|
SOUTHERN ARKANSAS
MULERIDERS
4-2 (4-2 GAC)
|
EAST CENTRAL
TIGERS
1-5 (1-5 GAC)
|
|
GAME NOTES | SAU | ECU | GAC Weekly FB Notebook
Setting the Scene - Return to the Sooner State
A week after picking up their first win of the year away from Wilkins Stadium at Rip Powell Field, the Southern Arkansas football team returns to the Sooner State this week in hopes of another road triumph as the Muleriders travel to Ada to take on East Central University.
It will be the second-straight year that SAU has had to play at East Central after the conference schedules re-aligned prior to the start of the 2017 campaign. Last year the two teams met in Week 10 and the Muleriders collected a hard-fought 37-24 road win over the Tigers.
Since Coach Keopple took over as head coach of the Muleriders in 2009, he is 11-6 in games played in the Sooner State. All told, Keopple and the Muleriders have won nearly 80% of the games played against teams from Oklahoma, going 26-7 since 2011.
About East Central
SCHEDULE
The East Central football team enters play this weekend with a 1-5 overall record and a 1-5 mark in the Great American Conference. The Tigers enter play this weekend having lost their last five games. ECU's victory on the year came on the road in Shawnee as the Tigers defeated Oklahoma Baptist 55-34 to open the season in a game that was streamed live on ESPN3 as part of the 2017 NCAA Division II Football Showcase.
THE COACH
The Tigers are coached by Tim McCarty, who is in his 11th season overall at East Central while also being in his ninth season of his second stint as the head man at ECU. Before leading the Tigers for the second time starting in 2009, McCarty previously was the head coach at ECU for two seasons from 2004-2005. Over his first stint as head coach, McCarty went 9-12 overall. In his first season back in his second stint in 2009, McCarty's Tigers went 0-11, but two years after that in 2011, McCarty had the
Tigers an 8-3 team. Overall at ECU, McCarty has a record of 47-66.
SCOUTING THE OFFENSE
Offensively, the Tigers are averaging 27.2 points per game and 416.5 yards of total offense per game as well with 249.7 of the yards coming through the air and the remaining 166.8 yards being gained on the ground. Their points per game average and total offense ranks eighth in the GAC while their passing offense is fourth and their rushing offense eighth in the league.
The Tigers have featured two signal-callers under center this year with junior transfer Noah Holle getting a majority of the action. Holle has started four of ECU's six games and on the year he has completed 60-of-114 passes for 818 yards and six touchdowns. RayJohn Austin-Ramsey is the second QB used by the Tigers this year and he has played in four games, making two starts. To this point, Austin Ramsey has completed 51-of-94 passes for 673 yards and four touchdowns.
The Tigers' leading rusher is Ontario Douglas with 668 yards on 99 carries with seven touchdowns. Douglas is also the leading rusher in the GAC averaging 111.3 yards per game, while his seven rushing scores are the second-most for a running back in the league.
In terms of receiving, the Tigers are led by Trinity Benson. On the year, Benson has caught 33 passes for 393 yards with three of those receptions being touchdowns. Benson is currently third in the GAC in receptions per game (5.5 rpg) and fourth in receving yards per game (65.5 ypg) as well.
SCOUTING THE DEFENSE
Defensively, the Tigers are allowing 41.2 points per game and 467.7 yards of total offense per game with 275.2 of the yards coming through the air and the remaining 192.5 being gained on the ground. Their scoring defense and total defense ranks 11th in the GAC while their rushing defense is seventh and their passing defense 12th in the league.
On the year, the Tigers have forced six turnovers with all but one being fumble recoveries.
The Tigers' leading tackler is Camnik Campbell with 37. Jernell Sutherland has two of ECU's sacks on the season.
THE SERIES
This will be the 19th meeting all-time between the Muleriders and Tigers with SAU holding an 11-7 lead in the series. The all-time series dates back to 1953 and has seen these two teams meet yearly since 2011 as each school became charter members of the Great American Conference. Since becoming conference opponents, SAU leads the series 4-2. All-time in games played in Ada, SAU leads 6-4.
Record Watch
Records Within Reach - Career (Individual)
» Pass Attempts - (Record: 1,166 - Tyler Sykora, 2009-13)
Current:
Barrett Renner (1,065 | -101)
» Passing Yards - (Record: 9,010 - Tyler Sykora, 2009-13)
Current:
Barrett Renner (8,398 | -612)
» Passing TDs - (Record: 82 - Tyler Sykora, 2009-13)
Current: Barret Renner (79 | -3)
» Reception Yards - (Record: 2,852 - Nik Lewis, 2000-03)
Current:
Jonathan Weisheit (1,958 | -984)
Current:
Tanner Hudson (1,838 | -1,014)
» Receptions - (Record: 170 -
Jonathan Weisheit, (2014-present)
Current:
Tanner Hudson (127 | -43)
» TD Receptions - (Record: 36 - Nik Lewis, 2000-03)
Current:
Tanner Hudson (24 | -12)
» TDs Responsible For - (Record: 83 - Tyler Sykora, 2009-13)
Current:
Barrett Renner (81 | -2)
» All-Purpose Yards - (Record: 4,184, Mark Johnson, 2008-13)
Current:
Jonathan Weisheit (2,997 | 1,187)
» Total Points Scored - (Record: 264 - Mark Johnson, 2008-13)
Current:
Bradford Grems (227 | -37)
» Punt Return Yards - (Record: 629 - Nik Lewis, 2000-03)
Current:
Jonathan Weisheit (544 | -85)
(-# indicates number from TYING record)
New Records Set - Career (Individual)
» Pass Completitions - (New Record: 683 -
Barrett Renner, 2015-present)
Former Record: 658 - Tyler Sykora, 2009-13
» Receptions - (New Record: 170 -
Jonathan Weisheit, 2014-present)
Former Record: 162 - Nik Lewis, 2000-03
» Total Offense - (New Record: 8,972 -
Barrett Renner, 2015-present)
Former Record: 8,847 - Tyler Sykora, 2009-13)
