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Southern Arkansas University Athletics

Official Athletics Site of the Southern Arkansas University Muleriders
FB | East Central (11-5-16)
Brenna Johnson
37
Winner Southern Arkansas SAU 8-2 , 8-2
24
East Central ECU 1-9 , 1-9
Winner
Southern Arkansas SAU
8-2 , 8-2
37
Final
24
East Central ECU
1-9 , 1-9
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
SAU Southern Arkansas 7 14 10 6 37
ECU East Central 7 10 0 7 24

Game Recap: Football | | By: Daniel Gallegos

Muleriders get past East Central, 37-24; move to 8-2 on the season

ADA, Okla. – The Southern Arkansas football team improved to 8-2 on the season with one more regular season game left on the schedule by virtue of a 37-24 win on the road at East Central on Saturday afternoon inside Koi Ishto Stadium.
 
RECORDS
Southern Arkansas Muleriders (8-2, 8-2 GAC)
East Central Tigers (1-9, 1-9 GAC)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – First Half
  • After forcing the Tigers to punt on their first possession of the game, SAU went on a methodical 12-play march that encompassed 56 yards and just over six minutes on their first crack on offense en route to putting up the game's first points as Michael Nunnery scored from two-yards out
  • ECU then went on a lengthy drive of their own and knotted the game at seven-all as Brooks Holder connected with Dezmond Jackson from 18 yards out for the score
  • The Muleriders ensuing possession leaked over into the second quarter and ended with Nunnery once more finding the endzone, this time from a yard out
  • The Tigers then drove down to the SAU15-yardline, but had to settle for a 39-yard field goal attempt by Jarod Haynes to make it a 14-10 game, SAU
  • Seemingly able to move the ball at will, the Muleriders punt points on the board on their next possession following the ECU field goal and this time it was Barrett Renner who found his fullback Garrett Turnbull from six yards out to make it 21-10 SAU.
  • SAU forced the Tigers into a three-and-out and got the ball back with 1:17 left in the first half, but the Muleriders' drive stalled after three plays and SAU was forced to punt for the first time in the game. The Tigers brought pressure and were able to block the attempt and subsequently return it 11 yards for a touchdown; suddenly making it 21-17, SAU heading into halftime
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – Second Half
  • After winning the toss and deferring to the second half prior to the game, the Muleriders received the ball first coming out of the break. On that initial drive, SAU would work the ball into the Tigers' redzone, but elected to have Bradford Grems kick a 36-yard field goal on 4th-anf-3 from the ECU-19 to put the Muleriders up be a touchdown, 24-17
  • The two teams traded punts and SAU forced an additional punt of ECU on their second drive of the third quarter. On this punt, the ball bounced to the ECU 47-yardline and it appeared as though the Tigers were going to be able to down the ball, but wisely punt returner Jonathan Weisheit saw an opening, picked up the ball on the ground and returned it for a momentum-shifting touchdown as the Muleriders went by two touchdowns, 31-17
  • ECU made it a one-score game once more early in the fourth quarter as Holder threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Xavier Scott with 12:45 remaining
  • On the Muleriders' ensuing possession nearly six minutes of game clock were ate up by the offense as they drove 75 yards on 12 plays, capped by a Keiandre Purifoy touchdown from four-yards out.
  • Now with just under seven minutes left in the fourth quarter, ECU looked to bring the game back to a one-score contest, but a batted pass from Holder was picked off by the Muleriders' Q'Niko Thomas, essentially ending the game there.
  • The Muleriders still needed to work the clock down, however to seal the win, and three first downs later, SAU was able to get into victory formation for the game's final play
 
TURNING POINT
  • A pair of special teams touchdowns served as turning points in the game for both sides. The first of which was a blocked punt that was returned for a touchdown by East Central right before the end of the half to make it a four-point game, 21-17, SAU.
  • The other was punt return touchdown by SAU's Jonathan Weisheit as he picked up a ball that looked like it was going to be downed by ECU and 47-yards later, Weisheit was in the endzone. That score made it a two-touchdown advantage for the Muleriders late in the third quarter
 
OF NOTE
  • The win improves SAU to 8-2 on the season. The last time SAU won at least eight games in the regular season was 2012 when the team went 8-2 in a 10-game regular season slate
  • SAU scored over 30 points in the game for the seventh time this season (sixth-straight) against East Central, and the Muleriders are now 6-1 on the year when they score at least 30 points
  • As a team, the Muleriders limited the Tigers to 31 yards rushing; a season-best effort by the Muleriders run defense. It was the third time that SAU has held an opponent under 50 yards rushing.
  • Running back Michael Nunnery rushed for over 100 yards for the fourth time this season (148 vs. ECU) and he is just 139 yards away from reaching 1,000 yards for the season. The last 1,000-yard back at SAU came in 2012 when Mark Johnson rushed for 1,124 yards. Additionally, Nunnery found the endzone twice to bring his season total to nine.
 
UP NEXT
The Muleriders will now prepare to close out their regular season on the road at Arkansas-Monticello in the Fifth-Annual Battle of the Timberlands game. Kick-off is scheduled for 3 p.m. at Cotton Boll Stadium in Monticello.
 
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