SHAWNEE, Oklahoma. — The lighting came and unfortunately stayed around for nearly two hours until the (RV) Muleriders and Oklahoma Baptist Bison resumed play at 10:50 PM. Prior to the vast delay, Southern Arkansas was already well on its way to claiming win number five of the 2024 campaign after just three quarters of play.
After a two hour and 20 minute delay, SAU and OBU got back at with the Muleriders already up 55-10 before entering the break.
Both sides of the ball for Southern Arkansas were firing off on all cylinders as the Mulerider offense, led by junior quarterback Judd Barton, scored a touchdown on seven of their nine drives prior to the two hour and twenty minute break.
In total, Southern Arkansas' offense put up 578 yards of total offense while the defense allowed just 164 yards of offense by the Bison. The Blue and Gold's 65 points are the most points scored by SAU since last season's bout with Oklahoma Baptist and was just one point shy of the most points scored in a game for the Muleriders since becoming members of the Great American Conference in 2011 (66-17 at SNU | 10/19/12) (66-42 at UAM | 11/15/14).
Six different Muleriders ended up in the end zone. That included a trifecta of house call touches by the field general, Barton, as well as a pair of trips to the end zone by senior running back Jariq Scales on the ground. Sophomore running back Arkez Gomez took in his own TD carry after the delay and both Kendall Williams and Cooper Sanders recorded their own touchdown grabs prior to the break. Southern Arkansas added on another ten points without Coach Kyle Washington's offense on the field as defensive back Braeden Wade put up another six points with a pick-six and redshirt freshman Daniel Gauna split the uprights for three.
Before being relieved by Adam Parker in the fourth quarter, Barton had himself a career three-fourths of a game as the junior from Alexandria, Louisiana completed 19 of his 25 attempts for 286 yards, a long of 43 yards, and two touchdowns. His stat-line does not end there however as the Bayou State descendant rushed for 75 yards on 11 carries, a long of 22, and three breakthroughs into the end zone.
Barton's passing yards had to go to someone, and they actually went to nine different pass catchers with grad-transfer Rasheen Green leading the group both in receptions and yardage as he brought in five passes for 83 yards. Kendall Reid and D'evin McDonald each produced 40+ yards receiving as well.
Back to the ground game, Mulerider Football's all-time leader in rushing yards, and all-purpose yards, added to his records with 80 yards on the ground on 12 carries (4,094 rushing | 5,029 all-purpose).
Tackling was spread well across the defense as defensive back Donovan Adkins led the troupe in the category with six total tackles (2 solo, 4 assists).
Wreaking havoc in the Bison backfield was five-oh, Elvin Calhoun with three solo tackles (1 sack) for loss for a total of 11 yards lost. Tre'von Letts (2 | 1 sack), Giovanni Zaso (2), Hunter Hewitt (1), and Ken Ellison (1 sack) also recorded at least one TFL.
Three Muleriders brought in at least one interception against the Bison as Melvin Smith Jr., Braeden Wade, and Justin Aaron all snagged one away from OBU. Wade's pick, as mentioned earlier, was returned for a pick-six while Aaron acquired himself two interceptions thanks to the return to play for the fourth quarter.
The Muleriders have just two more games in the southern Arkansas region as the Muleriders are heading to El Dorado next weekend for SAU's 13th appearance in the Murphy USA Classic, in which the Blue and Gold is set to face Henderson State next Saturday, October 19.
