RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. - It was all Muleriders in Pope County on Saturday night (Sep. 28) as (RV) Southern Arkansas overwhelmed the Wonder Boys of Arkansas Tech 38-7 for the sixth-consecutive win against the group from Russellville, Arkansas. An absolute dominant performance on defense and superior offensive-play led the Muleriders to their third win of the season and now sit tied for second in the league with Henderson State at 3-1.
Southern Arkansas' defense showed up and showed out yet again as the "Monsters from Magnolia" forced a pair of turnovers, a pick-six, two forced fumbles, one recovered fumble, three sacks, five tackles for loss (40 TFL yards), and just seven points in front of the Arkansas Tech home crowd. The only downside to the defense was not securing the shutout.
The Mulerider defense allowed just 283 net yards of offense from the Wonder Boys as well as holding ATU 1-3 in the redzone. Arkansas Tech's ground game was heavily subdued as they managed to record just 91 rushing yards.
Nearly becoming a record breaker also was defensive end Dawson Scott. The native of Mexia, Texas accounted for three sacks all in the first half of play. With those three tackles for loss against the Arkansas Tech quarterback, Scott tied a list of legendary Muleriders such as Davondrick Lison, Cedric Thornton, Kenny Pettway, and Kendall Hill as tied for the second-most sacks in Mulerider Football history. The senior came up just one short to tie the record that is currently being held by Mike White in a contest against Bishop College in 1975 in which White recorded 4.0 sacks that game.
The entirety of the defense flew to the ball as 24 Muleriders accounted for a tackle, in which 17 brought a ball-carrier down multiple times. Scott and Gavin Roe each led the team in total tackles with six. Scott, Melvin Smith Jr., and Deonta Barnes led the group in solo tackles with four each.
Mark Spitz once said, "Life is true to form; records are meant to be broken." The senior out of Osceola, Arkansas, Jariq Scales, is the embodiment of that quote as the student-athlete has now earned the triple-crown as Mulerider Football's single-season rushing record holder (1,476 rushing yards | 2022), the all-time rushing leader (currently 3,968), and now the all-time leader for all-purpose yards for a non-quarterback with 4,807 all-purpose yards. The record had been held previously by Cornell Williams (1969-72) for the last 52 years. To add another gem to an already amazing career, Scales is just 32 rushing yards away from being the only Mulerider in the program's history to have ever rushed for 4,000+ yards in a college career. The Masters Degree owner is on pace, if he isn't already, to be one of the most decorated Muleriders to have ever come through the Southern Arkansas University Football program.
The Mulerider offense was responsible for four trips to the endzone with the other ten points for the evening coming off the foot of Daniel Gauna for a 23-yard field goal to start the second quarter of play and a 42-yard pick-six by senior linebacker Roe, who scored his first touchdown of his career while also securing an interception in each season of his career.
For the first game this season, Southern Arkansas did not turn the ball over as the quarterback Judd Barton tossed for 124 yards on 10 of his 17 passing attempts. Barton scored his fourth touchdown through the air of the season before being taken out for redshirt freshman Adam Parker in the second half with the big lead. Parker also threw for over 100-yards passing as the RS-freshman accounted for six completions on eight attempts, 104 yards, a long of 59 to Jakarion Lockett, and a touchdown through the air.
Parker was second on the team in rushing just behind Scales' 69 yards, as the Natchitoches, Louisiana native rushed for 44 yards on just seven carries and scored a touchdown.
Ten Muleriders recorded at least one reception with six of those notching a pair of catches. As mentioned, Lockett's 59-yard reception gave the Macon, Mississippi product the lead in receiving with 72 on two receptions. Cole Williams and Seth Johnson were the two pass-catchers to record one in the endzone.
Southern Arkansas returns to Wilkins Stadium at Rip Powell Field this coming Saturday (Oct. 5) for a 2:30 PM Homecoming kickoff against the Southern Nazarene Crimson Storm.
