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About East CentralSCHEDULEEast Central comes into this week's game with a 1-0 overall record and a 1-0 record in the GAC after posting a come-from-behind 38-34 win over Arkansas-Monticello in their season-opener. This matchup between ECU and Southern Arkansas will both team's second overall game of the season and also their second conference game as both teams will play a full GAC slate in 2014.
SCOUTING THE OFFENSEIn their win over Arkansas-Monticello, ECU's offense showed balance as nealry half of their total plays run (73) came on the ground as the Tigers attempted 32 rushes. Finding success on the ground, the Tigers would go on to finish the game with 212 net rushing yards for an average of 6.6 yards per attempt. Spearheading that rushing attack was senior tailback JoJo Snell as he rushed for 157 yards on just 11 carries, with two of those reaching the endzone. In the passing game, ECU completed just over half of their passes (23-for-47 | 51.2%) but were able to find some success on their completions as they threw for 286 yards and one score. Junior transfer Rocky Moore got the starting nod over incumbent Spencer Bond, but it was Bond who would finish out the game under center after taking over early in the second quarter. Bond would go on to complete 15-of-26 passes for 191 yards with no interceptions and one touchdown. In terms of receiving, ECU had four players with at least three receptions. Juwan Dotson led the team in receiving that game with 100 yards one eight grabs. One of those catches went for a score as well.
SCOUTING THE DEFENSEDefensively, the Tigers allowed 311 yards of total offense in their season opener with only 22 of those yards coming on the ground. Helping that low production on the ground was the Tigers' 10 tackles for a total of 45 lost yards. Leading that defensive charge for ECU was recently-named GAC Defensive Player of the week, Daniel Holland, as he notched three sacks. Additionally, Holland recorded a quarteback hurry and forced a fumble. Defensive backs Qumain Black and Darren Campbell each has an interception in ECU's first game with Black's pick coming at the most opportune time as he intercpeted UAM's Colton Morrison in the endzone with just under a minute left in the game to seal the victory for ECU.
THE SERIESSouthern Arkansas and East Central will be meeting for the 16th time with this meeting being the fourth-consecutive. With the series dating back to 1953, SAU and ECU played one another for six straight years from the start of the series until 1958. In 1993, the two schools hooked up again for another six-year stretch before GAC affiliation brought the series back in 2011. Through the 15 games played in the series thus far, SAU holds a 9-6 advantge over ECU. This will also mark the
ninth time that the two teams will meet in Ada. SAU also leads the series in Ada with a 5-3 record on the road
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Worth the Wait...SAU Wins on Final PlaySAU's season-opener last week was delayed two hours at the start due to lightning strikes in the area. Once the game kicked off, an additional delay of 51 minutes occured in the second quarter, bringing the total time of delays to nearly three full hours. Despite the delays, a good-sized "Family Day" crowd endured the weather conditions and those that were in attendance, were treated to an amazing finish as SAU came away with a turnover with 1:31 left in the game and QB
Si Blackshirefound WR
Aaron Johnson in the back corner of the endzone to tie the game with no time left. A made extra point by Dylan Nowak gave the Muleriders the thrilling one-point win, 30-29.Â
Pound the GroundIn their season-opener, the SAU football team showed the ability to move the ball effectively on the ground as they piled up 357 yards rushing against Southeastern Oklahoma. That rushing yardage was tops in the GAC last week and ranked the Muleriders fifth in NCAA Division II. Helping get the Muleriders to that mark was a four-headed attack which included starting QB
Si Blackshire. Carrying the load of work was senior RB
Deandre Jenkins as he rushed for 155 yards on 22 carries. Blackshire was next on the team with 86 yards and two scores.
Dwight Smith and
Deion Williams also toted the ball eight times each with Smith gaining 71 yards and Williams 69.
Si's Our GuyGetting the nod as the Muleriders' starting quarterback, Si Blackshire, made the most of his first start at SAU as he accounted for all four of SAU's touchdowns in their 30-29 win over Southeastern Oklahoma with a pair of passing and a pair of rushing scores. Blackshire also accounted for nearly 300 yards of total offense with 206 yards passing and 86 yards rushing. The outstanding starting debut for Blackshire resulted in him being named the GAC Co-Offensive Player of the Week.
We Protect Our HouseIn the past three years, including the start of this season, Wilkins Stadium has become a great homefield advantage for the Muleriders as they are 8-2 at home since 2012.Â
Four Score(s) and 13 Wins LaterDating back to 2012, the Muleriders have won 15 games. 13 of those wins have seen the Muleriders score 30 or more points including their 30-29 win over SE Okla. in the season-opener.
Nose for the BallSAU senior safety DeMario Thomas has shown to have a nose fo the football in his time as a Mulerider. In 30 games played, Thomas has three interceptions and seven fumble recoveries. His seventh-career fumble recovery set the stage for SAU's game-winning drive against SE.
Houston...We Have JohnsonSenior wide receiver
Aaron Johnson made an immediate impact on the Muleriders football team in his debut against SE Oklahoma this past weekend. The University of Houston transfer led the team with four catches for 66 yards and two touchdowns. His final TD was the game-winning score as time expired.
No Fly ZoneThe SAU defense did extremely well defending the pass against Southeastern Oklahoma, holding the Savage Storm to just 84 yards through the air on 12 completions. The difficulty for Southeastern to pass on the SAU defense was not much of a suprise, despite the adverse weather conditions, because the
Muleriders, with many of the same defensive backs returning, only allowed a 300-plus yard passing performance once last year.
Becoming Road WarriorsIn their last 10 road games, dating back to 2012, SAU has come away with a win seven times. Five of those road wins came in 2012 when SAU went a perfect 5-0 on the road. This week's game will be SAU's first game away from home as they travel to Ada, Okla. to take on East Central.
Muleriders Picked 5th in GACThe Southern Arkansas football team is coming off of consecutive winning seasons for the first time since 2002 and 2003 after posting an 8-3 record in 2013 and a 6-4 mark in 2014. Despite that recent run of success, the Muleriders were picked by the head football coaches of the Great American Conference to finish 5th in the league by year's end. Last year, the Muleriders entered the season with high expectations as they were tabbed to finish second in the GAC before ultimatelty finishing the season in a tie for fourth-place.
