State college capsules

NORTHWESTERN OKLAHOMA

STATE AT OUACHITA BAPTIST WHEN 1 p.m.

WHERE A.U. Williams Field, Arkadelphia RADIO KHTE-FM, 96.5, in Little Rock; KFMD-AM, 1340, and KFMD-FM, 105.3, in Springdale and Rogers; KAMD-FM, 97.1, in Camden; KYXK-FM, 106.9, in Arkadelphia and Gurdon; KNAS-FM, 105.5, in Nashville; KUOR-FM, 105.3, in Mena INTERNET obutigers.com RECORDS Ouachita Baptist (4-0, 4-0 Great American Conference), Northwestern Oklahoma State (0-5, 0-5) COACHES Ouachita Baptist: Todd Knight (91-111-2 overall, 64-79 in 15 seasons at OBU); Alan Hall (4-12 in second season) SERIES Northwestern State leads 3-2.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR Ouachita Baptist is tied with Harding for best scoring defense in the conference, allowing 15.5 points per game, and is facing the worst-scoring team in the GAC as the Bulldogs are averaging just 8.8 points after being shut out by Henderson State last week. In fact, Southwestern State is near the bottom of several major categories. With the GAC’s second-best rushing offense (202.2 yards per game), the Tigers will hope to grind it out on the ground until the passing game opens upARKANSAS-MONTICELLO AT HARDING WHEN 2 p.m.

WHERE First Security Stadium, Searcy RADIO KVHU, 95.3, FM in Searcy; KHBMFM, 93.7, in Monticello INTERNET hardingsports.com, uamsports.com RECORDS Harding (3-1, 3-1 Great American Conference); Arkansas-Monticello (3-2, 3-2) COACHES Harding: Ronnie Huckeba (34-32 in seventh season); Arkansas-Monticello: Hud Jackson (9-18 in third season) SERIES Tied 24-24 WHAT TO LOOK FOR Arkansas-Monticello is showing signs of life after ending an 11-game losing streak earlier this year and is coming off a 34-0 victory over Arkansas Tech in which it forced four turnovers and allowed the Wonder Boys one third-down conversion in 12 attempts.Harding is looking for its fourth consecutive victory and will no doubt be tempted to run the ball against the Boll Weevils, which held Tech’s running game in check last week. The Bisons are averaging an NCAA Division II-best 404 rushing yards per game and are third in Division II in third-down conversion, converting 56.1 percent of their third-down attempts. If it can establish the run, look for Harding to switch it up and pass deep. The Bisons are ranked first in Division II in yards per completion (29.05).

SOUTHWESTERN OKLAHOMA

STATE AT HENDERSON STATE WHEN 3 p.m.

WHERE Carpenter-Haygood Stadium, Arkadelphia RADIO KDEL-FM, 100.9, in Arkadelphia; KZNG-AM, 1310, in Hot Springs INTERNET hsusports.com RECORDS Henderson State (5-0, 4-0 Great American Conference), Southwestern Oklahoma State (3-2, 3-2) COACHES Henderson State: Scott Maxfield (83-46 overall, 54-35 in ninth year at Henderson State); Southwestern Oklahoma: Dan Cocannouer (15-33 in fifth year) SERIES Tied 2-2 WHAT TO LOOK FOR Henderson State “only” won 42-0 at Northwestern Oklahoma State last week but after averaging close to 62 points per game entering the day and putting up their lowest yardage output (374) of the season the Reddies will be looking to return to form. Henderson State, ranked No. 8 in NCAA Division II, averages 632.6 yards per game and 61.2 points to lead the GAC, but the Reddies are also allowing the fewest yards per game (283) in the conference. The Bulldogs are seventh in total defense, 386.8 yards allowed per game.

SOUTHERN ARKANSAS AT ARKANSAS TECH WHEN 6 p.m.

WHERE Buerkle Field, Russellville RADIO KWKK-FM, 100.9, in Russellville, KVMZ-FM, 99.1, in Magnolia INTERNET athletics.atu.edu, muleriderathletics.com RECORDS Arkansas Tech (2-3, 2-2 Great American Conference), Southern Arkansas (3-2, 3-2) COACHES Arkansas Tech: Raymond Monica (47-37 overall, 2-3 in first season at Arkansas Tech); Southern Arkansas: Bill Keopple (18-28 in fifth season) SERIES Arkansas Tech leads 43-29-4 WHAT TO LOOK FOR Southern Arkansas is 3-0 in games in which it has held an opponent to fewer than 110 rushing yards, and it has averaged 52 points in the past two games against Arkansas Tech, both victories. Tech has balance, but with Ketrich Harmon averaging 8.5 yards per carry (for 486 yards and four touchdowns) the Wonder Boys could try to test the Muleriders’ run defense early. If Tech goes to the air, turnovers could play a factor as Southern Arkansas has one of the better pass defenses in the GAC and Wonder Boys quarterback Luke Halpin has four interceptions to go with his four touchdown passes.

NCAA DIVISION III WASHINGTON (MO.) AT HENDRIX WHEN 1 p.m. today WHERE Young-Wise Stadium, Conway RECORDS Hendrix 2-2, 0-2 Southern Athletic Conference; Washington (Mo.) 3-2, 0-0 University Athletic Association COACHES Hendrix: Justin “Buck” Buchanan (2-2 in first season overall and at Hendrix); Washington (Mo.): Larry Kindbom (151-94 in 25 seasons overall and at Washington) SERIES First meeting RADIO None INTERNET hendrixwarriors.com WHAT TO WATCH FOR Hendrix is back home today at Young-Wise Stadium, where it is 2-0 this season. The Warriors are at home for two consecutive weeks for the first time this season, beginning today against Washington (Mo.) and Berry next Saturday. Hendrix lost 48-37 last Saturday at Millsaps, despite quarterback Seth Peters’ season-high five touchdown passes. Today’s game is a nonconference affair for Hendrix, which is 0-2 in the Southern Athletic Conference. Next week’s opponent, Berry, will be Hendrix’s first conference home game.