SE OKLAHOMA STATE
AT ARKANSAS-MONTICELLO
WHEN 1 p.m.
WHERE Willis “Convoy” Leslie Cotton Boll Stadium, Monticello
RADIO 93.7-FM KHBM in southeast Arkansas
INTERNET uamsports.com
RECORDS UAM (1-2, 1-2 GAC), Southeastern Oklahoma State (1-2, 1-2)
COACHES Hud Jackson (24-55 in eighth season at UAM and overall); Bo Atterberry (28-20 in fifth season at Southeastern Oklahoma State, 69-48 in 11th season overall)
SERIES Southeastern Oklahoma State leads 5-3
LAST MEETING UAM lost 41-21 in Durant, Okla.
COMMENTS In last week’s 29-27 loss, UAM held East Central (Okla.) to minus-36 yards rushing, had more first downs (26-9) and outgained the Tigers 503-177, but East Central benefited from field position — 5 punts downed inside the UAM 2 — and 6 turnovers by the Boll Weevils that led to 23 points. … As disappointing as the defeat was to UAM Coach Hud Jackson, there were two big positives: the emergence of former Arkansas Razorbacks running back Juan Day (20-83 rushing, 1 TD) and tight end DeAndre Washington (5-142 receiving, 2 TDs). … Day, a junior from North Little Rock, saw his first significant playing time since transferring from Arkansas to Stephen F. Austin last spring, and then to UAM. “It’s just been a matter of him getting in shape,” Jackson said of Day, who suffered 2 serious knee injuries during his time at Arkansas. “He’s a special talent, and we’re going to lean on him. Juan’s been in the big arena. He’s a great young man. It’s a chance for him to show what he can do.” Washington, who came to UAM from Langston College when the school quit playing football, has caught 9 passes for 249 yards, an average of 27.7 yards per catch. … Senior quarterback Cole Sears has accounted for 978 of total offense (900 passing, 4 TDs; 78 yards rushing, 5 TDs).
OKLAHOMA BAPTIST AT HARDING
WHEN 6 p.m.
WHERE First Security Stadium, Searcy RADIO 95.3-FM KVHU in Searcy
INTERNET hardingsports.com
RECORDS Harding (2-1, 2-1 GAC); Oklahoma Baptist (2-1, 2-1)
COACHES Paul Simmons (13-5 in second season at Harding and overall); Chris Jensen (21-37 in fifth season at Oklahoma Baptist and overall)
SERIES Harding leads 3-0
LAST MEETING Harding won 45-14 in Shawnee, Okla.
COMMENTS This is the only GAC game matching teams with 2-1 records. … Harding is tied for 19th in the AFCA Top 25 after starting the season at No. 7. … Harding was 0-3 last season and trailing 14-13 in Shawnee, Okla., when the Bisons outscored the Bison 32-0 to win the first of 11 consecutive games. … Harding, which has outscored opponents 31-0 in the first quarter, is tied for first in GAC scoring offense (35.3 ppg), tied for second in scoring defense (15.0 ppg), and is first in the GAC, seventh in Division II in total defense (223.0 ypg). … QB Preston Paden (9-15 passing, 188 yards, 2 TDs) leads the GAC in pass efficiency. … Harding ranks sixth in rushing defense (65.3 ypg) and seventh in rushing offense (282.3 ypg) in Division II. The Bisons are one of only two teams (Minnesota State) in Division II ranked in the top 10 in both rushing offense and rushing defense. … Tristan Tucker (28-272 rushing, 3 TDs) is No. 3 and Cole Chancy (38-205) is ninth in GAC rushing. … Oklahoma Baptist was picked to finish in a tie for last in the preseason coaches poll, but the Bison beat East Central (Okla.) (27-26) in overtime and Southeastern Oklahoma State 34-28 to go 2-0 before losing to Arkansas Tech 31-7 last week. … Oklahoma Baptist ranks last in the GAC in rushing (91.7 ypg) and 10th in rushing defense (222.7 ypg). The Bison are led by quarterback Preston Haire (97-149 passing, 856 yards, 6 TDs, 7 INTs.). Haire ranks fourth in passing yards (285.3 ypg). Cagney Roberson (25-287 receiving, 1 TD) leads GAC in catches per game and is second in receiving yards per game.
