Nunnery paves way for SAU

Southern Arkansas is getting a boost from its running game just in time for the Muleriders’ big game with Southeastern Oklahoma State.

Michael Nunnery, a 5-11 senior, has compiled 307 yards on the ground during the Muleriders’ current three-game winning streak.

“He had a slow start,” SAU Coach Bill Keopple said of Nunnery. “He was coming off shoulder surgery this spring and he had not had any live contact for almost a year. He wasn’t used to being hit.”

Limited to a combined 93 yards in his first two games, Nunnery has since turned in three 100-yard plus performances. He failed to top the 100-yard mark in last week’s 35-28 victory over East Central (Okla.), but he did have two touchdowns, including a season-best 41yard scoring run. Nunnery finished last week’s game with 96 yards on the ground.

“He’s a strong back with speed,” Keopple said. “He outran their secondary on that 41-yard run. I think he even surprised himself.”

SAU (5-2) would create a tie in the Great American Conference standings if it defeats Southeastern Oklahoma State (6-1) this weekend at Wilkins Stadium.

“The season is far from over,” Keopple said. “There’s four more weeks left. But we do have the No. 1 team in the conference coming to our place, so it’s obviously a hyped situation.”

Reddies drive

Henderson State’s final drive against Southeastern Oklahoma State on Saturday did not produce any points, but it was a game-winner.

The Reddies used 15 plays to run off the game’s final 7:21 to preserve a 21-20 victory, extending Henderson’s road winning streak to 30 games. Henderson converted a third-and-19 play early in the drive and later picked up 4 yards on a fourth and 4.

“We weren’t conservative,” Henderson State Coach Scott Maxfield said. “We had to drive the football. It was one of the few times this year where we’ve executed like I thought we would have all season.”

Evan Lassiter’s 33-yard

connection with Fernando Van Hook, a junior from Memphis, on the third play of the drive set the Reddies at midfield. Six plays later, Blake Faulk, a freshman from Prairie Grove, picked up just enough yardage on fourth down to keep the drive alive at the Southeastern 22.

“It was good by about half of the length of the football,” Maxfield said. “Blake did a good job. He lunged at the end to get the first down.”

Henderson eventually advanced the ball to the Southeastern 8 before the game clock ran out. The Reddies’ seven-minute drive was more than two minutes longer than any of the other 11 Henderson drives.

Defensive standout

In a game that featured 85 points and 957 yards of combined offense, Christian Jefferson’s defensive play made a difference for the University of Arkansas at Monticello.

Jefferson, a 6-0 sophomore defensive back from El Dorado, was in on 10 tackles in Saturday’s 6421 victory over Oklahoma Baptist. He also forced a fumble and returned an interception five yards.

“He’s a leader and he’s been very productive,” UAM Coach Hud Jackson said. “We’ve scored a lot of points this season, but I think it goes unsaid that we’ve also done some really good things on the defensive side of the ball. I’ve seen a lot of positives.”

Punting game

Arkansas Tech forced Southwestern Oklahoma State to punt 10 times in last week’s 38-21 road victory. Southwestern had eight possessions of three plays or less.

“We did a good job of getting our defense off the field,” Tech Coach Raymond Monica said. “And that’s something we’ve had issues with this season. But I thought the defense played well. We did give up a couple of [big] plays, but for the most part it was a good defensive effort.”

Southwestern’s 10 punts went for an average of 37.9 yards a kick. Tech punted five times for a 34.0 yard average.

Playing catch

Henderson State receivers Austin Bennett and Darion Gray combined for 17 receptions and 190 yards against Southeastern Oklahoma State.

It was the best tandem receiving effort by the Reddies this season.

“In the first half, we had seven dropped passes,” Henderson State Coach Scott Maxfield said. “But those two had a really nice game in the second half. Evan [Lassiter] did a good job of finding the open receiver, the offensive line did a good job with the protection and the receivers did a nice job of making yards after the catch.”

Lassiter completed 28 of 46 passes for 316 yards. Bennett caught 8 passes for 127 yards, while Gray had nine catches for 63 yards.

TE questionable

Tanner Hudson had one of his productive games against Southeastern Oklahoma State in 2016. The Southern Arkansas tight end caught six passes for 148 yards and scored three touchdowns in a 38-24 victory.

His touchdown receptions went for 61, 48 and 17 yards.

Southern Arkansas Coach Bill Keopple said Tanner suffered a hip injury in last week’s victory over East Central and may miss Saturday’s game against Southeastern.

“He was big part of last year’s game,” Keopple said. “If he doesn’t play it will change our thought process for Saturday.”

Tanner, a 6-5 senior from Camden, Tenn., leads the Muleriders in receptions (31), receiving yards (374) and receiving touchdowns (5) this season. He is averaging 12.1 yards a catch and 53.4 yards receiving a game.

Blowing in wind

Arkansas-Monticello was 6 of 6 on fourthdown conversions against Oklahoma Baptist and the reason Coach Hud Jackson

was willing to gamble so much was that his kickers were facing strong winds in Shawnee, Okla.

“You look at that and you might think I was a little bit crazy,” said Jackson, whose team also was 11 of 19 on third-down conversions. “But we were facing some steady winds, probably 25 miles per hour or more. It didn’t make sense to punt.”

Punter Zack Schemmel was sent out once. The junior’s lone kick went for 40 yards and pinned Oklahoma Baptist on its own 4.

Oklahoma Baptist punter Hayden Ashley punted five times for an average of 16.6 yards a kick. His longest kick went for 27 yards.

“Their punter didn’t have a chance in those conditions,” Jackson said.

Thanks to their conversions, the Boll Weevils held on to the ball for more than 41 minutes, while Oklahoma Baptist’s time of possession was less than 19 minutes.

Extra points

Harding attempted only two passes in last week’s 34-0 victory over Northwestern Oklahoma State. Terrence Dingle completed one pass to Grant Kimberlin for 9 yards. Kimberlin also was the Bisons leading rusher with 108 yards on nine carries. … Harding’s shutout was its first since the Bisons defeated Southern Nazarene 42-0 on Sept. 12, 2015. … Arkansas-Monticello was without leading rusher Imani Riley last week, but Nigel Dora stepped in and produced his most productive game of the season. Dora, a junior from Monroe, La., ran 16 times for 101 yards. Dora’s effort was the Weevils’ first 100yard plus individual rushing effort this season. … Harding continues to lead all of the Division II schools in rushing offense, averaging 341.7 yards a game. Arkansas Tech (223.3) is 17th in the country and Arkansas-Monticello (216.4) is 19th. The Bisons are second in the country in time of possession, averaging 35 minutes per game. … Ouachita Baptist receiver Drew Harris is fourth among Division II players in scoring, averaging 12.9 points per game.

Nunnery