MAGNOLIA, Ark. – For the first time in 11 years, the Ouachita Baptist Tigers entered Magnolia for a football game and exited Wilkins Stadium having avenged their loss taken against the Muleriders in 2013 after downing SAU 25-20. Southern Arkansas now drops to 2-1 on the season going into next weekend's contest against Arkansas Tech for the troupe's second road test of the season.
SAU entered the battle with a fiery defense as the crew held the Tigers star running back Kendel Givens to just 68 yards on 21 attempts and managed to record two turnovers with the first being a scoop and score by DK Henderson for 30 yards. Henderson's touchdown was the first score the for the Muleriders on the night and the first touchdown scored against Ouachita Baptist this season. Southern Arkansas' second forced change of possession came at the end of the first half with senior defensive back
Melvin Smith Jr. picking the ball off and returning it for eight yards.
Leading the team in tackles was by a large margin, senior defensive end
Dawson Scott. The native of Mexia, Texas totaled 11 tackles with eight being solo and three assists. Scott accounted for three tackles for loss for 10 yards with two of those being sacks for six yards and a forced fumble on one of the two sacks.
Five Muleriders brought in at least three receptions as
Matthew Whitten and
Rasheen Green each recorded 45 yards with Whitten on four catches and Green three. The lone receiver to score a touchdown for the night was senior
Cole Williams who dove to the pylon to bring SAU within two nearing the end of the first half.
Judd Barton completed 18 of his 32 passing attempts to produce 205 yards with one touchdown and an interception. The Alexandria, Louisiana native was also responsible for 32 yards on the ground along with a touchdown.
Osceola, Arkansas descendant
Jariq Scales rushed for just the same as Barton on 11 carries with a long of 13.
OUA's Eli Livingston managed to be a threat through the air, but definitely on the ground as the QB had 21 rushing attempts and accounted for 120 yards on the ground. Livingston shared the love around his receiver room, but no wideout had more than two grabs on the night as the Tiger offense stuck to the ground and pound mentality due to the Muleriders secure secondary.
Southern Arkansas is back in action next weekend in Russellville, Arkansas to match up with the Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys at 6:00 PM. The Muleriders are back home October 5 for a Homecoming contest with Southern Nazarene at 2:30 PM.
