(RV) SOUTHERN ARKANSAS MULERIDERS 9-2 (9-2 GAC)	TEXAS A&M-KINGSVILLE JAVELINAS 8-3 (6-3 LSC)
Saturday, December 3 | Noon Razorback Stadium - Magnolia, Ark. LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO | LIVE AUDIO (SAU Radio Feed)

 

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GAME NOTES | SAU | TAMUK | GAC Weekly FB Notebook

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Setting the Scene: Agent Barry Live United Bowl
In its' fourth year of existence, the 2016 Agent Barry Live United Bowl will feature the Southern Arkansas Muleriders and the Texas A&M-Kingsville Javelinas. SAU, who finished second in the Great American Conference, enters the game at 9-2 on the season, while TAMUK, who finished third in the Lone Star Conference, enters play with an 8-3 overall record.

This is the first post-season appearance for both teams since 2012 when SAU played in the C.H.A.M.P.S. Heart of Texas Bowl and A&M-Kingsville in the Kanza Bowl.

SCHEDULE
The Texas A&M-Kingsville football team enters play this weekend with an 8-3 overall record and they finished third in the Lone Star Conference (LSC) with a 6-3 mark in league play. The Javelinas began the year 2-3 with all three losses coming by a combined five points. Two of those defeats were to the hands of nationally-ranked opponents that later qualified for the NCAA Division II Playoffs. Since then, the Javelinas have righted the ship and have won their last six games to earn the bid to this weekend's Agent Barry Live United Bowl.

THE COACH
The Javelinas are coached by Daren Wilkinson, who is in his second season at Texas A&M-Kingsville. In his first season, Wilkinson's Javelinas were just 2-9 overall and 0-6 in the Lone Star Conference. This year, however, Wilkinson has the Javelinas in the post-season for the first time since 2012 as he has orchestrated a six-win turnaround with his 2016 squad posting eight (8) wins on the season.

Prior to his time at Kingsville, Wilkinson was the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Colorado State-Pueblo for two seasons. In his final season with the Thunder Wolves, Wilkinson helped lead the Thunder Wolves to the NCAA DII National Championship with a 13-0 win over #1-ranked Minnesota State-Mankato.

SCOUTING THE OFFENSE
Offensively, the Javelinas are averaging 39.6 points per game and 433.7 yards of total offense per game as well with 246.0 of the yards coming through the air and the remaining 187.7 yards being gained on the ground. Their points per game average ranks second in the LSC while their total offense ranks third in the league.

Under center for the Javelinas is senior QB Myles Carr. On the year, Carr has completed 194-of-291 passes for 2,606 yards and 29 touchdowns. His 236.9 passing yards per game average ranks fourth in the LSC and his 29 passing TDs ranks second.

On the ground, the Javelinas are led by Greg Pitre as he has rushed for 622 yards on 140 carries and has found the endzone four times. Nick Pelrean and Luis Lopez have also been significant contributors in the backfield with each rushing for over 500 yards and at least seven touchdowns. Pelran leads the team in rushing TDs with nine followed by Lopez's seven.

In terms of receiving, the Javelinas are led by Anthony Autry. On the year, Autry has 42 receptions for 686 yards and has scored seven times. Stehly Reden has the most receiving touchdowns on the team, however with eight.

SCOUTING THE DEFENSE
Defensively, the Javelinas are allowing 23.5 points per game and 333.3 yards of total offense per game with 237.0 of the yards coming through the air and the remaining 96.3 being gained on the ground. Their scoring defense ranks second in the LSC while their total defense is tops in the league.

On the year, the Javelinas have made an incredible amount of tackles for lost yardage with 98 as a team for a total loss of 404 yards. Nearly half of those tackles for lost yardage have been a result of quarterback sacks as the Javelinas have recorded 45 as a team. In terms of stat rankings, the Javelinas lead the Lone Star and rank fifth in DII in sacks and 13th in tackles for lost yardage.

Additionally as a team, the Javelinas have forced 23 turnovers with 12 being interceptions and 11 being fumble recoveries.

