Southern Arkansas MULERIDERS (1-2, 1-2 GAC) vs. Northwestern Oklahoma RANGERS (1-2, 1-2 GAC) Saturday, Sept. 27 @ 2 p.m. Magnolia, Ark. (Wilkins Stadium) LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO | LIVE AUDIO  SAU GAME NOTES | GAC WEEKLY FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK | NW GAME NOTES

 

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ABOUT NORTHWESTERN OKLAHOMA

SCHEDULE
The Northwestern Oklahoma football team enters Saturday afternoon's game with a 1-2 overall record and a 1-2 mark in the Great American Conference. Most recently, the Rangers are coming off of a come-from-behind 34-28 win at home against Arkansas-Monticello. This game against Southern Arkansas will be Northwestern's fourth-consecutive game against an Arkansas-based school as the Rangers have already faced Arkansas Tech, Harding, and Arkansas-Monticello.

THE COACH
The Rangers are coached by third-year man Alan Hall. In his first season at NWOSU, Hall guided his team to four-consecutive wins to close out the 2012 season as the Rangers finished that year 4-7. Last season, Hall's team would take a slight step back as they finished 2-9 overall, but both wins came against GAC opponents.
NOTE: Hall is not expected be on the sidelines this week after he took a leave of absence due to health concerns prior to last week's game. Assuming the head coaching duties in Hall's absence is assistant head coach Kevin Turco.

SCOUTING THE OFFENSE
On the year, the Northwestern offense is averaging 18.3 points per game (10th in the GAC) and 278.3 yards of total offense per game (10th in the GAC). A fairly balanced offensive attack has the Rangers averaging 120.7 yards per game on the ground (7th in the GAC) and 157.7 yards per game through the air (10th in the GAC).

At the QB position, the Rangers have used three signal callers already, but are likely to go with the hot hand of freshman Ty Hopper. Last week, Hopper received the starting nod for the first time in his career. In that start, Hopper was very efficient with the football as he was 10-for-13 for 149 yards with no INTs and one TD.

In the running game, three tailbacks have shared the workload as Jarion Tudman, Avery Morris, and Zachry Doyle all have carried the ball at least 22 times. Tudman has had the most success in the run game as he has netted 185 yards and has scored a team-best three rushing touchdowns. 

In terms of receiving, 11 different players have caught a pass, but only one has 10 or more receptions and that's junior Justin Schanbacher. On the year Schanbacher has caught 10 passes for 66 yards and one TD.

SCOUTING THE DEFENSE
On the defensive side of the ball, the Rangers are allowing 35.3 points per game (7th in the GAC) and 389.3 yards of total offense per game (6th in the GAC). 215.0 of those yards per game given up are coming through the air (6th in the GAC) and 174.3 yards per game are coming on the ground (6th in the GAC).

Defensively, the Rangers are led by returning All-GAC Honorable Mention linebacker Alex Hemberger. So far on the year, Hemberger is leading the team in total tackles with 26. 2.5 of those stops have come for lost yardage, which is tied for the team lead as well. Eight other Rangers have recorded 10 or tackles to this point in the season.

As team, the Rangers have two interceptions with Derrick Thompson and Devouris Means coming away the picks. Additionally, the Rangers have forced four fumbles on the year and hce recovered two.

THE SERIES
The series between SAU and NWOSU is relatively young despite starting in 1977 with being just the fifth meeting all-time. Through those previous four games, SAU holds a 3-1 advantage.
 

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ABOUT SOUTHERN ARKANSAS

Looking to Get Back On Track at Home
The Southern Arkansas football team returns to Wilkins Stadium for the first time since the opening week of the season as they play host to Northwestern Oklahoma State. The return home will be a welcomed one as the Muleriders are coming off of consectuive road defeats in which they had lost a lead late in the fourth quarter of each game. In the Muleriders first home game of the season, they endured a total of three hours worth of lightning delays before coming away with a thrilling win over Southeastern Oklahoma
on the final play of the game. In their last 10 home games dating back to the start of the 2012 season, the Muleriders are 8-2. In those games, SAU is out-scoring their opponents by 116 points (362-246) and are averaging 36.2 points per game as well.

Home Sweet Home
After consecutive road games, the Southern Arkansas football team will be happy to be back at home as they look to even their record at 2-2. Since the start of the 2012 season, the Muleriders are 8-2 at home and are averaging 36.2 points per game.

Pound the Ground
Through the first three games this season, it is becoming clear that the Muleriders' offense is taking a run-first approach as they have taken to the ground 153 times for 680 yards (4.4 ypr). Those 153 carries are tops in the GAC and their 51.0 rushing attempts per game trail only Harding University (59.5) and their triple-option running attack.
In each of their three games played thus far, SAU has ran the ball over 40 times with their low rushing attempt total being 44 times in their most-recent game against Southwestern Oklahoma.

Si's Our Guy
Muleriders' starting quarterback, Si Blackshire, has been a catalyst for the SAU early on this year as he has accounted for 842 yards of total offense (280.7 ypg). A dual-threat QB, Blackshire currently ranks 38th in all of DII in total offense and has produced 10 touchdowns (six passing, four rushing).

Wise to Throw to Weisheit
After not catching a pass in week one, redshirt freshman Jonathan Weisheit has become a go-to receiver for SAU in the slot position as he has caught seven passes in each of the last two games. In last week's game, Weisheit hauled in his first career touchdown catch on a 24-yard strike in the third quarter.

Shoring Up the Run Defense
After allowing 347 yards rushing in the opening week of the season, the Mulerider defense has started to shore up its rush defense over the last two games as they have allowed just 209 yards rushing over that recent stretch.

Steele Curtain
Southern 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 29 (17 solo, 12 assisted). Additionally, Steele has 3.0 tackles for lost yardage, 2.0 sacks, one interception, and one forced fumble.

Houston...We Have Johnson
Senior wide receiver and University of Houston transfer Aaron Johnson has made an immediate impact on the Muleriders football team this year as he leads the team in receiving yards (215) and touchdowns caught (3). His 71.7 receiving yards per game ranks sixth in the GAC and his three TD grabs also rank him third in the GAC.

Young Weapons
A trio of redshirt freshmen have begun to emerge as significant contributors to the SAU offense this season as wideouts Tanner Hudson and Jonathan Weisheit, along with running back Deion Williams are all listed as starters on the Mulerider's most-recent two-deep. So far this season, the trio have combined for 323 yards of total offense and two TDs.

Ball Control
In each of their first three games this season, the Muleriders have dominated their opponents in time of possession. Through those games, SAU is averaging 36:52 worth of possession, ranking them first in the GAC and fourth in DII.

Methodical Scoring
So far this season, the Muleriders have scored 12 offensive touchdowns. Of those scoring drives, only three have taken less than two minutes. As a result, the Muleriders are averaging 2:53 per scoring drive this season.