MAGNOLIA, Ark. – The Southern Arkansas defense totaled four takeaways (three fumble recoveries, one interception) and limited Arkansas Tech to just 25 yards rushing on 30 carries to help SAU pick up a pivotal 21-14 win at home on Saturday evening.
 
Senior linebacker A.J. Steele spearheaded the Muleriders' (3-3, 3-3 GAC) sensational defensive night as he led the team in tackles with 11 (eight solo, three assisted) while also recovering a fumble. Steele's fumble recovery, which came early in the second quarter with SAU trailing 7-0, setup the Muleriders' first score of the game as Si Blackshire connected with Michael Nunnery on the very next play for a 20-yard TD pass, knotting the game at seven-all.
 
Following that score, the SAU defense went back out to the field and forced the Wonder Boys (3-3, 3-2 GAC) to go three-and-out. On SAU's ensuing possession, Blackshire would move the Muleriders into Tech territory as he hit his tailback Deandre Jenkins for a big 66-yard pass play. Two plays later, Blackshire would put the Muleriders on top, 14-7, as he hooked up with Zikerious Ware from three-yards out.
 
Neither team would score the remainder of the first half as the Muleriders forced two more turnovers; an interception in the endzone by Elgin Moore and a fumble recovery by Trebor Gainwell, while the Tech defense held their own, forcing a pair of punts and also a turnover on downs.
 
In the third quarter, both defenses dug in as each team traded punts on their first two possessions. With 2:36 remaining in the third quarter, the Muleriders broke the defensive standoff as Sidney Moore made a tremendous catch in the endzone from 25-yards out to put SAU up by a pair of scores, 21-7.
 
The Wonder Boys would pull to within a touchdown with 6:4 1 left in the game as Dennis Robertson connected with Tony Adams for a nine-yard touchdown.
 
A pair of quick three-and-outs gave SAU the ball back with 4:02 remaining in the game. During that Mulerider drive, Tech would exhaust all three of their timeouts before eventually forcing the Muleriders to punt with 2:05 left in the game.
 
The Wonder Boys would start that ensuing drive at their own 34-yardline with 1:51 to go. A pair of completed passes moved Tech into SAU territory and then a 16-yard pass brought the Wonder Boys to the SAU 27-yardline. On the next play, Tech's QB Robertson would scramble for eight yards to move the ball in the redzone at the SAU 19-yardline. A false start on the next play, however, moved the Wonder Boys back out of the redzone.
 
A pair of incompletions followed, as Tech was down to potentially their final play as it was fourth-and-seven from the SAU 24-yardline. The Wonder Boys would convert on that fourth-down play as Robertson scrambled for another 13 yards, but Tech's Ian Shuttleworth was flagged for a chop block, moving the ball back to the SAU 39-yardline, still fourth down. On this second fourth-down attempt, the Wonder Boys would be unable to convert as Robertson's pass fell to the turf with seven seconds left.
 
Blackshire and the Mulerider offensive unit came back on to the field in victory formation, kneeling to end the game.
 
Offensively, the Muleriders would total 487 yards of offense with 334 yards coming through the air and 153 on the ground. Blackshire accounted for 334 passing yards, adding three touchdown passes and 27 yards rushing. Deion Williams was the leading rusher for SAU with 77 yards on eight carries. Ware would lead the team in receptions and receiving yards with seven catches for 86 yards and a score.
 
The Muleriders will remain at home next week as they welcome in Southern Nazarene University for Homecoming. Kick-off for the game is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. SAU will also be publicly honoring its 2014 Hall of Fame class at halftime.