Southern Arkansas hopes to overcome East Central Henderson State at Southeastern Oklahoma

ADA, Okla.—A week after picking up their first win of the year away from Wilkins Stadium at Rip Powell Field, the Southern Arkansas football team returns to the Sooner State today in hopes of another road triumph as the Muleriders travel to Ada to take on East Central University.

It will be the second-straight year that SAU has had to play at East Central after the conference schedules re-aligned prior to the start of the 2017 campaign. Last year the two teams met in Week 10 and the Muleriders collected a hard-fought 37-24 road win over the Tigers.

Offensively, the Tigers are averaging 27.2 points per game and 416.5 yards of total offense per game as well with 249.7 of the yards coming through the air and the remaining 166.8 yards being gained on the ground. Their points per game average and total offense ranks eighth in the GAC while their passing offense is fourth and their rushing offense eighth in the league.

Defensively, the Tigers are allowing 41.2 points per game and 467.7 yards of total offense per game with 275.2 of the yards coming through the air and the remaining 192.5 being gained on the ground. Their scoring defense and total defense ranks 11th in the GAC while their rushing defense is seventh and their passing defense 12th in the league. On the year, the Tigers have forced six turnovers with all but one being fumble recoveries.

This will be the 19th meeting alltime between the Muleriders and Tigers with SAU holding an 11-7 lead in the series. The all-time series dates back to 1953 and has seen these two teams meet yearly since 2011 as each school became charter members of the Great American Conference. Since becoming conference opponents, SAU leads the series 4-2. All-time in games played in Ada, SAU leads 6-4.

DURANT, Okla.—Henderson State will travel to Durant, Okla. to face GAC leading and 19th-ranked Southeastern Oklahoma today with kickoff set for 2 p.m.

SOSU is off to its best start at 6-0 since 1988 when the Savage Storm went 9-0 in the regular-season as part of the Oklahoma Intercollegiate Conference and members of the NAIA.

Meanwhile, Henderson will be attempting to add to its NCAA Division II record road win streak as the Reddies have won 29 straight road contests.

Henderson State will have to contend with a Savage Storm offense that averages 447.5 yards and 37.0 points per game, ranking second in the GAC in both categories.

SOSU had some nail-biters this season with the Storm winning four of its six contests by seven points or less.

SOSU doesn’t make many mistakes as the Savage Storm leads the league in turnover margin at plus-12, committing just four miscues (1 fumble/3 interceptions) while forcing 16 turnovers.

Henderson will need a solid offensive game as the Savage Storm leads the league defensively allowing just 20.7 points per contest while allowing 353.3 yards per game, ranking third in the GAC.

Henderson State, 3-3 on the season, won its 15 consecutive road contest played in Oklahoma last week with a 14-13 victory over Oklahoma Baptist.