Muleriders host Rangers aiming for 4-0 start

Southern Arkansas enters Week 4 of the 2018 season at 3-0 for the first time since the 2012 campaign. The Muleriders, who are ranked No. 21 and are also 3-0 in the Great American Conference, welcome Northwestern Oklahoma State for a conference showdown.

Last season, Northwestern Oklahoma got the best of the Muleriders in a 38-16 home win; the Rangers' second win in the eightgame series.

The ninth meeting between the two teams offers just as much excitement as nationally-ranked Southern Arkansas looks to remain unbeaten, while Northwestern Oklahoma State looks to build off of last week's 30-24 win over Henderson State.

SAU has been led by their defense as that unit boasts the top scoring defense in the GAC as well as one of the league's

top units in terms of total defense.

Northwestern Oklahoma State brings one of the conference's top offenses to Magnolia, as the Rangers are averaging the third most total yards per game, behind one of the league's top rushing attacks.

SCHEDULE

Northwestern Oklahoma enters Week 4 at 1-2, but is coming off the program's second consecutive win over Henderson State.

The Rangers opened the season with an eight-point loss at home against Ouachita Baptist before falling 44-36 in a Week 2 shootout on the road at ArkansasMonticello. Following the team's trek to Magnolia, the Rangers play at Southeastern Oklahoma State to close out the month of September.

THE COACH

The Rangers are coached by Matt Walter, who is the midst of his fourth year. A NWOSU graduate and AllAmerica football player, Walter helped the Rangers to an NAIA National Championship in 1999.

In his first three seasons as head coach, Walter is 12-21 and has the Rangers off to a 1-2 start to the 2018 season.

SCOUTING THE OFFENSE

Offensively, the Rangers feature a spread attack that has the potential to put points on the board quickly.

In three games, the Rangers are averaging 29.0 points per game.

Unlike in years past, the Rangers spread offense is fairly balanced with a near 50/50 split in terms of yards gained between the air and the ground.

Through the air, the Rangers are averaging 235.7 yards per game while they are gaining 209.0 yards per game on the ground.

Overall, the Rangers offense is averaging 444.7 yards per game.

NWOSU's total offense ranks third in the league while their rushing and passing ranks stand at third and seventh, respectively.

Isiah Weed has completed 54.8 percent of his passes and has thrown for 707 yards with five touchdowns. Weed can run despite just 33 yards on 24 rushing attempts through three games.

Last season, Weed finished with 427 yards on the ground and the seventh highest total offense. Through three games, Weed has found the end zone twice on the ground and has accounted for seven of NWOSU's 12 touchdowns.

Jacob Peyton and Jalen Williams are the top options for the Rangers on the ground with Peyton having earned a team-leading 408 rushing yards on 52 carries with two touchdowns.

Williams has carried 30 times for 174 yards a teamhigh three touchdowns on the ground.

Gavin Garner leads the Rangers in receiving, as he has hauled in a team-leading 14 passes for 200 yards a pair of scores.

Myles Mitchusson leads the team in yards per reception at 17.3 and is one of three receivers with 100 or more yards receiving, while Kentrez Bell is Weed's second favorite target after catching nine passes for 125 yards in three games this season.

SCOUTING THE DEFENSE

Defensively, the Rangers are allowing 32.3 points per game and 440.0 yards of total offense per game.

A majority of those yards are coming the air with an average of 272.7 yards per game, while the remaining 167.3 yards per game are coming on the ground.

Among the GAC rankings, the Rangers rank ninth in scoring defense, 10th in total defense, ninth in rushing defense, and 10th in passing defense.

On the year, the Rangers have forced four turnovers with two being fumble recoveries and two being interceptions. The leading tackler for the Rangers is Dakota Driskill with 37 stops, including 2 1/2 tackles for loss, while Maurice Wright Jr. has recorded 31 tackles. The Rangers average five tackles for loss per game.

THE SERIES

This will be the ninth meeting all time between SAU and NWOSU and will be the sixth straight season in which the two will face off as members of the GAC.

Prior to being GAC foes, SAU and NWOSU played in 1977 and 1978 as well as in 1997. This weekend's game will be the fifth meeting all time in Magnolia with SAU having won the last three matchups at home.

Overall, the Muleriders have a 6-2 lead in the series and had a five-game winning streak before losing on the road to the Rangers last season.