MAGNOLIA, Ark. – The Southern Arkansas University Muleriders football team returns home to Magnolia, Arkansas this week as they prepare for a meeting with the (RV) Henderson State Reddies on Saturday, September 26th inside Wilkins Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 6:00 PM.
 
Broadcast Information
The game will be broadcast on the GAC Sports Network. Radio listeners can tune into all the action on KVMZ 99.1 FM.
 
SAU Preview
The Muleriders will look to bounce back against a tough Henderson State team this week after falling on the road in Searcy, Arkansas to the 2nd ranked Harding Bisons. Despite the loss, the Blue and Gold scored the most points on the Bisons through three games thus far.
 
Adam Parker finished as the games leading passer going 13-for-19 for 116 yards and one passing touchdown. Parker's passing touchdown was the first for the Muleriders this season as all others had come on the ground. Freshman Drew Davis also threw his first collegiate passing touchdown. Parker also finished as the leading rusher for the Muleriders with 30 yards on the ground and one rushing touchdown. Ja'Marion Washington set a new career high in the contest with 60 receiving yards while also scoring his first collegiate touchdown.
 
Peyton Sellers was flying all over the field against Harding as he led the team in tackles with eight while also recording one TFL. Dailon Ellis and Walteze Champ also had good games as both recorded seven tackles each.
 
The Muleriders rank 19th in Division II in third down conversion percentage with a mark of 51.2%. Kendrick Juniel ranks tied for 13th in Division II with his 33 total tackles while Peyton Sellers is tied for 24th in Division II with his 31 total tackles. Juniel's mark also ranks him fourth in the GAC while Sellers ranks him seventh.
 
HSU Preview
The Reddies enter the week as the top vote getting team not ranked inside the AFCA Top 25 poll after their 3-0 start to the season. Henderson State quarterback Austin Ledbetter is coming off a GAC Offensive Player of the Week honor after throwing for 399-yards and four passing touchdowns.
 
The Henderson State offense outgained UAM last week 555-421. Ledbetter was the leading passer going 22-for-26, 399 yards and four passing touchdowns. Chris Gannaway and Myron Trash Jr. were tied as the leading rushers, both going for 51 yards while Trash scored a touchdown. Maddox Davis led the way in receiving with 161 yards and two touchdowns.  Ledbetter ranks 12th in all of Division II in passing yards per game with a mark of 268 YPG.
 
Leo Morris led the way on defense with eight total tackles and an interception. The Reddies recorded two interceptions against UAM while also having two sacks, four tackles for loss and one forced fumble. Lanard Harris and Mulumba Wa-Kalonji both totaled six tackles a piece also in the game. The Reddies defense ranks 18th in Division II scoring defense allowing just 18 points per game.
 
Henderson State leads all of Division II in total offense averaging 580.3 yards per game. They rank 10th in Division II in passing offense per game averaging 304.3 yards per game through the air while also ranking ninth in Division II in rushing yards per game averaging 276 on the ground. They are third in Division II in scoring offense per game with 52.7 PPG.
 
Series Notes

• The two teams will meet for the 90th time in the series this Saturday
• Henderson State leads the all-time series with a 48-40-1 record
• SAU is 21-15-1 in Magnolia against the Reddies
• The Blue and Gold average 19.7 points per game and have scored 1,753 total points
• The largest margin of victory for SAU came on 11/11/2000 by a final score of 86-27
• The smallest margin of victory for SAU came on 10/14/2023 by a final score of 35-34
• The Muleriders come into Saturday's meeting riding a four-game winning streak against the Reddies