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[October 6, 2007]
The Muleriders were haunted by seven turnovers overall, but none hurt them more when trailing just 27-21 in the closing minutes, than the final three. Trailing 27-7 at the end of the third quarter, SAU put up two quick scores at the beginning of the fourth to pull within striking distance. After forcing a Blazers’ punt, Southern Arkansas took over at their own 24, got 13 yards rushing on two attempts, but then quarterback Josh SanFilippo threw his third interception of the day as Roger King picked him off at the Mulerider 49. VSU gave it right back three plays later on a fumble as defensive back Rodney Anthony stripped the ball and recovered to the SAU 47. Southern Arkansas promptly moved to the Valdosta State 17, where SanFilippo’s bad toss allowed the Blazers to recover at the 22. After moving to the 40, the Mulerider defense held on fourth and one, taking over on downs with 2:13 remaining. On first down, SanFilippo’s pass was picked off by Jamaal Clark, who returned it 45 yards for the touchdown to essentially seal the game. The Blazers went for two, but were denied, leaving it 33-21. VSU took the opening kickoff, moving 71 yards in 13 plays to jump out to a 7-0 lead when quarterback Willie Copeland hit receiver Cedric Jones for a four yard score and Zac Williams converted at 9:13 in the first. SAU returned the favor on their ensuing possession as running back Steven Ashley took the handoff and bolted 59 yards for the touchdown. Noe΄ Cuevas’ kick was good and it was knotted at 8:56. Valdosta added three more in the first on Williams’ 38-yard field goal at 6:27. Williams had a chance to spot the Blazers with three more at the beginning of the second quarter, but his 36-yarder was wide left. Southern Arkansas backup quarterback Quintin Porter then had the team’s second turnover when he immediately lost a fumble. VSU took advantage and this time Williams’ 34-yard attempt was good, making it 13-7 at 10:54, which stood at the half. It was all Valdosta State in the third as the Muleriders lost an opportunity early when Cuevas missed his first field goal of the season, this one from 31. The Blazers capitalized, moving 80 yards in only four plays, concluding with Copeland’s five-yard toss to Cedric Evans for the score at 9:20. Copeland hit Zach Parker for 63 yards on the prior play. After forcing a VSU fumble, SAU took over with great position at the visitor’s 26, but on the second play, SanFilippo’s second interception went to the hands of Shawn Harris, who rumbled it back 86 yards for a 27-7 Valdosta lead at 5:55. Southern Arkansas’ scoring in the fourth came on Chris Metcalf’s one-yard dive at 14:16, which concluded a 15-play 77-yard drive, and SanFilippo’s 32-yard pass to Mario Coleman with 9:23 remaining. The Muleriders out-gained the Blazers, 363 to 311 total yards, but couldn’t overcome the turnovers. SAU actually coughed the ball up four other times, but recovered them. The game saw a combined 10 turnovers, with VSU dropping four on the ground and losing three. Southern Arkansas held Valdosta State to just 28 rushing yards on 20 carries, but the Blazers put up 283 through the air. The Muleriders finished with 171 rushing and 192 passing. VSU’s Michael Terry, who ran for 181 yards last week in their win over Ouachita Baptist, was held to just 32 on five attempts. Ashley wound up with 90 yards rushing on 10 totes to lead SAU. Copeland was 28 of 43 passing for all 283 yards, and had the two TD’s. SanFilippo finished 13 for 32 for 192 yards, with the one touchdown and the four interceptions. Porter was incomplete on his only passing attempt. Jones ended with 58 yards on eight receptions, and Chatman and Keundric Loucious caught three each for Southern Arkansas, Chatman for 52 yards and Loucious for 24. Defensive back Sherard Reynolds bolstered the Valdosta State defense with a game-high 10 tackles, including six solo. He had one interception and broke up another pass. Cornerback John Jones had eight tackles to lead the Muleriders, with five of those unassisted, including half a tackle for loss. Fellow DB’s Rodney Anthony and Clarence Wright each had seven stops, Anthony with six solos and Wright with five. Each had a tackle for a loss, and Anthony added a forced fumble and a recovery, and a quarterback hurry. The game marked SAU’s third consecutive against top ten ranked teams, having faced No. 3 North Alabama and No. 8 Delta State the past two weeks. Southern Arkansas will try to re-group next week as they travel to Arkadelphia to face Ouachita Baptist in a 1:30 p.m. kickoff. #SAU# |
