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Southern Arkansas University Athletics

Official Athletics Site of the Southern Arkansas University Muleriders
FB | Southwestern Oklahoma (9-16-17)
Brenna Johnson
14
Southwestern Okla. SWOSU 1-2 , 1-2
38
Winner Southern Arkansas SAU 2-1 , 2-1
Southwestern Okla. SWOSU
1-2 , 1-2
14
Final
38
Southern Arkansas SAU
2-1 , 2-1
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
SWOSU Southwestern Okla. 7 0 0 7 14
SAU Southern Arkansas 7 24 0 7 38

Game Recap: Football | | By: Daniel Gallegos

Muleriders display dominant defense in 38-14 win over Southwestern Oklahoma

MAGNOLIA, Ark. – The defense of the Southern Arkansas football team continued to play at an extremely high-level once again on Saturday night as the unit registered 10.0 tackles for lost yardage, which included 8.0 sacks, and forced three turnovers with a pair of fumble recoveries and an interception as the Muleriders eased past visiting Southwestern Oklahoma by a score of 38-14.
 
RECORDS
Southwestern Oklahoma Bulldogs (1-2, 1-2 GAC)
Southern Arkansas Muleriders (2-1, 2-1 GAC)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – First Half
  • After a strong defensive stand on Southwestern's opening possession, the Muleriders began moving the ball down the field in chunks, picking up a pair of quick first downs. A penalty began to halt that momentum and an interception off of a deflected pass gave the ball back to SWOSU.
  • The Bulldogs were able to capitalize on that turnover and turned it into a touchdown 12 plays later to grab an early 7-0 lead. SAU's offense however got back rolling and were sparked with a 22-yard rush by Michael Nunnery to start that ensuing drive. Nine plays, SAU knotted the game at 7-all on a four-yard plunge rush by Keiandre Purifoy. It was SAU's first rushing touchdown of the season and the 22-yard run by Nunnery was the longest from scrimmage this season.
  • The next SWOSU possession bridged the first and second quarters and ended in a turnover as Kendrix McCann forced a fumble on a sack that saw Travis Williams collect at the SWOSU-26 and carry down the 11-yardline, but a sideline interference penalty backed the Muleriders to the SWOSU 26. Three plays later, SAU took a lead they would not relinquish with a 20-yard touchdown pass from Barrett Renner to Jared Lancaster.
  • The Muleriders would go on to score 17 more points in the second quarter with the two touchdowns being pass TDs by Renner. The first was a 43-yard bomb to Karonce Higgins and the second a 9-yard connection with Tanner Hudson. Sandwiched in between the two was a 26-yard field goal by Bradford Grems as SAU took a commanding 31-7 lead into the locker room.
  • While the offense scored, it was the defense that set up the points. In the second quarter alone, the Mulerider defense forced and recovered two fumbles, turned the Bulldogs over on downs, and came away with an interception. SWOSU's final drive of the second quarter last just one play and it was a rush that ended the half.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – Second Half
  • Neither team scored in the third quarter as that period saw four combined punts and a turnover on downs.
  • Possessing the ball at the end of that quarter, however, the Muleriders were able to put together a scoring drive that ended at the beginning of the fourth quarter with Nunnery finding the endzone from two yards out for his first score of the year.
  • SWOSU was able to answer that back with a touchdown drive of their own to bring the game to its final score of 38-14.
 
TURNING POINT
The collective defensive effort in the second quarter. SWOSU had five drives in that quarter and none of them gained over 50 yards. The Muleriders recovered two fumbles, forced a turnover on downs, and came away with an interception. Heading into the quarter, the game was tied, by halftime, SAU had the game under complete control and lead 31-7.
 
OF NOTE
  • The Muleriders got their running game going and rushed for nearly 200 net yards on the ground as they ended with 198 on 37 carried. Coming into the game, SAU was averaging 70 yards rushing and were last in the GAC in that category.
  • Michael Nunnery spearheaded the rushing attack and ran for over 100 yards for the first time this season. He ripped off a pair of big runs of over 20 yards with his long being a 27-yard burst.
  • As a team, the Muleriders' offense totaled more rushing yards than passing yards (198 rushing – 197 passing). The last time SAU had more yards on the ground than through the air was at East Central last year. In that game, SAU had 229 yards rushing and 204 passing yards.
  • The SAU defense totaled 7.0 sacks in the game against Southwestern Oklahoma. It was the most sacks as a team in a game since 1997 when the Muleriders totaled 7.0 against Northwestern Oklahoma.
  • Accounting for nearly half of those sacks was Davondrick Lison as he registered 3.0 sacks. It was  the first time that a Mulerider has had 3.0 sacks since current NFL defensive lineman Cedric Thornton did so in 2009 against Arkansas-Monticello.
 
UP NEXT
The Muleriders will now prepare for their longest road trip of the regular season as they will travel to Alva, Oklahoma to take on Northwestern Oklahoma on Saturday, September 23. Kick-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. For live links to follow the Muleriders on the road, check www.MuleriderAthletics.com/coverage.aspx
 
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