THE SERIES
This will be the first meeting all-time between the Muleriders and the Javelinas.

Quick Hits From Last Week
» The win for SAU over Arkansas-Monticello gave the Muleriders a 9-2 regular season record. Overall, it is the seventh time in program history that SAU has had at least nine wins in a season, and it is the first time to reach that mark since 2003

» Additionally, the win clinched the Muleriders a berth in the Agent Barry Live United Bowl as it cemented them alone in second place in the GAC.

» SAU is now 5-0 all-time against UAM when the Battle of the Timberlands trophy is up for grabs. The long-standing rivalry gained the traveling trophy in 2012.

» A pair of offensive milestones were hit in the game as Barrett Renner eclipsed the 3,000-yard passing mark for the second-straight year and junior running back Michael Nunnery became SAU's first 1,000-yard back since 2012 as he pushed his season total to 1,017

» Marking the conclusion of the regular season following the UAM game, SAU's offense led the league in Total Offense for the third-straight year, while the defense made a marked improvement upon last season as the 2016 defensive unit second-ranked Total Defense in the GAC after ranking seventh a year ago.

13 Muleriders Named All-GAC
Southern Arkansas was well-represented among the 2016 Great American Conference post-season honors with a total of 13 All-GAC selections.

Of SAU's 13 All-GAC selections, Tanner Hudson, Elgin Moore, Chris Paul, Barrett Renner, and Jonathan Weisheit were repeat honorees from a year ago. Additionally, 11 of those selections will return next season. Positionally, seven of the selections were defensive players, while six play on the offensive side of
the ball.
 

All-GAC First-Team » Travis Williams (DL) Jr. | Jackson, Miss.

All-GAC Second-Team » Tanner Hudson (TE) Jr. | Camden, Tenn. » Corey Jenkins (ILB) Jr. | Newton, Texas » Mark Jenkins (OL) Sr. | Jacksonville, Texas » Stacy Lawrence (OLB) So. | Irving, Texas » Michael Nunnery (RB) Jr. | Bossier City, La. » Chris Paul (C) Sr. | Texarkana, Texas » Malik Preston (ILB) So. | Shreveport, La. » Barrett Renner (QB) So. | Rowlett, Texas

All-GAC Honorable Mention » Darren Crawford (CB) Jr. | Ruston, La. » Kendrix McCann (DE) So. | Texarkana, Ark. » Elgin Moore (S) Jr. | Minden, La. » Jonathan Weisheit (WR) Jr. | Frisco, Texas

Holding Down Hudson
Tanner Hudson has played numerous positions in his time at SAU from quarterback upon his transfer into the program, to rugby punter this past year, and with time spent at the wide receiver and tight end positions along the way. Of all of those positions, however, the versatile Hudson flourished as a pass-catching tight end.

A two-time All-GAC Second-Team selection at the position, Hudson proved to be a match-up nightmare in the passing game as he hauled in 44 passes for a team-best 697 yards. Hudson was also on the receiving end of eight TD passes to lead the Muleriders.

This year, Hudson remains a threat in the passing game as he leads the team in yards (694) and touchdowns (8) while also ranking third on the team in receptions (43).

Wise to Throw to Weisheit
Junior wide receiver Jonathan Weisheit has been one of SAU's most consistent and reliable targets in the passing game since his redshirt freshman campaign. In each of his first two full seasons, Weisheit caught 30+ passes and averaged over 10 yards per reception. Last year, Weisheit earned All-GAC honors as he ranked sixth in the league in receptions per game while also ranking seventh in receiving yards per game. All told, Weisheit hauled in 49 passes for 658 yards and three TDs.

Through 11 games this year, Weisheit has been the top target with a team-best 58 receptions for an average of 5.3 receptions per game ranks third in the GAC.

Penny For Your Thoughts, Nickel For Your Defense
Redshirt sophomore Stacy Lawrence has started all eight games at the Nickle position of the Mulerider Defense and the Irving, Texas native has played well beyond his experience. To date, Lawrence has the fifth-most tackles on the team with 54 and he also currently leads the team in Interceptions (5) and Passes Defended (13). His five INTs are tied for the most in the GAC.

