SAU Knocks off Arkansas-Monticello in Season Finale

By: Houston Taylor

MONTICELLO, Ark. – Southern Arkansas kept Arkansas-Monticello’s vaunted offense in check and snuck away with a 23-16 upset of the Boll Weevils in the two teams’ season finale Saturday at Convoy Leslie ‘Cotton Boll’ Stadium.

It was the Muleriders’ fourth consecutive win and 11th in the past 12 games of the series over UAM and effectively ended any hope that Arkansas-Monticello (7-4, 5-3 GSC) had of a playoff berth. The series with the Boll Weevils is SAU’s longest-standing rivalry, which they now lead 50-33-1, including 26-17 in games played in Monticello.

Southern Arkansas’ defense rose to the occasion, holding UAM to 358 yards of total offense, 155 yards below its season average of 513.4, which was third in the nation coming into the game. Especially stingy against the run, they gave up just 113 yards rushing, 144 yards below Arkansas-Monticello’s average of 257.2, which ranked fifth in Division II.

The Muleriders posted 386 yards in the game, including 249 on the ground, led by fullback Mark Johnson’s 142 yards on 21 carries.

Both teams stumbled throughout the game, SAU converting on just 2 of 6 chances in the red zone, while the Boll Weevils were 2 of 5, with Southern Arkansas’ second conversion coming with the winning touchdown on halfback Chris Metcalf’s one-yard run at 12:33 in the fourth. The Muleriders completed a two-point conversion from quarterback Ryan McCombie to receiver Travrus Brown for the final margin of 23-16, as the winning drive took 2:54 and covered 27 yards in six plays.

UAM held a 9-0 lead in the second quarter behind a 31-yard field goal from Nick Green at 3:50 in the first, and then getting a two-yard scoring pass from Scott Buisson to Tim Harris at 14:15 in the second. After the touchdown, Green’s PAT was blocked by linebacker Simeon Oston.

After two previous lost chances in the red zone in the first quarter, SAU finally got on the board with their next series after the Arkansas-Monticello touchdown, completing a seven-play, 71-yard drive on Metcalf’s four-yard scamper at 10:27. Noe? Cuevas’ kick was good, making it 9-7 that stood at halftime.

Southern Arkansas wasted no time in the second half after receiving the kickoff as reserve quarterback Quintin Porter went 65 yards on the first play for the go-ahead score. A bad snap on the PAT forced a pass for the conversion that fell incomplete, 13-9 at 14:42.

The Muleriders then forced a fumble on the Boll Weevils’ return on the kickoff and recovered it at the UAM 44. They eventually punched it down to the one-yard line, but failed to cross the stripe on fourth down as Arkansas-Monticello held.

After forcing the Boll Weevils to punt, SAU was again in scoring position, but Porter’s pass from the UAM 14 was picked off by Augustus Ashley at the one. Southern Arkansas stiffened, and at third and nine from the two, Arkansas-Monticello was hit with a holding penalty that gave the Muleriders a safety and a 15-9 advantage at 6:47.

The Boll Weevils stormed back on their next possession though, moving 56 yards on six plays as Buisson hit Clarence Denmark on a 26-yard scoring play for a 16-15 lead with 38 ticks left in the third.

Return specialist Clarence Wright then set up SAU’s winning touchdown drive, returning Green’s kickoff 59 yards to the UAM 27. Six plays later Metcalf was in with the winning score.

Wright kept Southern Arkansas in good field position all night, averaging 38 yards on two kickoff returns and 29.7 yards on three punt returns, with a long of 43.

The Muleriders kept the heralded Buisson in check for the most part, limiting the Gulf South Conference rushing leader to just 81 yards, below his average of 123.8. He did connect on 22 of 38 passes for 245 yards.

Wright also led SAU’s defensive charge, totaling eight tackles and breaking up a pass. Defensive end Devin Alexander tallied five stops, four unassisted, with two for loss, including Southern Arkansas’ only sack.

The Muleriders conclude their season at 2-8 overall and 2-6 in GSC play.