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Southern Arkansas University Athletics

Official Athletics Site of the Southern Arkansas University Muleriders
FB | Henderson State (10-28-17)
Brenna Johnson
30
Southern Arkansas SAU 6-3 , 6-3
36
Winner Henderson State HSU 5-4 , 5-4
Southern Arkansas SAU
6-3 , 6-3
30
Final
36
Henderson State HSU
5-4 , 5-4
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
SAU Southern Arkansas 7 7 10 6 30
HSU Henderson State 7 7 0 22 36

Game Recap: Football | | By: Daniel Gallegos

Muleriders upended late at Henderson State

ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – The Southern Arkansas football team came out on the short end of what turned out to be a thrilling game on Saturday afternoon at Carpenter-Haygood Stadium as the Muleriders were upended late, falling on the road to Henderson State, 36-30.
 
RECORDS
(RV) Southern Arkansas Muleriders (6-3, 6-3 GAC)
Henderson State Reddies (5-4, 5-4 GAC)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – First Half
  • Henderson won the toss and elected to receive. On that initial drive, the Reddies drove 80 yards and scored the game's first touchdown.
  • SAU's opening drive totaled 11 plays, but no points went on the board as a 44-yard field goal was missed wide left.
  • After forcing the Reddies to punt on their next possession, SAU quickly found the end-zone and knotted the game at seven-all as on the second play, Barrett Renner connected with a wide-open Jared Lancaster from 49-yards out.
  • SAU's next possession yielded points as well as Michael Nunnery plowed in from 12-yards out to make it 14-7, SAU.
  • The score would be tied at halftime, however, as Henderson scored on four-yard plunge by Blake Faulk with just under a minute to go.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – Second Half
  • Coming out of the break, SAU had the first possession and it was an impressive 13-play drive that ate up 6:21 minutes of the clock. Covering 66 yards, the drive was capped off on a one-yard jet sweep touchdown pass from Renner to Karonce Higgins.
  • The Mulerider defense then forced a quick three-and-out and the offense proceeded to march down the field once more. This drive got down to the HSU 7-yardline for a 1st-and-Goal, but a false start pushed it back outside the 10-yardline. The Muleriders were only able to gain two more yards from there and had to settle for a 27-yard field goal by Bradford Grems to make it a 10-point game, 24-14.
  • Henderson scored on their next possession to make it a field goal game, 24-21 with 14:55 left in the fourth quarter.
  • SAU went three-and-out their next drive, but a 51-yard punt by Kyler Means was downed at the Henderson 4-yardline.
  • After two incomplete passes, HSU quarterback was intercepted by Darren Crawford and the senior cornerback returned it eight-yards for the score to make it 30-21, SAU. The extra point attempt was no good, however, as it hit the right upright, keeping it a nine-point margin.
  • On the ensuing kick-off, Henderson set themselves up with great field position thanks to a 68-yard return that made the drive start at the SAU 27-yardline.
  • Three plays later, Henderson found the end-zone to make it suddenly a two-point game, 30-28, with 11:40 to play.
  • SAU's next drive looked to salt away as much clock as possible. Picking up a pair of first downs early in the drive, the Muleriders got the ball down to the HSU 29-yardline for a 4th-and-1. The Muleriders went for it, but were unable to get that yard, turning it over on downs with 3:50 left.
  • Needing just a field goal to go ahead, Henderson got a big run on their first play, but the defense forced a 4th-and-5 from the SAU 46. Lined up to go for it, the Reddies elected to have their quarterback Evan Lassiter pooch punt and the ball was downed at the SAU 4-yardline.
  • The Muleriders were unable to move the ball and went three-and-out. The ensuing punt went just 19 yards as it sailed out-of-bounds at the SAU 30-yardline.
  • Already in field goal range at the drive start the Reddies applied greater pressure on SAU as they found the end-zone on the second play, a 30-yard pass from Lassiter to Ben Jonson. The Reddies then converted a two-point try to make it a six-point game, 36-30, with just 2:03 to play.
  • Needing a touchdown, the Muleriders took a deep shot on the first play and Higgins nearly came away with a spectacular catch, but the pass went incomplete. Two plays later, SAU collected a first down as Keiandre Purifoy got three yards on third-and-1.
  • Following a timeout by SAU that left 1:18 on the clock, Renner scrambled for five yards to bring the ball to the SAU 40-yardline. The next play would be the last for the Muleriders as Renner was once again forced to scramble. This time, however, Renner would be tripped up behind the line of scrimmage and as he was trying to remain on his feet, the ball hit the turf for a fumble, which was recovered by Henderson.
 
TURNING POINT(s)
  • SAU Senior defensive back Darren Crawford had an eight-yard pick-six early in the fourth quarter to put the Muleriders up two scores, but the extra point hit the right upright to make it a nine-point game, 30-21. On the ensuing kickoff, Henderson returned the kick 68 yards to the SAU 27-yardline. Three plays later, Henderson punched it in to make it a two-point game, 30-28 with 11:40 left.
  • The Muleriders took the ensuing possession to the HSU 29-yardline and faced a 4th-and-1, but the lengthy drive was turned away as Henderson defensive front held and turned the Muleriders over on downs. SAU's defense forced a punt, but the Muleriders were pinned deep in their own territory. Unable to pick up a first down, SAU was forced to punt, but a 19-yard kick out of bounds gave the Reddies great field position at the SAU 30-yardline. Henderson needed just two plays to score the go-ahead touchdown.
 
OF NOTE
  • Junior QB Barrett Renner claimed another career record on Saturday. Needing just 130 yards to tie the all-time mark for passing yards, Renner totaled 192 through the air. Renner's career total stands at 9,072 yards. The previous record was 9,010 yards by Tyler Sykora (2009-13).
  • Senior DB Darren Crawford registered his second pick-six of the season as he had one early in the fourth quarter on Saturday. His first pick-six of the year came at East Central two weeks ago. That one went 34 yards. Crawford now has three career interception returns for touchdowns.
  • Senior RB Michael Nunnery ran for a season-high 120 yards against Henderson. It was his fifth 100+ yard game of the season. He is also approaching 2,500 yards for his career. Currently, Nunnery has 2,429 yards.
 
UP NEXT
The Muleriders will look to rebound with another big test on tap. Next Saturday, the Muleriders will take on first-place Ouachita in the ninth-annual Murphy USA Classic in El Dorado. The game will be played at Memorial Stadium and kick-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. SAU will be the home team in the neutral site contest.
 
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