MAGNOLIA, Ark. – In his first collegiate start, redshirt freshman quarterback Barrett Renner hooked up with sophomore wide out Jonathan Weisheit from 75 yards out for a go-ahead and eventual game-winning touchdown with 6:24 remaining in the fourth quarter as Southern Arkansas came-from-behind to beat visiting Southwestern Oklahoma by a score of 28-24 on Saturday evening at Wilkins Stadium.
 
The offensive possession prior to that game-winning toss from Renner saw the Muleriders (1-0, 1-0 GAC) go three-and-out and be forced to punt from deep within their own territory. On that ensuing punt, the Bulldogs' (0-1, 0-1 GAC) Tanner Thompson got through the line and blocked the SAU punt attempt. Off the block, the ball would roll out of the Muleriders' endzone for a SWOSU safety, which put the Bulldogs up 24-22.
 
With all of the momentum seemingly with the Bulldogs at that point in the game, the Mulerider defense emotionally balanced the game out as they stood tall and forced a quick three-and-out, giving the ball back to the SAU offense.
 
Renner and his offensive unit did not waste any time when they got the ball back as his 75-yard connection with Weisheit occurred on the first play of the drive. On the play, Weisheit ran an up and out route about 15 yards up the field and had to sky to make the reception from Renner, but once he caught it, Weisheit, thanks to a host of great blocks from his fellow wideouts, made the touchdown happen as he out-ran the SWOSU defense on his way to pay dirt.
 
Following the touchdown, the Muleriders went for two as they hoped to stretch the lead out to six points, but a failed attempt left the score 28-24.
 
With no room for error, the Mulerider defense rose to the occasion once more on the ensuing SWOSU possession as a combo sack by Anthony Washington and Davondrick Lison on first down plus a great pass breakup by Quan Warren on third down helped forced the Bulldogs to punt once more.
 
Back with possession and 4:37 left in the game, the Muleriders looked to drain the clock and possibly put more points on the board, but the drive eventually stalled just over three minutes later giving the Bulldogs the ball back with a chance to drive for a go-ahead and potential game-winning score of their own.
 
That drive for SWOSU would start at their own 20-yardline after Tanner Hudson's 52-yard punt rolled into the endzone.
 
Now with 1:33 remaining in the fourth quarter and SAU nursing a four-point lead, the defense would stand tall once more with Warren and Lison right in the middle of the action again. On the first down play, Warren broke up a long pass down the field that could have sparked the Bulldogs' drive. On the very next play, however, Lison, along with fellow defensive end Kendrix McCann promptly ended the Bulldogs' drive as the two combined for a sack-fumble which was recovered by SAU's Phillip Gahr, effectively ending the game as the Muleriders regained possession with 1:18 left on the clock.
 
A pair of kneel-downs by Renner would seal the deal as the Muleriders knocked off the Bulldogs 28-24. The four-point win for SAU is just another close margin of victory in the short all-time series between SAU and SWOSU as the combined margin of victory in the series is now just 20 points across five games with SAU winning four of the meetings.
 
The Muleriders will now prepare for the long trek to Alva, Okla. next weekend as they take on Northwestern Oklahoma on Saturday, September 12. Kick-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.