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Southern Arkansas University Athletics

Official Athletics Site of the Southern Arkansas University Muleriders
Nunnery Rushing TD vs. OKB
Brenna Johnson
35
Winner Southern Arkansas SAU 5-2 , 5-2
28
East Central ECU 1-6 , 1-6
Winner
Southern Arkansas SAU
5-2 , 5-2
35
Final
28
East Central ECU
1-6 , 1-6
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
SAU Southern Arkansas 7 14 7 7 35
ECU East Central 0 7 7 14 28

Game Recap: Football | | By: Daniel Gallegos

Muleriders hold off late push by East Central; beat Tigers 35-28

ADA, Okla. – A 21-0 Southern Arkansas lead at one point late in the first half turned out to be a nail-biting 35-28 win for the Muleriders as they had to hold off a strong second half rally by East Central on Saturday afternoon at Norris Field at Koi Ishto Stadium in Ada.
 
RECORDS
Southern Arkansas Muleriders (5-2, 5-2 GAC)
East Central Tigers (1-6, 1-6 GAC)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – First Half
  • The opening quarter of Saturday's game basically saw just two total possessions as both East Central and Southern Arkansas' initial drives were methodical and ate up a ton of clock. After both teams possessed it once, there were a mere 22 seconds left in the quarter.
  • ECU's opening possession took 7:32 and saw 59 yards gained on 15 plays, but no points to show as the Tigers missed a 33-yard field goal. SAU, on the other hand, had a point-producing opening drive as a one-yard plunge by Michael Nunnery capped a 14-play, 80-yard drive that took up 7:06.
  • With SAU up 7-0, ECU drove to the SAU 33-yardline, but were forced to try another field goal, this one from 50-yards out. That try was also unsuccessful keeping it a 7-0 SAU lead.
  • The Muleriders' next drive was not as methodical, but the end-result was the same as Barrett Renner connected with his fullback Garrett Turnball from five-yards out for a touchdown.
  • Shortly thereafter, it was a 21-0 lead for the Muleriders as Darren Crawford came away with a 34-yard pick-six. Crawford's touchdown on the interception was the first pick-six for the Muleriders since Malik Preston housed one in the regular season finale against Arkansas-Monticello. It is also Crawford's second career pick-six.
  • The Mulerider defense then went out and forced the Tigers to another field goal try and once again the Tigers failed to put points on the board, this time missing from 41 yards and giving the ball back to SAU at the SAU 24-yardline with 1:24 remaining in the first half.
  • SAU's offense would stall out after just four plays, however, forcing their first punt attempt of the game. On the punt, ECU brought pressure and blocked it, recovering at the SAU 21 with 45 seconds left.
  • With their best opening field position of the game, the Tigers used five plays and finally found the endzone on a one-yard quarterback keeper, bringing the halftime score to 21-7 in favor of SAU.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – Second Half
  • Initially the Muleriders did well to stem any momentum the Tigers were building after the special teams play that ended in points right before the end of the half as SAU scored a touchdown on their opening possession of the second half to make it a 21-point advantage once more, 28-7. The score was a 41-yard rush by Nunnery as he broke free across the far sideline. The big play by Nunnery is the longest rush by a Mulerider this year, and also the longest rushing touchdown as well.
  • The Tigers responded after that, however, and put together an 11-play drive that ended with a two-yard rushing score by Tre'Von Jackson. ECU then forced another SAU punt and drove the field once more and found the endzone from 18 yards out to make a one score-game, 28-21 with 14:16 to go in the fourth quarter.
  • Trying to halt the Tigers' surging momentum, the Muleriders had a 1st-and-Goal from the ECU 10-yardline after a 36-yard rush by SirCharles Perkins. SAU was able to get the ball to the ECU 3-yardline, but a false start back it up to the eight-yardline and on the next play, SAU lost a fumble as ECU recovered on their own eight-yardline.
  • A couple of big plays brought the ball near midfield for the Tigers, but a nine-yard sack by DeMarcus Pegue on a 1st-and-10 from the ECU 41 began to move the Tigers backwards. After defensive holding call went against the Muleriders for an automatic first down, ECU had back-to-back penalties that totaled 20 yards, effectively ending their drive as they were forced to punt two plays later.
  • Following that big defensive stand that was aided by ECU penalties, the Muleriders essentially put the game away on their ensuing drive as Karonce Higgins scored from 16-yards out on a jet sweep pass from Renner to make it 35-21, SAU with 1:45 left in the game.
  • The Tigers would not let that score be the final, however as ECU passed their way down the field and scored the game's final points with 15 seconds left to make it a 35-28 score. ECU would nearly recover the on-side kick, but Malachi Pointer ultimately secured the ball and the win for the Muleriders.
 
TURNING POINT(s)
  • Up 21-0 late in the first half, the Muleriders were forced to punt for the first time in the game and it was blocked by ECU, giving the Tigers the ball back with a short field and 45 seconds left before halftime. Five plays later, ECU found the endzone to make it 21-7 at the break.
  • With a ton of momentum on their side, the Tigers had the ball trailing by just seven points with 10 minutes even left in the fourth quarter. Within three plays, the Tigers had the ball at their own 41-yardline, but a sack by DeMarcus Pegue temporarily stopped ECU. The Muleriders were flagged for a defensive holding penalty on the next play, giving the Tigers and automatic first down. After a seven-yard pass play, ECU had consecutive penalties that totaled 20 yards and thwarted the drive. The Tigers punted two plays later and SAU came down on the ensuing possession and scored a touchdown to put the game out of reach.
 
OF NOTE
  • Barrett Renner's two touchdown passes now place him one shy of tying the SAU career record, currently held by Tyler Sykora and standing at 82. Renner did tie another career record on Saturday, however as he has now accounted for 83 career touchdowns.
  • Senior wide receiver Jonathan Weisheit had two receptions for 17 yards to bring his career yardage mark to 1,975. He is now 25 receving yards shy of 2,000 for his career. There are currently only four receivers in SAU history with 2,000 or more receiving yards.
    • Nik Lewis (2001-03) – 2,852 yards
    • Travis Giles (1964-67) – 2,333 yards
    • Val Morris (1990-93) – 2,148 yards
    • Kenneth Brown (1983-86) – 2,048 yards
 
UP NEXT
The Muleriders will now return home for a marquee match-up against previously-unbeaten Southeastern Oklahoma State. The Savage Storm suffered their first loss of the season earlier today at home against Henderson State, but still sit atop the GAC standings at 6-1. Next Saturday's game will also be SAU's homecoming and the Muleriders will now be playing for a chance to pull into a tie for first place in the GAC.
 
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