GAC football reaches penultimate weekend
Southwestern Oklahoma State (3-6) at Southern Nazarene (2-7)
BETHANY, Okla. — Matchups between teams in the top half of the Great American Conference standings leaves the bottom half to face off this week against each other in search of separation before the last week of the season.
Southern Arkansas (8-1) at Ouachita Baptist (9-0) was selected as the NCAA Division II showcase game this week. Arkansas-Monticello (4-5) will also visit Henderson State (5-4).
Southern Nazarene will host Southwestern at SNU Football Stadium in the first game of the day at 1 p.m. Southwestern leads the series, 7-0, after a 17-0 home victory a year ago.
The Crimson Storm ended a six-game losing streak a week ago with a 37-34 victory in double overtime against Northwestern Oklahoma State. Crimson Storm players received GAC awards for offense, defense and special teams.
Southern Nazarene remains last in the conference in offense with
219.3 yards per game, ranking ahead of only East Central in scoring with
14.4 points. The Crimson Storm defense has kept the team in games this season by clamping down in the passing game, ranking third in the league and allowing only 161.1 yards per game through the air.
Southwestern junior quarterback Casey Freeman was efficient a week ago as the Bulldogs leaned on the running game for their third win of the season. Freeman is fourth in the GAC in passing with 2,085 yards, 18 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
Southeastern Oklahoma State (5-4) at Harding (7-2)
SEARCY — Southeastern and Harding were tied for third place in the conference after the Savage Storm shocked Southern Arkansas with a convincing 21-0 victory in Durant, Okla., on Oct. 13.
Harding kept rolling to consecutive victories by a combined score of 87-14. Southeastern stumbled to back-to-back defeat and could now finish under .500 after a 5-2 start.
The Savage Storm will look to recover today at 2 p.m. at First Security Stadium against the Bisons. Harding leads the series, 22-7.
Junior running back Kenneth Burks leads Southeastern with 678 rushing yards and a GAC-best 11 touchdowns on 174 carries. The Savage Storm is 10th in the GAC with only 336.9 yards per game for 23.6 points.
The Bisons still boast the No. 2 rushing offense in Division II with 357 yards per game. Their 40 rushing touchdowns leads Division II.
Sophomore running back Tristan Tucker averages 9.8 yards per carry for 590 yards and five touchdowns. Sophomore fullback Cole Chancey has 121 carries for 635 yards and nine touchdowns.
East Central (2-7) at Arkansas Tech (3-6)
RUSSELLVILLE — Arkansas Tech is looking to finish the season strong after suffering four straight losses in the middle of the schedule.
The Wonder Boys ended their losing streak a week ago with a 10-6 win against Southeastern. They will host East Central at 2 p.m. today at Thone Stadium.
East Central leads the series,
11-9. Arkansas Tech cut into the margin with a 38-10 win a year ago.
Arkansas Tech is the only team picked in the top six of the preseason coaches poll currently outside of the top six in the standings. The Wonder Boys began the season, 2-2, before the four straight defeats.
The Wonder Boys have moved the ball on offense, but have struggled to score. They are seventh in the GAC in yards with 358.9 per game, but they only rank 10th with
14.8 points.
East Central has struggled on offense and defense. The Tigers average only 14 points per game while allowing 33.
Northwestern Oklahoma State (3-6) at Oklahoma Baptist (3-6)
SHAWNEE, Okla. — Oklahoma Baptist ended its own sixgame losing streak last week with a 47-39 win against Southwestern.
Northwestern has lost back-to-back games three times this season, but the Rangers have yet to lose three in a row. They will look to continue that streak today at 2 p.m. at Crain Family Stadium.
Oklahoma Baptist leads the young series, 5-4-2. The Bison are sixth in the conference in scoring at 27.3 points per game, but they rank last on defense allowing 43.8 per game.
Northwestern leans on the running game, while Oklahoma Baptist leads the conference in the passing game. Sophomore quarterback Preston Haire has thrown for 2,675 yards and 21 touchdowns, but he has also thrown a league-high 21 interceptions, more than twice as many as the team which ranks second.
Freshman Tyson Gatewood leads Northwestern with 572 rushing yards, but he has only scored twice this season. Senior quarterback Isaiah Weed has only thrown for 875 yards, six touchdowns and five interceptions.