MAGNOLIA, Ark. - The family showed up and the Muleriders showed out. Behind a dominant rushing attack and a suffocating effort defending the run, Southern Arkansas raced to its largest margin of victory since 2014 in a 49-3 Great American Conference win on Saturday night inside a near-capacity Wilkins Stadium at Rip Powell Field.
 
The Muleriders (3-1, 3-1 GAC) tallied up 395 yards rushing on 59 attempts and scored seven touchdowns on the ground. Junior running back Jariq Scales led the rushing attack with 151 yards on 14 carries, scored three times and averaged nearly 11 yards per carry. In just seven attempts, junior quarterback OB Jones totaled 97 yards at 13.9 yards per carry with two touchdowns. Three other Mulerider rushers recorded 40+ yards on the ground with juniors Kadyn Roach and Cordrick Dunn each finding the endzone. SAU's ground game output was the most by a Mulerider team since a 441-yard rushing performance vs Henderson State on November 5, 2005.
 
Defensively, Southern Arkansas was just as impressive against the run. The Muleriders allowed just 33 yards rushing at 1.4 yards per rush on two dozen Tech ground attempts. SAU caused 51 yards lost on the ground as the Muleriders recorded 9.0 tackles for loss which included 6.0 sacks. Juniors Dawson Scott and Elvin Calhoun each recorded two sacks and a quarterback pressure. Senior Jacob Berry recorded 11 tackles to lead the defense, while junior Melvin Smith Jr. recorded six tackles and added to his league-leading pass breakup total with three knockdowns. Additionally, Southern Arkansas forced three fumbles and recovered an additional muffed punt.
 
The 46-point margin of victory is the largest for the Muleriders since October 18, 2014; a 62-7 homecoming win over Southern Nazarene. It's the largest margin of victory against a Natural State foe since a 48-0 shutout of Arkansas-Monticello on November 2, 2002. The three points surrendered to the Wonder Boys are the fewest since a season-opening home shutout of Arkansas Tech to begin the 2018 season.
 
The Muleriders scored first with Scales finding the endzone to cap a seven-play, 48-yard drive. Tech's lone points came after its second drive stalled inside the redzone and resulted in a 20-yard make from the kick of Austin Hosier. The Wonder Boys forced a three-and-out of SAU, but the punt was muffed and recovered by the Muleriders' Mekhi Davis and led to the second scoring drive of the evening for SAU which ended with Jones scoring from 17 yards out for an 11-point led following Hayden Nitz's second of seven successful extra point attempts.
 
Southern Arkansas scored touchdowns on four of its first five drives as it carried a 28-3 lead into the half. Scales and Jones each found the endzone in the second quarter with the former scoring on a 31-yard gallop for the finishing touches on a quick five-play, 91-yard drive, while the latter rushed in from 11 yards out on a 19-play drive that started following a strip sack by Scott and a recovery from Calhoun.
 
Scales reached the rushing touchdown hat trick on SAU's opening drive of the second half, while Dunn found paydirt for the first time as a Mulerider on the ninth play of SAU's second 90+ yard scoring drive with a half minute remaining in the third quarter. With under three minutes to play in the game, Roach stamped the victory with a six-yard rush.
 
The Muleriders eclipsed 515 yards of total offense for the second time this season with 517 on 81 plays. SAU went turnover free and forced the aforementioned three fumbles and recovered an additional muffed punt as it sits +2 in turnover margin through four weeks.
 
Jones finished 11-of-18 for 93 yards, while sophomore Judd Barton completed all four of his attempts for 29 yards. The two combined to connect with eight different receivers including redshirt sophomore Jakarion Lockett who caught five passes for 33 yards with junior Cole Williams following with three grabs for 19 yards.
 
Redshirt junior Tre'von Letts and redshirt sophomore Patrick Sixbey each recorded a sack.
 
Southern Arkansas turns its attention to a Saturday afternoon kickoff in Bethany, Oklahoma as Southern Nazarene (3-1, 3-1 GAC) awaits in Week 5. The Muleriders look to avenge a Senior Day shootout loss to the Crimson Storm last fall. It will be the 11th meeting all-time with SAU holding a 9-1 advantage in the series. Kickoff from the Sooner State is set for 2 p.m. Live coverage links will be available at www.MuleriderAthletics.com.