ALVA, Okla. - It happened early, it happened often and after ten-minute quarters in the second half, it finished quickly for (RV) Southern Arkansas on Saturday afternoon in Alva, Oklahoma as the Muleriders exploded for 35 first-half points en route to a 42-14 win over Northwestern Oklahoma in Great American Conference Week 10 action. The victory gives SAU the program's 19th season of at least eight wins and its first since 2019.
 
Offensively, the Muleriders scored touchdowns on five of their six first-half drives with four drives north of 70 yards as SAU churned out 409 total yards on 43 plays in the first thirty minutes of action.
 
Defensively, it was an equally impressive opening half hour of play as the Muleriders surrendered just 67 yards on 27 plays with six first downs. SAU forced three punts and a turnover on downs and received a Melvin Smith Jr. interception on NWOSU's fourth drive of the game. Smith, a junior defensive back, also broke up a pass, his 15th of the season, to run his season passes defended mark to 18. Fellow defensive secondary member redshirt sophomore Zay Woods led the defense with eight tackles, all solo stops, while junior Dawson Scott and sophomore Brenton Hamilton each recorded sacks and redshirt junior Tre'von Letts registered two tackles for loss.
 
If junior running back Jariq Scales was the question, there was no answer to be had in the northwest region of the Sooner State. Scales weighed heavily on the Rangers in the first half as he carried 15 times for 83 yards and three rushing touchdowns, while hauling in three passes for 96 yards. He finished with 192 all-purpose yards on 23 touches and he pushed his total offense this season to 1,106 yards through ten games.
 
Senior quarterback OB Jones hit junior Seth Johnson from 50 yards out to open the scoring surge and cap a quick four-play, 70-yard drive. Scales scored on consecutive 79-yard drives highlighted by a 33-yard rush to paydirt. Junior Kadyn Roach punched in from a yard out with under six minutes remaining before the half, while Scales' third ground score bookmarked SAU's longest drive of the afternoon: a 91-yard march that took just five plays as sophomore Judd Barton connected with Scales for 72 of those yards.
 
SAU's lone score in the agreed upon shortened second half was stamped on a Barton-to-David Atkins 33-yard completion as the latter crossed the goal line for the first time as a Mulerider.
 
NWOSU scored twice in the twenty-minute second half. On those touchdown drives, the Rangers combined for 137 yards on 18 plays covering 9:47. On all other possessions, NWOSU combined for 122 yards on 34 plays in 11:27.
 
Southern Arkansas converted all four of its fourth down attempts and nearly eclipsed 500 yards of total offense for the fourth time this season, while holding an opponent under 291 yards for the sixth time this campaign. SAU's 280 yards passing, courtesy of a pair of 100-yard throwers, was its second-most in a game this season.
 
Rivalry Week is here as the Muleriders turn their focus to the regular season finale against bitter longtime rival Arkansas-Monticello. The two south Arkansas foes clash on the gridiron for the 98th time in a series led by the Muleriders 59-37-1. Eight Muleriders playing their final game from inside Wilkins Stadium at Rip Powell Field will be honored prior to the 2 p.m. kickoff of the Battle of the Timberlands. Live coverage links are available at www.MuleriderAthletics.com.