El Dorado, Ark. – In its first ranked battle in six years, the 24
th-ranked Muleriders did more than just prevail in the 14
th Murphy USA Classic matchup with the 25
th-spotted Henderson State Reddies. Southern Arkansas dominated in the 88
th meeting all-time with the Reddies as the Blue and Gold started hot never let off the gas.
The Muleriders claim their third-straight victory against Henderson State as SAU put up 42 points against the Reddie defense while only allowing 19 to the highly-regarded HSU offense. This now marks the first time since the years 2003-05 that the Muleriders have pulled off a three-peat against the Reddies as well as advancing Head Coach
Brad Smiley's record against Henderson State to 3-0.
The Southern Arkansas running game was on fire all afternoon as four Muleriders toted the rock for a carry. Leading the charge on the ground was the junior quarterback
Judd Barton that accounted for 11 carries that produced 121 yards and three touchdowns. The Alexandria, Louisiana native averaged 11.0 yards per carry as well as having a long rush of 59 yards. SAU senior running backs
Jariq Scales and
Kadyn Roach each carried the ball on 11 occasions that saw Scales, the Osceola, Arkansas native, produce 91 yards with a long of 52 and a touchdown, and Roach tack on 77 yards, a long of 38, and two touchdowns.
Per usual, Barton was not only efficient on the ground, but made the Reddies respect his arm as well due to the general completing 17 of his 22 passing attempts for 163 yards. Seven Muleriders received from the junior QB that saw grad-transfer
Rasheen Green lead the receivers with five receptions and 51 yards.
As a whole, the Kyle Washington led offense spotted 457 yards against the Reddies, the second-most thus far (Harding | 546), as the Dionte Dean led defense managed to hold one of the conference's and nation's top offenses to 325 yards, the third-least this campaign.
Dean's defense forced one turnover on the day as the Muleriders extend their game streak with a forced turnover to 11 consecutive games. Today's contest saw the Blue and Gold force a fumble by
Damon LeGrande that was recovered by
Braeden Wade. The fumble recovery makes today the fifth game this season with a fumble recovery.
Three Southern Arkansas defensive studs recorded ten or more tackles as DK Henderson tallied the most of any player for the Muleriders with 12 tackles, four solos, eight assisted, two assisted tackles for loss, and one shared sack.
Gavin Roe brought down a ball carrier 11 times in the Classic with three solos and eight assists. Roe was also responsible for one and half tackles for loss.
Recording ten tackles, three solos and seven assists, saw 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks for 11 yards.
Southern Arkansas now sits at 6-1 and looks to move up in the polls after defeating the 25
th-ranked team in the nation in dominant fashion. The Muleriders sit in nearly the same spot as last season when heading to game week against the reigning national champion Harding Bisons in Searcy, Arkansas.
