MAGNOLIA, Ark. - Despite dropping their past two games to in-state opponents, the Southern Arkansas Muleriders have an opportunity to end the 2019 regular season on a high note as they host Arkansas-Monticello in the Battle of the Timberlands from Wilkins Stadium at Rip Powell Field. It will be senior day for 19 Muleriders playing their final home game in Magnolia.
Not lost from a season ago is a Week 11 matchup in Drew County last November that saw the Weevils end SAU's playoff chances as UAM upset the Muleriders 20-17 on a 34 yard field goal from the leg of Josh Marini at the horn. It was the first gridiron victory for Arkansas-Monticello over SAU since the 2010 season when the Weevils claimed a 28-23 win in El Dorado at the Boomtown Classic (Now Murphy USA Classic).
Before last season's defeat, the Muleriders had scored at least 44 points in six of the previous seven matchups dating back to 2011 when both programs became charter members of the Great American Conference. Overall, Southern Arkansas leads the series 57-36-1 and since 1970, the Muleriders hold a 33-16 advantage in the series. SAU carries a five game winning streak against the Weevils in Magnolia and since 2000, the Muleriders have won seven of eight meetings in Columbia County.
On the line for Southern Arkansas would be the program's second-straight eight win season. The last time the Muleriders won eight games in consecutive campaigns were in the 1997 through 1999 seasons. A win on Saturday would be the 32nd for the program since the start of the 2016 season which would give SAU the winningest four-season stretch since the Raymond "Rip" Powell Era when the 1971 through 1974 teams won 32 games.
MULERIDER OFFENSE
Entering the final weekend of the 2019 season, the Muleriders are averaging 30.6 points per game; the fifth-best scoring mark in the GAC. In seven of their ten games and in all but one win this season, the Muleriders have reached the 30-point mark in addition to scoring 40 points for three straight weeks.
The offense's 402.5 yards per game ranks fifth and is tallied behind the league's fifth-best rushing offense at 192.9 yards per game. SAU is 71 yards shy of eclipsing the 2,000 mark rushing which would be the first season with such numbers on the ground since 2016 when that year's unit rushed for 2,103 yards. Through the air, the Muleriders are passing for 209.6 yards per game. Nationally, Southern Arkansas has converted all but one redzone opportunity this season as the offense is 37-of-38; the best mark in the country. Up front, the Mulerider offensive line has allowed just .4 sacks per game which is also the best mark in the country.
Individually, redshirt freshman
Kor'Davion Washington has turned himself into one of the league's premier rushers in his first season carrying the football for the Muleriders. Washington currently ranks fifth in rushing yards per game at 85.9. Junior quarterback
Hayden Mallory's 199.5 passing yards per game ranks fourth in the GAC, while his 155.7 pass efficiency rating ranks second. The top target for the Mulerider passing attack has been redshirt senior
Jared Lancaster who has caught 32 passes for 544 yards and six touchdowns. Redshirt sophomore
Micah Small and true freshman
OB Jones have combined for 42 receptions. Small's 449 yards receiving ranks second on the team. Sophomore place kicker
Austin Wilkerson is second in the GAC in kick scoring at 7.2 points per game; a mark that ranks sixth among all players in the GAC. Wilkerson ranks second in Division II in field goal percentage at 91.7%.
MULERIDER DEFENSE
Defensively, Mulerider opponents are averaging 22.0 points per game which gives SAU the fourth-best scoring defense in the league and over a +9.5 scoring margin. In terms of total defense, Southern Arkansas ranks third in the GAC at 321.5 yards per game which stands due to a rushing (140.8 | 3rd) and passing (180.7 | 6th) defense that both rank in the top six in the GAC. Additionally, SAU has allowed the second-fewest opponent first downs in the league at 16.8 per game.
Individually, five players have recorded 40 or more tackles with two players having at least 50 stops this season. Redshirt senior
Malik Preston leads the team in tackles with 57 total stops. Sophomore
Brock Floyd follows with 54 total tackles, while redshirt juniors
Antonio Washington and
DeMarcus Pegue follow with 49 and 48, respectively. Washington ranks third in the Great American Conference in tackles for loss with 11 totaling 42 yards. He has also recorded three sacks, three pass breakups and seven quarterback hurries. Seven players have picked off eight passes for SAU this season led by senior
Lorenzo Watkins' pair. Watkins has also recorded 43 tackles this season. Senior LaMontrick Turner leads the team in passes defended with seven and senior
La'Vonte White follows with six.
ARKANSAS-MONTICELLO
The Weevils enter the final weekend of the regular season at 5-5 overall. UAM is looking to finish with six wins for the second-consecutive season. Offensively, UAM enters averaging over 21 points per game and 373 yards of total offense which comes behind 232 yards on the ground and 141 yards coming through the air. On the defensive side of the football, the Weevils allow 26 points per game and 362.8 yards per game.
Three players have recorded 85 or more rushing attempts this season for the UAM offense. Devontae Dean leads the team with 824 yards and nine touchdowns on 175 carries. Demilon Brown follows with 767 yards on 94 attempts and he has scored five times on the ground this season and owns a 7.6 yards per carry clip. Alex Day's 86 rushes have totaled 442 yards.
Through the air, Brown has completed 65 of his 109 attempts with six touchdowns, while Caleb Canady has thrown 114 passes with 62 completions and four touchdowns. Brown has totaled 836 yards passing and Canady has tallied 577 yards passing. Two players have caught 35 passes for UAM this fall and both have accounted for all ten of the Weevil's touchdown receptions. DeAndre Washington has totaled 535 yards with six touchdowns. C.J. Parham's 35 catches have went for 463 yards and four scores.
Three players have recorded at least 50 stops this season. Gabe Brace leads the team with 58 total tackles, while Justin Legier follows with 55 stops, including 11.0 for loss. Christian Jefferson has totaled 50 tackles and is tied for the team lead in interceptions with two. Jonathan Scott has also picked off two passes and leads the team in pass break ups with nine. Brandon Young leads the team in tackles for loss with 11.5.
