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SOUTHERN ARKANSAS
MULERIDERS
3-2 (3-2 GAC)
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SOUTHERN NAZARENE
CRIMSON STORM
3-2 (3-2 GAC)
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GAME NOTES | SAU | SNU | GAC Weekly FB Notebook
Setting the Scene: Something Will Give on Saturday
Both the Southern Arkansas and Southern Nazarene football teams enter play this weekend 3-2 overall and both are looking to build off of big wins last weekend. In those wins, SAU handled Oklahoma Baptist at home, 56-27, while SNU pulled off an unexpected 42-24 road upset of Henderson State.
The similarities for the Muleriders and Crimson Storm continue ahead of their Week 6 match-up, but the end result will see the two veer off course from the other with a season-first up for grabs. In that, SAU is in search of their first win of the year on the road, while Southern Nazarene remains looking for their first win at home through the first five games of the season.
In SAU's two road games to this point, they are averaging 18.5 points per game and have a -29 scoring margin. At home, the Muleriders are averaging 43.0 points per game and have 64 scoring margin. In Southern Nazarene's two home games, they have yet to score and are being out-scored by 110 points. On the road, the Crimson Storm are averaging 34.3 points per game and are out-scoring their opponents by 22.
About Southern Nazarene
SCHEDULE
The Southern Nazarene football team enters play with a 3-2 overall record and a 3-2 mark in the GAC. The three wins to this point in the season have all impressively come on the road, and are the most in a year for the Crimson Storm since they began their transition to NCAA Division II prior tothe 2012 football season. Before this season, SNU's most wins in year as members of DII was two (2), done both in 2012 and last year in 2016. Also in that time, the Crimson Storm's overall record was 5-50.
THE COACH
The Crimson Storm are coached by Andy Lambert, who is in his second season as head coach of Southern Nazarene. In his first season, Lambert guided the Crimson Storm to a 2-9 record. Prior to coming to Bethany, Lambert had won over 100 games across a 19-year coaching career that saw stops at his alma mater, Trinity International, and more-recently a 12-year stint at Sterling College in Sterling, Kans. At Trinity, Lambert was 30-45 and at Sterling, he went 72-51. Overall, Lambert's 20-year coaching record stands at 107-107.
SCOUTING THE OFFENSE
Offensively, the Crimson Storm are averaging 20.6 points per game and 293.0 yards of total offense per game with 168.8 of those yards coming on the ground and 124.2 coming through the air. The Crimson Storm's points per game and total offense ranks 12th in the GAC, while they rank eighth in rushing offense and 11th in passing offense.
Commanding the offense for the Crimson Storm is junior quarterback Jacob Spady. In five games this season, Spady has completed 47-of-86 passes for 496 yards and seven touchdowns. Spady is also the team's leading rusher with 335 yards on 71 carries. Additionally, he has rushed for a team-best three scores.
The leading pass catcher for the Crimson Storm in terms of yards and touchdowns is Reid Roelofs as he has 200 yards receiving and four touchdowns. Zach Walker has the most receptions with 16 and is second on the team in yards (161) and touchdowns (3).
SCOUTING THE DEFENSE
Defensively, the Crimson Storm are allowing 38.2 points per game and 467.8 yards of total offense per game with 256.2 of those yards coming on the ground and 211.6 yards through the air. The Crimson Storm's scoring defense ranks 10th in the GAC and their total defense ranks 11th. Their passing defense ranks seventh while their rushing defense ranks 12th in the league.
On the year, SNU has forced nine turnovers with six being interceptions and the remaining three being fumble recoveries.
A total of 13 players have registered double-digit tackles on the season with Josh Jordan leading the way with 47 tackles. Jordan has half of SNU's interceptions and has forced a fumble as well. Defensive lineman Zack Loyd has the most tackles for lost yardage at 4.0 with 3.0 of those being sacks.
THE SERIES
This will be the sixth meeting all-time between the Muleriders and Crimson Storm in a series that began in 2012 when Southern Nazarene began its transition to the NCAA and became members of the Great American Conference. In the five previous meetings, SAU has come out on top in lopsided decisions as the average margin of victory for the Muleriders in the those games is 37.8 points. This will also be the third meeting between the two in Bethany as SAU took the first two meetings, 66-17 in 2013 and 55-20 in 2015.
Record Watch
Records Within Reach - Career (Individual)
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Pass Attempts - (Record: 1,166 - Tyler Sykora, 2009-13)
Current:
Barrett Renner (1,031 | -135)
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Passing Yards - (Record: 9,010 - Tyler Sykora, 2009-13)
Current:
Barrett Renner (8,148 | -862)
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Passing TDs - (Record: 82 - Tyler Sykora, 2009-13)
Current:
Barrett Renner (78 | -4)
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Reception Yards - (Record: 2,852 - Nik Lewis, 2000-03)
Current:
Jonathan Weisheit (1,876 | -976)
Current:
Tanner Hudson (1,798 | -1,054)
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Receptions - (Record: 165 -
Jonathan Weisheit, (2014-present)
Current:
Tanner Hudson (124 | -41)
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TD Receptions - (Record: 36 - Nik Lewis, 2000-03)
Current:
Tanner Hudson (24 | -12)
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Total Offense - (Record: 8,847 - Tyler Sykora, 2009-13)
Current:
Barrett Renner (8,710 | -137)
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TDs Responsible For - (Record: 83 - Tyler Sykora, 2009-13)
Current:
Barrett Renner (80 | -3)
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All-Purpose Yards - (Record: 4,184, Mark Johnson, 2008-13)
Current:
Jonathan Weisheit (2,913 | 1,271)
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Total Points Scored - (Record: 264 - Mark Johnson, 2008-13)
Current:
Bradford Grems (218 | -46)
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Punt Return Yards - (Record: 629 - Nik Lewis, 2000-03)
Current:
Jonathan Weisheit (542 | -87)
(-# indicates number from TYING record)
New Records Set - Career (Individual)
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Pass Completitions - (Record: 662 -
Barrett Renner, 2015-present)
Former: Tyler Sykora, 2009-13 (658)
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Receptions - (Record: 162 -
Jonathan Weisheit, 2014-present)
Former: Nik Lewis, 2000-03 (162)
