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SETTING THE STAGE:Â
Showdown in SearcyTabbed as the Great American Conference "Game to Watch" this Saturday by D2football.com GAC Blogger Armo Wood, the Southern Arkansas and Harding matchup has all the makings for a great college football game.
SAU enters with a 2-2 record and is coming off of a 62-21 drubbing of Northwestern Oklahoma while Harding enters with a perfect, but largely untested 3-0 record while also climibing as high as No. 15 in the latest AFCA poll.
Adding to the intrigue of this game is the contrast of styles between the two offenses. Both like to run the ball, but Harding does so exlusively out of the triple-option attack and are second in DII in rushing yards per game (365.7). On the other end, SAU is having success running the ball out of their spread offense to the tune of 240.5 yards per game, good for 20th in DII.
Another layer to this matchup will be both team's defenses. Harding currently has the No. 1 total defense in DII and has allowed just 13 points in three games (4.3 ppg). Meanwhile, SAU's defensive numbers have continued to improve each week, highlighted by the fact that the defensive unit allowed -1 yards of total offense against NWOSU in the second half.Â
ABOUT HARDINGSCHEDULEThe Harding football team enters play this Saturday with a 3-0 overall record and a 3-0 mark in the Great American Conference. The Bisons are 21-3 dating back to beginning of the 2012 season. So far this year, the Bisons have played three Oklahoma teams in the GAC and out-scored them by 132 points.
THE COACHThe Bisons are coached by eighth-year head man Ronnie Huckeba. In his seven previous seasons at Harding, Huckeba has compiled a 41-34 overall record. Huckeba has also recently guided the Bisons to consecutive 9-2 seasons.
SCOUTING THE OFFENSEThe offensive unit of Harding is a throwback style that runs the triple-option running attack. With that, the Bisons are among the top rushing teams not only in the GAC, but in DII. Thus far, the Bisons have the No. 2-ranked rushing offense as they average 365.7 ypg on the ground.
Leading the charge in that department has been Alapeti Magalei and Romo Westbrook. Both have carried the ball over 40 times and have gained over 200 yards as well.
Quarterback Kennan Kellett has been efficent when called upon, completing 17-of-28 passess for 335 yards and three touchdowns. 220 of those yards and two of those touchdown passes have gone to wideout Donatella Luckett.
SCOUTING THE DEFENSEThe Bisons enter play with the No.1-ranked total defense in DII. Thus far, the Bisons are only allowing their opponents 111.3 ypg through the air and a mere 16.0 ypg on the ground. Additionally, Harding is limiting their opponents to 4.3 points per game, second best in DII.
The leading tackler for the Bisons to this point in the season is Andrew Brackins as he has 14 total tackles. Three other Bisons have notched over 10 tackles with three more right at nine tackles. As a team, the Bisons have registered 26 tackles for lost yardage, nine of which have been sacks. Additionally, the Bisons have nine interceptions and have recovered three fumbles.
THE SERIESThe sereis between SAU and Harding dates back to 1925. From 1959 the two teams met for 37 consecutive years until 1995. The series re-booted in 2002 and the two teams have played each year since 2006. SAU hold a slight lead in the overall series (25-24-1), but Harding has won the previous eight matchups.
ABOUT SOUTHERN ARKANSAS Thundering HerdSaturday's game will be the Muleriders' toughest and most unique defensive challenge thus far this season as they are tasked with stopping the triple-option rushing attack of Harding. Coming into the game, the Bisons are the No. 2 rushing team in DII (365.7 ypg) and the Muleriders are ranked 96th in DII against the rush (171.5 ypg)
Pound the GroundThrough the first four games this season, it is clear that the Muleriders' offense is taking a run-first approach as they have taken to the ground 205 times for 962 yards (4.7 ypr).
Those 205 carries are tops in the GAC and their 51.3 rushing attempts per game trail only Harding University (64.0) and their triple-option running attack. In each of their four games played thus far, SAU has ran the ball over 40 times with their low rushing attempt total being 44 times against Southwestern Oklahoma. In all other games, SAU has carried the ball over 50 times.
Si's Our GuyMuleriders' starting quarterback,
Si Blackshire, has been a catalyst for the SAU early on this year as he has accounted for 1,256 yards of total offense (314.0 ypg). A dual-threat QB, Blackshire currently ranks 20th in all of DII in total offense and has produced 15 touchdowns (12 passing, four rushing).
Blackshire to Moore for the RecordIn SAU's most-recent game, QB
Si Blackshire set a SAU single-game record for touchdown passes as he threw six in the Muleriders' 62-21 win over Northwestern Oklahoma. The recordsetting TD pass was a 46-yard completition to freshman Sidney Moore. Earlier in the game, Moore caught his first career TD.
-1 Yards of Total Offense?In SAU's most-recent game against Northwestern Oklahoma, the Muleriders had allowed 240 yards of total offense in the first half alone. In the second half, the Muleriders would actually lower that first half total as they held the Rangers to a staggering -1 yards of total offense in the final 30 minutes of the game.
Steele CurtainSouthern Arkansas senior linebacker
A.J. Steele has rejoined the program after a two-year hiatus following an all-conference campaign in 2011. So far this year, Steele has been a key contributor to the SAU defense as he leads the team in tackles with 35 (21 solo, 14 assisted). Additionally, Steele has 4.0 tackles for lost yardage, 2.0 sacks, one interception, and one forced fumble.
Mr. Golden CleatsAt times it might be hard to see
Zikerious Ware on the field as he is sweeping across the formation, but the senior wideout can be spotted easier thanks to his golden-clad cleats. Last week, Ware's gold cleates were definietly a blur as he caught seven passes for 170 yards and two scores. Both of his touchdowns came on shovel passes with Ware sweeping in the backfield.
Young WeaponsA quarted of freshmen have emerged as significant contributors to the SAU offense this season as wideouts
Tanner Hudson,Â
Sidney Moore, and
Jonathan Weisheit, along with running back
Deion Williams have all scored at least one touchdown. So far this season, the four have combined for 535 yards of total offense and five TDs.
Ball ControlIn each of their first four games this season, the Muleriders have dominated their opponents in time of possession. Through those games, SAU is averaging 36:08 worth of possession, ranking them second in the GAC and fifth in DII.
Methodical ScoringSo far this season, the Muleriders have scored 21 offensive touchdowns. Of those scoring drives, only seven have taken less than two minutes. As a result, the Muleriders are averaging 2:32 per scoring drive this season.
Get the Reps InIn each of the Muleriders' four games played this season, SAU has had 80 offensive plays or more. Their high-watermark is 92 plays, which they did in consecutive weeks against East Central and Southwestern Oklahoma,