Against Arkansas Tech, Lawrence sealed the game for the Muleriders as he intercepted a pass in the endzone with under two minutes left in the game. Against Henderson, he returned a blocked punt 25 yards for a TD.

It's a Track Meet Out There
Last year, sophomore wide receiver Karonce Higgins began to show flashes of what he could become as a wideout at SAU as he caught 22 passes for 499 yards (22.7 ypr) and five scores. Regarded as one of the fastest players in the GAC, Higgins also showed out last year on the track as he finished second in the 200-meter dash at the inaugural GAC Track Championships and later qualified for the NCAA Championships in the event.

This year, Higgins is proving to be a big-play threat once more as he is currently averaging 15.1 yards per reception and against NWOSU, Higgins took a short shovel pass behind the line of scrimmage, caught the edge and sprinted down the sideline for an 87-yard touchdown.

Getting Defensive
Through the 11 games of the season, the SAU defense has played exceptionally well and one of the fruits of their improved play has been their ability to force turnovers. Currently, the Mulerider defense has forced 26 turnovers with 18 INTs and eight fumble recoveries. Their 26 takeaways are third in the GAC.

Methodical Marchers
The Southern Arkansas offense has shown this season that field position, or lack there of, won't stop them from scoring touchdowns.

On the year, SAU has scored 53 touchdowns. Of those TD drives, 27 have covered 70 or more yards. Against Arkansas Tech, all four of their TD drives were at least 75 yards with an average drive length being 75.3 yards. The Muleriders matched that single-game output against Henderson with four touchdown drives of at least 70 yards. Their most methodical scoring drive of the year was a 19-play, 94-yard drive that ate up over 10 minutes against UAM.

Picked 5th in Wide-Open GAC
The Southern Arkansas football team enters the 2016 season picked to finish fifth in the Great American Conference according to the league's head coaches in the annual preseason poll. Last year, the Muleriders were picked to finish sixth, but a 7-4 record tied SAU for fourth with Harding and Ouachita.

Ahead of the Muleriders in the 2016 preseason poll are Henderson State, Harding, Ouachita, and Southwestern Oklahoma. SAU went 2-2 against those for team picked higher with wins coming against Ouachita and Southwestern Oklahoma.

Familiar Faces All Around
Familiarity will be a strength of the 2016 Mulerider football team as a total of 41 lettermen and 16 starters are back with eight starters apiece coming on each side of the ball. Highlighted among the starters are All-GAC honorees Davondrick Lison, Calvin Lyons, Elgin Moore, Chris Paul, Barrett Renner, and Jonathan Weisheit.

Relying on Renner
For the first time since the start of the 2013 season, the Muleriders will have the return services of their starting quarterback from the previous year as Barrett Renner is back for his sophomore season. Last year, Renner continued a line of high-level quarterback play at SAU as he set five new school records and was named as the GAC's Freshman of the Year as well as being the league's first-team QB on the all-conference squad.

This season, Renner will be the focal point of the Muleriders' offense once again while also being the man to stop for opposing defenses. Last year, Renner was an all-region selection and he led the league and ranked ninth in NCAA DII in Total Offense with over 3,700 yards gained.

Welcome to the O-Show
Mulerider Football and offensive production/explosion have been synonymous with one another for the past five years since Landon Keopple became the offensive coordinator. In his first year in 2011, Keopple put together an offense that averaged 26.2 points per game and 376.4 yards of total offense per game. Those numbers were markedly better than the previous year where SAU averaged 16.3 ppg and 268.4 yards of total offense.

In the four years since his first as OC, Keopple has developed one of the top offenses not only in the GAC, but in all of NCAA DII. Beginning in the 2012 season, the Muleriders average 36.8 points per game and 477.4 yards of total offense per game. In three of the last four years, SAU has gained over 5,000 yards and in those same years they have scored more than 385 points.

All told under Keopple as the OC, the Muleriders score nearly 35 points per game and average over 450 yards of total offense as well.