OBU eases into victory, gets some rest

replaced Renner on SAU’s next possession, the Savage Storm scored early in the fourth quarter and again near the end, and the Muleriders were ready to regroup.

“I didn’t want to get him anymore hurt,” said Keopple, while noting that the Muleriders played without three starters on offense — at center and wide receiver. “It wasn’t a good day for us. The younger guys got exposed a little bit up front.”

SOSU, led by quarterback Rollin Kinsaul (14-of-25 passing, 215, 1 TD) didn’t dominate the Muleriders’ defense, but the Savage Storm did enough, outgaining SAU 323-243 and averaging 4.9 yards per play to 3.7 yards for SAU.

The Bisons couldn’t find the end zone in last week’s loss to Ouachita Baptist, but they couldn’t stay out of it Saturday at ASAP Energy Field against Southwestern Oklahoma in Weatherford, Okla.

Harding (5-2) scored touchdowns on each of its first six possessions, including two passing touchdowns in a victory over the Bulldogs (2-5).

Harding, which has won nine consecutive regular-season road games, scored touchdowns on all five of its first-half possessions to lead Southwestern 36-0 at halftime, then scored on its opening possession of the third quarter.

Harding, the No.1 ranked rushing team in Division II, gained 273 of its 377 rushing yards in the first half.

The Bisons outgained the Bulldogs 469-135 and led 50-0 after three quarters.

Slot back Taylor Bissell scored Harding’s first touchdown on a 36-yard run, and Cole Chancey (12-56 rushing) followed with runs of 1 and 7 yards in the first half.

The final two scores of the first half came through the air. Quarterback Preston Paden completed touchdown passes of 26 yards to Kohl Blickenstaff with 4:59 to play in the half, and a 24-yard touchdown pass to Taylor Thompson with 34 seconds to play.

Henderson State University (4-3) fell behind early, then scored the game’s final 24 points to beat East Central in Ada, Okla.

It was the third consecutive victory for the Reddies, who outgained the Tigers 427-276 while rushing for 219 yards and passing for 208.

Quarterback Richard Stammetti (18-of24 passing, 208 yards, 2 TDs) threw both of his touchdown passes to running back Querale Hall (14-79 rushing, 1 TD; 5-46 receiving, 2 TDs).

Hall, a junior-college transfer from Cerritos (Calif.), has rushed 49 times for 358 yards in the past 3 games, filling in for the injured Cobra Jones.

Hall, who rushed for 173 yards in last week’s victory over Oklahoma Baptist, has scored 6 touchdowns in the past 2 games while splitting time with Arkansas State University transfer Logan Moragne (15-134, 1 TD) to give the Reddies a rejuvenated rushing attack.

Imani Riley and Alex Day combined for 219 of Arkansas-Monticello’s 289 rushing yards, and quarterback Cole Sears accounted for 2 touchdowns as the Boll Weevils (3-4 GAC) won their second consecutive game after enduring a 3-game losing streak.

UAM never trailed in Bethany, Okla., building a 21-6 halftime lead with Sears rushing 1 yard for a touchdown and completing a 41-yard pass to C.J. Parham for a 14-6 first-quarter lead.

Deontae Haynes’ 3-yard run with 3:13 to play in the second quarter gave the Boll Weevils a 15-point halftime lead.

Southern Nazarene (1-6) cut UAM’s lead to 21-12 on Gage Porter’s 41-yard run, but the Crimson Storm missed a two-point conversion try and never got any closer.

The Boll Weevils scored twice in the fourth quarter — on Day’s 3-yard run with 7:43 to play and on Parham’s second touchdown catch, from Ivan King, with 1:57 to play in the game.

Arkansas Tech picked up 23 first downs and 332 offensive yards, but the Wonder Boys couldn’t overcome 5 turnovers, including 4 interceptions, in a loss to Northwestern Oklahoma in Alva, Okla.

The Rangers (3-4 GAC) scored all of their points in the first half on three touchdown passes by quarterback Cesar De Leon.

Tech (2-5) has committed 12 turnovers during a three-game losing streak and has been outscored 81-23 in the losses to Ouachita Baptist, Arkansas-Monticello and NWOSU.