EAST CENTRAL (OKLA.)
AT OUACHITA BAPTIST
WHEN 6 p.m.
WHERE Cliff Harris Stadium, Arkadelphia RADIO Ouachita Football Network: 101.1-FM, KDXE in Little Rock (flagship), KUOA-AM, 1290 and KUOA-FM, 97.7 in Siloam Springs, KCXY-FM, 95.3, Camden, KZNG-FM, 105.5 and KZNG-AM, 1340, Hot Springs, KNAS-FM, 105.5, Nashville, KQOR-FM, 105.3, Mena; 100.3-FM
INTERNET obusports.com
RECORDS OBU (3-0, 3-0 GAC); East Central (1-2, 1-2)
COACHES Todd Knight (103-94 at OBU in 20th season, 131-126-2 in 26th season overall); Al Johnson (1-2 in first season and overall)
SERIES OBU leads 16-6
LAST MEETING OBU won 45-14 in Ada, Okla.
COMMENTS OBU is No. 9 in the AFCA Top 25 after a 32-16 victory over Southeastern Oklahoma State in Durant. OBU redshirt freshman quarterback Brayden Brazeal (143 rushing yards, 438 passing,) and RB Shun’cee Thomas (30-270 rushing, 1 TD) took over more responsibility in the ground game after senior Kris Oliver (40-233, 5 TDs) left in the first quarter after catching an 8-yard pass. Thomas and Oliver rank Nos. 4-5 in GAC rushing. Brazeal rushed 15 times for 136 yards after carrying 4 times in the first 2 games. … Coach Todd Knight said he was pleased with the way Tigers responded after losing Oliver and their all-purpose playmaker Drew Harris (1-39 receiving) in the first half. Knight said Oliver “should be back” tonight and Harris has “got a chance.” Harris, who led the GAC with 26 touchdowns last season, has 10 rushes for 39 yards and 9 receptions for 116 yards without a touchdown in 3 games. Senior Allie Freeman has 379 all-purpose yards in 3 games. … Freshman punter Jake Ford averaged 39.4 yards on 5 attempts with 3 balls downed inside the Southeastern Oklahoma State 20. Cole Antley kicked his sixth field goal in seven tries. He also booted 3 of his 6 kickoffs in the end zone for touchbacks. “They really executed, “ Knight said. “They gave those guys long fields.”
SOUTHERN NAZARENE
AT ARKANSAS TECH
WHEN 6 p.m.
WHERE Thone Stadium, Russellville
RADIO 102.3-FM KCJC in Russellville INTERNET arkansastechsports.com
RECORDS Arkansas Tech (1-2, 1-2 in GAC); Southern Nazarene (1-2, 1-2)
COACHES Raymond Monica (32-28 in sixth season at Arkansas Tech, 77-62 in 13th season overall); Andy Lambert (7-18 in third season at Southern Nazarene, 109-114 in 22nd season overall)
SERIES Arkansas Tech leads 5-0
LAST MEETING Arkansas Tech won 52-0 in Bethany, Okla.
COMMENTS The Wonder Boys have outscored the Crimson Storm 243-35 in five previous meetings. … Arkansas Tech won its first game last week, beating previously undefeated Oklahoma Baptist 31-7. Sophomore quarterback Carter Burcham (156 rushing yards, 534 passing) has thrown for 5 touchdowns since taking over as the No. 1 QB against Henderson State. Terrez Hampton (17-261 receiving, 1 TD) is the leading pass-catcher. … Kicker Jesus Zizumbo is 8 for 8 on extra points but 2 of 7 on field-goal attempts. Tyler Dunlop (42.8 ypp) is No. 2 in overall punting but 12th in net punting (31.4) with 1 of his 19 attempts landing inside the opponents’ 20. “We have to do a better job kicking the football when it comes down to field-goal situations and we can’t let them flip field position in the punting game,” Coach Raymond Monica said. … Southern Nazarene leads all of NCAA Division II in passing yards allowed per game (89.0).
SW OKLAHOMA STATE
AT HENDERSON STATE
WHEN 6 p.m.
