It has been over nine months since the Southern Arkansas Mulerider Football team walked off the field at the Agent Barry Live United Bowl in Texarkana following a second-half comeback that fell just short. But on Thursday evening in Bethany, Oklahoma, the Muleriders, which were picked preseason No. 3 in the Great American Conference, and also received votes in the American Football Coaches Association DII Top 25, return to action with high expectations and the same goal that has surrounded the program for years: to win a conference title.

Fourteen of 22 starters as well as all three specialists return for the Muleriders in 2019.

Offensively, Southern Arkansas will be led by a new gunslinger in junior quarterback Hayden Mallory, while senior SirCharles Perkins, a 2019 nominee for the National Football Foundation's Campbell Trophy, and sophomore Dennis Daniels return in the backfield. Redshirt Freshman Kor'Davion Washington will factor in greatly in the Muleriders' rushing attack as well, while dual threat fullback Jaidon Parrish offers a lot of experience for a young core of skill players.

What was viewed with rightful uncertainty entering the 2018 season, the SAU offensive line will be a strong point for the Muleriders as all five starters return, including All-GAC left tackle Mason Grantz.

New, young faces occupy the depth chart at wide receiver. Returning pass catchers for the Muleriders include seniors Jared Lancaster and Michael Ingram as well as sophomore Micah Small.

Defensively, Chad Adams' 4-2-5 will have several familiar faces roaming the secondary as a trio of seniors return in cornerback Lorenzo Watkins, strong safety La'Montrick Turner and free safety Stacy Lawrence. Newcomer Vonte' White will play opposite of Watkins, while sophomore weak safety Brock Floyd returns after a stellar true freshman campaign.

Up front, the Muleriders return just one of the four all-league performers from last season in defensive tackle Antonio Washington. Joining the All-GAC First-Teamer and all-region selection along the defensive front will be junior nose guard Demoni Boyd, defensive end Tarrion Thompson, and senior newcomer Demetric Jennings.

As is the case in the secondary, familiarity reigns at the linebacker position as juniors Demarcus Pegue and T'Kobe McDonald and senior Malik Preston all return.

In the kicking game, sophomore Austin Wilkerson is back, while redshirt freshman punter Alfonso Deleon will see his first collegiate action this season.

Southern Arkansas enters Thursday's opener with a 7-0 record all-time against Southern Nazarene dating back to 2012 when the Crimson Storm transitioned from NAIA to Division II and the Great American Conference. In Bethany, the Muleriders are 3-0 all-time and have averaged 49.3 points per game in those meetings.

Entering his 11^th season on the sidelines for the Muleriders, head coach Bill Keopple is the second longest tenured head coach in the GAC and on Thursday he will coach in his 108^th game as the leader of the Southern Arkansas Football program having led SAU to seven wins in each of the last four seasons. In season openers, Keopple owns a 5-5 record and when opening up on the road, the Muleriders are 2-3 since 2009.

Southern Nazarene returns 16 starters, including junior quarterback Gage Porter and looks to be much improved in 2019 after finishing last fall by winning two of their final three games en route to a 3-8 record overall which included three losses while holding second-half leads.