MAGNOLIA, Ark. - Southern Arkansas welcomes in Southeastern Oklahoma State in the former's 105th Homecoming. The Muleriders are hunting the win column after dropping three straight, while the nationally-relevant Savage Storm look to keep chase at the top of the Great American Conference standings. Kick-off is set for 2:30 p.m. and live coverage links are available at www.MuleriderAthletics.com.
>>> The 105th Homecoming of Southern Arkansas University has the campus abuzz this week and rightfully so after last year's festivities were limited and didn't include the Muleriders taking to the gridiron. But that changes on Saturday as Southern Arkansas, reeling from three-consecutive losses, plays host to (RV) Southeastern Oklahoma State from Wilkins Stadium at Rip Powell Field.
>>> All is certainly not lost for the Muleriders despite dropping three-straight as a strong finish to the season could have the program positioned for a postseason bowl berth. SAU will put a 12-game Homecoming win streak on the line on Saturday and will look to avoid a fourth-straight loss for the first time since 2011.
>>> SAU enters Week 6 ranked third in the GAC in total offense at over 411 yards per game and sixth in scoring offense at just under 30 points per game. The Muleriders rank in the top 40 nationally in third-down conversion percentage at 45.3% and rank in the top 25 in first downs totaled with 109.
>>> Defensively, Southern Arkansas in allowing over 468 yards of offense and 35+ points per game. However, the Muleriders own a top-40 mark nationally in turnover margin at .6 and the 11 forced turnovers by the unit this season ranks 23rd in Division II.
>>> Southeastern Oklahoma State comes to Magnolia with an offense that is averaging just under 400 yards per game and scoring at a clip of 32+ points per contest. The Savage Storm are cashing in on 87% of their red-zone trips. SOSU's passing offense of 248.4 yards per game ranks sixth in the GAC as does the unit's rushing attack of 149.6 yards per.
>>> The Savage Storm defense is holding opponents to 23.2 ppg, while the average yardage total allowed is currently 367.8. SOSU is allowing 203.8 yards on the ground which ranks tenth in the GAC.
>>> BOUNCE BACK
The league's leading rusher, redshirt freshman
Jariq Scales, was held to a career-low 50 rushing yards a week ago at ECU, but looks to bounce back against a SOSU defense that is allowing over 145 yards on the ground per game. Scales' 118.8 yards per game ranks tenth nationally, while his 594 total yards is the sixth-most in DII Football.
>>> AERIAL ATTACK
Senior quarterback
Hayden Mallory commands an offense that is averaging over 260 yards per game through the air. He averages over 22 completions per game which is a top-20 mark nationally, while 14 players have caught a pass this season. Mallory's dozen passing touchdowns rank 22nd in DII and his nearly 1,300 passing yards is currently 24th.
>>> WHAT'S KICKIN'
Junior placekicker
Austin Wilkerson is one of eight players perfect in field goal opportunities this season as he has nailed all five of his attempts including three last weekend at ECU. Wilkerson is averaging 7.0 points per game for SAU as he is 13-of-15 in extra-point attempts so far this season.
>>> ALL OVER THE FIELD FLOYD
Junior
Brock Floyd has been all over the field for the Mulerider defense this season. He leads the team with two interceptions, owns a team-leading 33 tackles, ninth-most in the GAC, and is the only player on the team with a sack, forced fumble and fumble recovery this season.
MULERIDERS BY THE NUMBERS
92 - The average yards per game receiving by redshirt junior
Micah Small. Small has caught 30 passes for 461 yards at an average of 15.4 yards per catch with six touchdowns; all stat categories in which he leads the team in.
34 - The number of Division II teams that have lost one or fewer fumbles this season, including the Muleriders who have used the great game to its advantage this season, while also seeing 23 different players record an all-purpose touch.
24 - The number of consecutive wins by the Muleriders against Oklahoma schools at home. SAU has won its last four match-ups with the Savage Storm in Magnolia.
6.0 - Average yards per rush by redshirt freshman running back
Jariq Scales which if held would be the highest by a Mulerider running back in the program's GAC Era.
MEMORABLE HOMECOMING MOMENTS
>>> "The Muleriders broke into the win column for the first time in 1951 on Homecoming in what would be remembered as a red-letter day in Southern State history as SAU defeated Eastern Oklahoma Junior College 21-0 after receiving its first live mascot earlier that week. After having two touchdowns called back Grady Cathy ran a punt back 60 yards for a touchdown. In the third period Oklahoma drove to the four but the Riders stopped them. Wallace intercepted a pass and ran 36 yards for a T. D. to make it 14-0. Late in the fourth quarter Lamphere took a pass from Mulligan to conclude the scoring. Thomas kicked all three extra points squarely through the uprights."(Excerpted from the athletics section of the 1951 The Mulerider)
>>> The Southern Arkansas football team treated their 2014 Homecoming crowd of 3,874 to an all-around impressive game as SAU blew past visiting Southern Nazarene by a score of 62-7 on Saturday afternoon at Wilkins Stadium. With the win, the Muleriders (4-3, 4-3 GAC) will finish the 2014 season unbeaten at home (4-0). A feat not accomplished since the 1999 season when the Muleriders went 5-0 at home. In the win, the Muleriders would total 605 yards of offense while the defense limited the Crimson Storm (0-7, 0-7 GAC) to just 88 yards of total offense.
2020 HOMECOMING HIGHLIGHTS REVISITED
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