-7, with 4:29 remaining. The Wonder Boys weren’t through, holding SAU to a four-and-out, and getting the ball back in excellent field position as Southern Arkansas’ punting woes returned when Tommy King’s punt traveled only 14 yards. ATU got the ball at the Mulerider 33 and eight plays later scored the go-ahead touchdown on a one-yard plunge by R.J. Vanhook. The two-point conversion was good when Ray rushed in for a 15-9 Tech advantage with 0:54 left.

The Wonder Boys increased their lead to 22-9 with the only points in the third quarter courtesy of Shawn O’Connor’s one-yard touchdown and the extra point kick by Cockerham. This followed a seven-play, 78-yard drive that consumed 2:50.

Both teams really kicked it in gear in the fourth, scoring a combined five touchdowns. Damian Melancon put SAU back on the board first, scoring from two yards out following a 12-play, 64-yard drive that took 5:13 off the clock. The extra point was no good as the snap sailed over Melancon, the holder, with Korff picking it up and trying to rush it in to no avail, leaving the ATU lead at 22-15.

After forcing an Arkansas Tech punt, Southern Arkansas marched 66 yards in only five plays, with Melancon finding Chris Metcalf for 35 yards and a touchdown. Korff’s PAT tied the game at 22 with 9:27 left.

Tech then put together a masterful drive of its own, going 76 yards in 11 plays in 3:52, with O’Connor finishing it off on a 20-yard dash. Cockerham’s kick barely went through the uprights to put the Wonder Boys up, 29-22, but the celebration cost them, with ATU having to kick off from their 20, giving the Muleriders great field position at the Tech 43. SAU’s D.D. Holyfield then brought back old memories, taking the handoff and busting 57 yards for his longest run and first rushing touchdown of the year. Korff’s kick was good and it was knotted again, 29-29, at 4:46.

The Southern Arkansas defense held solid and took over on their own 27 after forcing the Wonder Boy punt. Five plays later, Melancon hit Mario Coleman for eight yards to the ATU 46, but Jamal Johnson jarred the ball loose, and Quincy Skinner recovered for the visitors with 1:11 left in the game. Ray then hit Justin McCutcheon for 11 yards, killed the clock with a spike, and then threw incomplete to Luther Stueart, but a pass interference penalty on the Muleriders gave Tech the ball at the SAU 28. It was all Ray and Caldwell then, first for 11 yards, and then 17 for the winning touchdown. Cockerham’s kick was good as the Wonder Boys sealed the game with 0:43 remaining. Southern Arkansas made a strong, final effort, pushing the ball to the ATU 28, before Melancon was intercepted on a final fling by Skinner.

Arkansas Tech finished with 418 yards of offense, 238 on the ground and 180 through the air. The Muleriders piled up a season-high 493 yards, behind 328 rushing and 165 passing. Each team tossed one interception, but it was the fumbles that cost SAU, putting four on the ground and losing two, while the Wonder Boys never dropped a ball. ATU had seven penalties for 55 yards, while Southern Arkansas had 10 for 80.

Ray racked up 90 yards rushing on 11 carries for Arkansas Tech, O’Connor had 65 on 10 totes with the two touchdowns, and R.J. Vanhook had 53 yards on 15 rushes. Holyfield got his first 100 yard-plus game of the season, rambling for 128 on only seven carries, a whopping 18.3 average, and the touchdown. Tony McDonald added 76 yards on 14 attempts. Melancon had 46 on eight rushes, and the Muleriders got a big lift from red-shirt freshman Chris Melcalf, who in his first action of the season, rushed nine times for 41 yards.

Ray completed 13 of 21 passes for 169 yards and the two touchdowns. Cole Barthel, the Wonder Boy starter and transfer from Arkansas, was one of five for 11 yards, with one interception, before being injured in the first quarter and not returning. Barthel came into the game as a National, and the reigning GSC Offensive Player of the Week, after throwing for 321 yards and a school record-tying five touchdowns on Saturday in ATU’s win over Ouachita Baptist. For SAU, Melancon completed seven of 13 for 132 yards and the touchdown and interception. Josh SanFilippo was three of six for 33 yards.

Arkansas Tech had six players with receptions, with Caldwell snaring six for 61 yards and the two touchdowns. Metcalf caught three for Southern Arkansas for 57 yards, and Justin Peters, also seeing action for the first time this year, had three for 44 yards.

Skinner led the Wonder Boys with seven tackles, all solo, including one behind the line, a fumble recovery, the interception, and one pass breakup. Anthony Robinson also added seven stops, and Matt Kitchens finished with six.

Terrence Smith led the Muleriders with 11 tackles, six solo, and one pass broken up. Seth Daigle added eight, four solo, including 1.5 for four yards in loss, Derrick Harris had seven, and Rickey Wright made six stops.

Southern Arkansas steps out of conference action to take on a familiar face when they travel to Conway on Nov. 4 to battle old conference foe Central Arkansas. The Bears are in their first season as an NCAA Division I-AA member. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. at Estes Stadium.

#SAU#