MAGNOLIA, Ark. – The Southern Arkansas University Muleriders are set to host the East Central University Tigers inside Wilkins Stadium on Saturday, October 31st. Kickoff is set for 2:00 p.m.
Broadcast Information
Saturday's contest will be broadcast on the GAC Sports Network with Dan Gregory and Ryan Phillips calling all the action. Radio listeners can tune into KVMZ 99.1 FM.
SAU Notables
The Muleriders fell at home last week in Magnolia by a final score of 21-52.
Ryan Shackleton had the best quarterback performance for the Muleriders so far this year. Shackleton passed for 297 total yards and two touchdowns. Despite the loss to Ouachita, SAU led in both total passing yards (358) and total offense (541) while only trailing the Tigers in rushing by five yards.
The SAU offense is seventh in the GAC in rushing averaging 187.4 yards per game.
Ryan Shackleton now leads the team in passing with 448 total yards through three games played.
Arkez Gomez leads the team in rushing with 518 total yards and five rushing touchdowns while
Isaac Norris leads all receivers with 258 yards averaging 15.18 yards per catch.
Arkez Gomes is 10th in the GAC in rushing yards with 518 total averaging 64.8 yards per game through eight contests.
Peyton Sellers leads the team in total tackles with 75 ranking him 22nd in Division II and third in the GAC. The Muleriders are 6th in the GAC in passing defense allowing just 170.8 yards per game while being 32nd in all of Division II in the same category. This weekend's matchup will look to test the pass defense for the Muleriders as the East Central passing attack is second in the GAC.
SAU is fifth in sacks in the GAC with 14 total for 62 yards lost. The Muleriders are seventh in the league in total interceptions with six recorded.
Walteze Champ is 20th in the GAC in tackles for loss with 5.5 thus far.
ECU Notables
The Tigers come into the week off a 21-23 loss to the Southwestern Oklahoma State Bulldogs. Despite the loss, Tigers quarterback Sergio Kennedy was 21-for-36 with 263 passing yards and two passing touchdowns. Quincy Thompson rushed for 89 yards and one touchdown. Jonathan Brown also caught nine passes for 127 yards and one touchdown.
ECU is second in the conference in passing offense per game totaling 234.3 yards per game while being 44th in Division II. The Tigers also rank 5th in the GAC in rushing offense per game with 204.8 yards per game. Sergio Kennedy is 2nd in the league in passing yards per game with 234.3 while being 27th in Division II in the same category. Kennedy is also 9th in the GAC in scoring and 7th in the GAC in scoring touchdowns this season. Quincy Thompson is 6th in the GAC in scoring touchdowns and 8th in scoring. The Tigers have two receivers in the top five in the league in receiving.
Caden Pickens leads the team with 81 total tackles as well as being 2nd in the GAC with 81 total tackles while being 12th in Division II. The Tigers have the 2nd ranked passing defense in the GAC allowing just 154.1 yards per game. Despite their strong pass defense, ECU is 7th in the league in rushing defense allowing 212.1 yards per game on the ground.
Series Notes
- The teams will meet for the 27th time all-time on Saturday
- SAU leads the all-time series 16-10
- The Muleriders are 7-4 all-time in Magnolia
- SAU averages 22.88 points per game across all contests and have scored 595 total points
- The largest margin of victory for the Muleriders came on 10/20/2018, a 48=9 win for the Muleriders
- The smallest margin of victory for the Muleriders came on 10/26/2019, a 24-23 win for SAU
- SAU is 2-2 in the Brad Smiley era against East Central
- In their last 10 matchups against East Central, the Muleriders are 7-3
