By: Jacob Pumphrey
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#15/14 SOUTHERN ARKANSAS
MULERIDERS
6-0 (6-0 GAC) |
SOUTHEASTERN OKLAHOMA
SAVAGE STORM
4-2 (4-2 GAC) |
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GAME NOTES |Â SAU (PDF)Â | SE |Â GAC Weekly FB NotebookÂ
One Last Trip to the Sooner State
#15/14 Southern Arkansas (6-0, 6-0 GAC) enters Week 7 atop the league standings and is preparing for the season's final trip across state lines into Oklahoma where a highly-anticipated conference showdown with Southeastern Oklahoma State (4-2, 4-2 GAC) awaits on Saturday. It's homecoming weekend for the Savage Storm and it will also be SAU's first trip to Durant since 2015 when the Savage Storm defeated Southern Arkansas 35-13. The Muleriders' last win in Durant came in 2012 (31-24).
Two of the Great American Conference's top two defenses square off as the both teams are allowing fewer than 18.5 points and less than 120 yards on the ground per game. Southern Arkansas owns the nation's third-most turnovers gained (17) and the team's turnover margin of 1.33 ranks seventh in Division II. Of the team's 54.0 total tackles for loss at 9.0 per game, which ranks 14th in the country, senior
Anthony Washington is averaging 2.1 TFL per game; the sixth-highest per game clip in Division II.
Offensively, the Muleriders own the GAC's second-highest scoring offense at 34.2 points per game and boast the league's top total offense averaging 434.7 yards per contest. This season, SAU is converting just under 53% of their third-down opportunities; the nation's fourth-highest success rate. Leading the offensive charge has been senior quarterback
Barrett Renner who is Division II's career active leader in total offense with 12,251 yards, Renner is 2,104 yards away from becoming the state's all-time collegiate passing yards leader. As of late, senior
Lorenzo Alexander has been the work horse on the ground for Southern Arkansas as he has scored five total touchdowns in his last two games, while his 77.0 rushing yards per game ranks fifth in the Great American Conference.
SCHEDULE
The Southeastern Oklahoma football team enters play this weekend with a 4-2 overall record and are tied for third in the Great American Conference standings with a matching 4-2 mark in league play. The Savage Storm won their season opener, before dropping their next two games to fall to 1-2. However, Southeastern Oklahoma enters Week 7 having won three straight games: road wins over Arkansas-Monticello and Southwestern Oklahoma and a home win against Northwestern Oklahoma State. The Savage Storm welcome the Muleriders back to Durant for the first time since 2012.
THE COACH
The Savage Storm are coached by Bo Atterberry, who is in his fifth season as the head coach of Southeastern Oklahoma. Coming into this week's game, Atterberry has amassed a 31-20 overall record. In each of his first four years at his alma mater, Atterberry has led the Savage Storm to a winning record with a high-win mark of seven, done in his first, third and fourth years. Atterberry's first year with the Savage Storm also saw a postseason appearance with a bid to the Live United Bowl in 2014. Prior to his appointment at Southeastern, Atterberry was the head coach at Texas A&MKingsville for six years. In his time at A&M-Kingsville, Atterberry registered a 41-28 record and led the Javelinas to the NCAA Playoffs in consecutive years in 2009 and 2010.
SCOUTING THE OFFENSE
Offensively, the Savage Storm are averaging 27.4 points per game and 341.6 yards of total offense per game as well with 187.8 of the yards coming through the air and the remaining 153.8 yards being gained on the ground. Their points per game average ranks fourth in the GAC and their total offense is
tenth. The Savage Storm rushing attack ranks fifth and passing offense ranks seventh in the league. The Savage Storm have relied on a pair of starting quarterbacks this fall in Rollin Kinsaul and Austin Skinner. Kinsaul is the league's reigning Offensive Player of the Week and has passed for 617 yards and five touchdowns in five games, while Skinner has tossed for 654 yards and four scores.
The Savage Storm's leading pass catcher is Jaylen Sims with 38 receptions for 554 yards. Sims has also caught six TDs, which leads the league. On the ground, the Savage Storm are led by Kenneth Burks. Burks has carried the ball 127 times for 548 yards and nine touchdowns. His nine touchdowns are a league-best and his yardage total ranks second.
SCOUTING THE DEFENSE
Defensively, the Savage Storm are allowing 17.0 points per game and 244.7 yards of total offense per game. Through the air Southeastern is holding opponents to a league-low 126.3 yards passing per game, while their rushing defense ranks third in the league with 118.3 yards rushing per game. On the year, the Savage Storm have forced 15 turnovers. Of those, 8 are INTs while the remaining seven are fumble recoveries. Three players have recorded 30 or more tackles led by Conner Swope's 57.
THE SERIES
This will be the 43rd meeting all-time between the Muleriders and Savage Storm with SAU holding a 22-17-3 lead in the series. The all-time series dates back to 1952 and was just about a yearly match-up from 1970-2000 before the series re-booted in 2011 with the two schools being charter members of the GAC. Since becoming conference opponents, SAU holds a 4-3 series advantage.
