MAGNOLIA, Ark. – A standing room-only crowd of 5,973 were treated to a well-played 33-14 win as the Southern Arkansas football team their home-opener against Northwestern Oklahoma on Saturday night at Wilkins Stadium at Rip Powell Field. It was the fifth-straight year as well that SAU has won their home opener.

RECORDS

Southern Arkansas (2-0, 2-0 GAC) | Northwestern Oklahoma (1-1, 1-1 GAC)

SCORING PLAYS

Southern Arkansas 3, Northwestern Oklahoma 0

1st Q 12:53 | Bradford Grems 40-yard FIELD GOAL | 4 plays, 5 yards, TOP 1:25

Northwestern Oklahoma 7, Southern Arkansas 3

1st Q 10:00 | Riley Hess 17-yard PASS from Reid Miller (PAT GOOD) | 7 plays, 68 yards, TOP 2:47

Southern Arkansas 10, Northwestern Oklahoma 7

2nd Q 13:39 | Kaylen Burks 13-yard PASS from Barrett Renner (PAT GOOD) | 6 plays, 79 yards | TOP 2:11

Southern Arkansas 17, Northwestern Oklahoma 7

2nd Q 10:53 | Karonce Higgins 87-yard PASS from Barrett Renner (PAT GOOD) | 2 plays, 91 yards | TOP 0:56

Southern Arkansas 20, Northwestern 7

2nd Q 0:49 | Bradford Grems 42-yard FIELD GOAL | 8 plays, 55 yards, TOP 0:58

Southern Arkansas 23, Northwestern 7

3rd Q 7:38 | Bradford Grems 38-yard FIELD GOAL | 8 plays, 34 yards, TOP 3:03

Southern Arkansas 30, Northwestern Oklahoma 7

4th Q 14:54 | Tanner Hudson 29-yard PASS from Will Haines (PAT GOOD) | 9 plays, 57 yards, TOP 4:28

Southern Arkansas 33, Northwestern Oklahoma 7

4th Q 7:14 | Bradford Grems 40-yard FIELD GOAL | 11 plays, 28 yards, TOP 6:00

Southern Arkansas 33, Northwestern Oklahoma 14

4th Q 6:58 | Jarion Tudman 94-yard KICK RETURN (PAT GOOD)

HOW IT HAPPENED

·         Sophomore Davondrick Lison kept the stout defense played a week ago by the Muleriders going as on the third play of the game he came up with a strip-sack fumble. Last year, Lison led all of NCAA Division II in forced fumbles with seven (7); this was his first of the year

·         Lison's forced fumble and recovery gave the Muleriders great starting field position at the Northwestern 28. The first offensive series for SAU, however, stalled after just three plays making it fourth down and leaving junior kicker Bradford Grems with a 40-yard field goal attempt.

·         Grems split the uprights on the attempt to set a personal-long made field goal at SAU

·         The Rangers answered back with a methodical drive that ended in a 17-yard touchdown pass from reigning GAC Offensive Player of the Week, Reid Miller to Riley Hess

·         The Muleriders regained the lead early in the second quarter when Barrett Renner connected with Kaylen Burks from 13-yards out.

·         SAU's defense forced a punt on NWOSU's ensuing drive and the biggest play of the game followed on the second play of SAU"s drive as Karonce Higgins went 87 yards to the house on a fly sweep pass play

·         The Muleriders continued to control the game from there and their next two scores were made field goals of 42 and 38 yards by Grems. The 42-yard make set a new personal-long at SAU which was 40 yards and done earlier in the game

·         After being thrust into his first collegiate action early in the third quarter, redshirt freshman Will Haines played extremely well and the Haughton, La. native tossed his first career touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter. The score was a 29-yard strike to Tanner Hudson

·         About midway in the fourth quarter, Grems continued his career night as he made good on a 40-yard field goal to make it 33-7 SAU

·         Unfortunately, the ensuing kickoff was returned 94 yards for a touchdown, bringing the game to its final of 33-14

TURNING POINT

·         Karonce Higgins 87-yard touchdown with 10:53 in the second quarter gave SAU a 10-point lead, 17-7. The Muleriders went on to score 16 unanswered points to cruise to the win

OF NOTE

·         Bradford Grems was a perfect 4-for-4 in kicking field goals against Northwestern Oklahoma. The four makes surpasses his total all season a year ago as he was just 3-for-5 in 2015.

·         Grems also tied his own single-game record with the four made field goals as matched the feat as a freshman in the 2014 season against Henderson State

·         Grems made three kicks from 40 or more yards with his longest coming from 42 yards. Prior to the game, Grems career-long field goal was 32 yards set in 2014.

UP NEXT

The Muleriders have a difficult test in front of them next week as they hit the road to face the run-heavy offense of Harding. The  Bisons will enter the game 2-0 and were ranked just outside of the top-25 in the latest AFCA Coaches Poll released on September 5