Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

Southern Arkansas University Athletics

Official Athletics Site of the Southern Arkansas University Muleriders
FB | Ouachita (10-15-16)
Brenna Johnson
37
Southern Arkansas SAU 5-2 , 5-2
40
Winner Ouachita Baptist OUA 4-3 , 4-3
Southern Arkansas SAU
5-2 , 5-2
37
Final
40
Ouachita Baptist OUA
4-3 , 4-3
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th OT OT OT OT F
SAU Southern Arkansas 3 21 0 3 7 0 3 0 37
OUA Ouachita Baptist 7 10 0 10 7 0 3 3 40

Game Recap: Football | | By: Daniel Gallegos

Muleriders suffer heartbreaking setback at Ouachita in four overtimes

ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – A 49-yard field goal as time expired by Ouachita's Cole Antley tied the game at 27-all and sent a well-played game between Southern Arkansas and Ouachita to overtime on Saturday afternoon at Cliff Harris Stadium in Arkadelphia. After three emotion-filled overtimes, the Tigers came away with the win in the fourth as Antley made good on a 36-yard field goal.
 
RECORDS
(RV) Southern Arkansas Muleriders (5-2, 5-2 GAC)
Ouachita Tigers (4-3, 4-3 GAC)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED - Regulation
  • A halftime score of 24-17 in favor of SAU remained the score in the game until just under six minutes left in the fourth quarter when Ouachita scored from 22 yards out to tie the game at 24-all with 5:49 left on the clock.
  • On the ensuing possession, the Muleriders methodically drove down the field, ate up the clock, and got the ball to the Ouachita 10-yardline before settling for a go-ahead 27-yard field goal by Bradford Grems with 1:30 left in the fourth quarter
    • That SAU drive encompassed 14 plays and 70 yards while taking up 4:15 off the clock.
  • Now with the ball and one timeout, the Tigers began to move the ball down the field themselves, but with obviously more urgency.
  • With time dwindling in regulation, Ouachita's Lucas Reed connected with La'Dar McElroy for a 16-yard completion that brought the ball to the SAU 32-yardline. Following that reception, the Tigers called timeout with just under three seconds left on the game; setting up a 49-yard field goal try to send the game to OT.
  • Antley's try from that distance split the uprights and the game was thrust into overtime
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – Overtime
  • In the first overtime, SAU won the toss and elected to play defense first, giving the ball to the Tigers for the initial possession.
  • On just two plays, Ouachita ran the ball in for a touchdown, putting immense pressure on the Mulerider offense to match that score.
  • Three rushes by the Muleriders netted a first down on their first overtime possession and then Barrett Renner connected with Jared Brown from 12-yards out and a made extra point kept the game going into a second overtime
  • Now on offense first, the Muleriders looked to apply the pressure to the Ouachita offense with a touchdown, but the Tigers came away with an interception on that possession to give Ouachita the chance to win the game with just a field goal.
  • On that ensuing Ouachita possession, the Tigers went conservative going to the ground on all six plays and making it to the SAU 4-yard line to set a potential game-winning field goal by Antley from just 22 yards out.
  • Antley's attempt sailed left, however, keeping the game going and sending it into a third overtime period
  • Antley gained some redemption moments later as the SAU defense forced another field goal attempt, this one was good for Antley from 34 yards out.
  • Needing a touchdown to win outright, the Muleriders quickly got to the Ouachita 8-yardline, but three-straight lost yardage plays backed the Muleriders to the Ouachita 16-yardline to set up a 33-yard attempt by Grems to keep the game going.
  • Grems nailed that try and the game made its way to a fourth overtime
  • SAU had the first possession in the fourth overtime and were forced to attempt a 35-yard field goal after just three plays. Grems attempt had the distance but it hit high up on the right upright and was no good.
  • Back to the similar situation as in the second overtime period, the Tigers would win on any kind of score, and from 36-yards away, Antley ended the game as his kick was good.
 
TURNING POINT
  • In the third overtime, the Muleriders got to the Ouachita 8-yardline on just two plays and a touchdown would win it, but three-straight plays of lost yardage forced SAU to kick a field goal to keep the game going and force a fourth overtime.
 
OF NOTE
  • This was the first overtime game for the Muleriders since October 30, 2010 when SAU beat West Georgia at home, 30-27
  • The Muleriders had over 500 yards of total offense and over 200 yards gained on the ground for the third-straight game
  • SAU ran over 100 plays Ouachita, which is a season-high
 
UP NEXT
The Muleriders will now prepare for another big game next week as they are set to take on nationally-ranked Henderson State in the Murphy USA Classic in El Dorado. Kick-off is scheduled for 2 p.m.
 
Print Friendly Version