WHERE Carpenter-Haygood Stadium, Arkadelphia
RADIO Henderson State Sports Network: 100.9-FM KDEL and 1240-AM KVRC in Arkadelphia, 99.7-FM KWPS in Hot Springs, 106.9-FM KYXK in Gurdon, 104.1-FM KZYP/1310-AM in Malvern, 99.3-FM KAFN/690-AM in Benton
RECORDS Henderson State (1-2, 1-2 GAC); SWOSU (1-2, 1-2)
COACHES Scott Maxfield (95-50 in 14th season at Henderson State, 124-62 in 18th season overall); Chet Pobolish (1-2 in first season at Southwestern Oklahoma State and overall)
SERIES Henderson State leads 8-2
LAST MEETING Henderson State won 37-14 in Weatherford, Okla.
COMMENTS The Reddies lost to Northwestern Oklahoma State 30-24 last week in Alva, Okla., Henderson State’s first GAC loss in Oklahoma. The Reddies are 32-2 on the road in the GAC. … Henderson State is third in GAC passing (286 ypg) and Southwestern Oklahoma State is fifth (251.7). Southwestern Oklahoma State quarterback Casey Freeman has thrown for 728 yards and 9 touchdowns, with 416 of those yards and 7 TDs coming in the Bulldogs’ 49-35 victory in Week 1 over Arkansas-Monticello. … Southwestern Oklahoma State RB Kyshawn Richards leads the GAC in all-purpose yards (494), including 190 kickoff return yards. … Reddies WR receiver John Murray (9-176 vs. Northwestern Oklahoma State) has 16 catches for 243 yards. Sophomore Chase Lodree (17-283, 3 TDs) is third in GAC receiving yards. … Arkansas State transfer Logan Moragne (50-227 rushing) scored his first two touchdowns in the loss to Northwestern Oklahoma State. Quarterback Richard Stammetti (858 yards, 7 touchdowns) completed 21 of 42 for 309 yards with 2 interceptions and 1 TD against Northwestern Oklahoma State. … The Reddies have outpassed their opponents 858-682, but have been outrushed 672-291.
NW OKLAHOMA STATE
AT SOUTHERN ARKANSAS
WHEN 6 p.m.
WHERE Wilkins Stadium, Magnolia
RADIO 99.1-FM KVMZ in Magnolia
INTERNET muleriderathletics.com
RECORDS SAU (3-0, 3-0 GAC); Northwestern Oklahoma State (1-2, 1-2)
COACHES Bill Keopple (52-46 in 10th season at SAU and overall); Matt Walter (13-23 in fourth season at Northwestern Oklahoma State and overall)
SERIES SAU leads 6-2
LAST MEETING SAU lost 38-16 in Alva, Okla.
COMMENTS The Muleriders turned a 12-7 second-half deficit into a 36-12 road victory over Southwestern Oklahoma State last week in Weatherford, Okla. The combination of quarterback Barrett Renner (362 passing yards, 4 TDs) and GAC Offensive Player of the Week Karonce Higgins (13-237 receiving, 2 TDs) brought the Muleriders back after SAU’s Sirgregory Perkins was tackled for a safety with 9:24 to play in the third quarter. … SAU is tied for third in GAC scoring (34.0 ppg) and leads in scoring defense (11.5 ppg). … Northwestern Oklahoma State is second in total offense (444.7 ypg) and 10th in total defense (440.0 ypg); The Rangers are third in rushing offense (209.0 ypg) and sixth in passing offense (235.7 ypg). … Northwestern Oklahoma State is coming off a 30-24 victory over Henderson State in Alva, Okla. … The Rangers have the GAC’s leading rusher, Jacob Peyton (52-408, 2 TDs) and quarterback Isaiah Weed (53-98 passing, 707 yards, 5 TDs). Weed and Peyton rank 5th and 10th in GAC total offense. Renner is No. 2 in the GAC in passing (899 yards) and touchdowns (9). Higgins leads the GAC in receiving yards (420, 140 ypg). In his career, Renner has passed for 10,804 yards and 104 touchdowns, trailing only Henderson State’s Kevin Rodgers (13,678 passing yards, 124 TDs), which is the most ever by a college quarterback in the state of Arkansas.