Tigers look to extend streak on road
ADA, Okla. — Ouachita Baptist is back on the road as it looks to reprise last year’s 42-0 rout over East Central at 3 p.m. at Koi Ishto Stadium.
The Tigers (5-0) are coming off last week’s 27-14 homecoming win over Southeastern Oklahoma where they turned a pair of interceptions into 10 points and Allie Freeman had a 51-yard touchdown reception. Freeman finished with
11 catches for 114 yards and a score, bringing him to 49 catches on the year, and he leads the Great American Conference in receptions and is No. 2 in NCAA Division II.
Quarterback Brayden Brazeal leads the GAC and Division II with a 79.4 completion percentage (81102, 8 TDs, 0 INT). The only undefeated team in the GAC is fourth in the league and 62nd in the country in total defense (340.6 yards per game), but it is second in the GAC and 13th nationally in scoring defense (14.6 points per game).
East Central (1-4) enters the contest after a 49-46 loss at Arkansas-Monticello last week after the Tigers muffed a 30-yard punt by the Weevils with 26 seconds remaining, turning the ball over for the loss. Freshman quarterback Kenny Hrncir was 13-for-24 passing for 245 yards and one interception while sophomore Ontario Douglas led the Tigers’ ground game with 25 touches for 170 yards and three touchdowns.
Douglas (176.0 ypg) and Freeman (140.0 ypg) are No. 1 and No. 2 in the GAC in all-purpose yardage. Douglas has 745 rushing yards, 124 receiving and 12 on kick return with 11 touchdowns. Ouachita Baptist leads the all-time series 17-5.
Harding at Oklahoma Baptist
SHAWNEE, Okla. — Harding goes back on the road for the first time since its 31-0 rout of Southern Arkansas on Sept. 21 as the Bisons visit the Oklahoma Baptist Bison at 1 p.m. at Crain Family Stadium.
No. 22 Harding (4-1) whose only loss came in Week 1 to No. 5 Ouachita Baptist is undefeated (40) against Oklahoma Baptist (3-2), winning last year’s contest 56-7 in Searcy. The top-ranked defense in the country in points (6.4 points per game) and yards allowed (196.8) will take on a Bison offense that averages 36.6 points per game in what could be the biggest test for the Bisons.
Harding’s defense has allowed two scores and six field goals in five games while holding Henderson State quarterback Richard Stammetti (the league’s No. 2 passer) to just 137 yards with two interceptions two weeks ago. The Bisons will lean on its groundbased flexbone offense while leads the GAC and is No. 5 in the country with 304.4 yards per game.
Oklahoma Baptist quarterback Preston Haire is the No. 5 rusher in the GAC with 34 carries for 386 yards and four touchdowns and leads the league in total offense by over 90 yards over Stammetti. He has led the Bisons on a threegame win streak after an 0-2 start, including last week’s 43-31 win over winless Arkansas Tech in Russellville.
HSU at SWOSU
WEATHERFORD, Okla. —
Two of the GAC’s top three quarterback-wide receiver combos meet up as Southwestern Oklahoma State welcomes HSU to ASAP Energy Field at 2 p.m.
The Reddies (4-1) combination of Stammetti (1,337 yards, 9 TDs) and L’liott Curry (38-530 receiving,
6 TDs) rank second in the GAC in passing and receiving yards, respectively, while SWOSU (2-3) QB Tyler Marr (1,078 passing, 10 TDs) and WR Jared Rayburn (18375 receiving, 5 TDs) rank third. The Reddies, who lead the series 8-3, are looking to avenge last year’s 35-31 loss in Arkadelphia, which ended a six-game win streak against the Bulldogs. HSU has not lost in Weatherford since the two joined the GAC.
Last week, the Reddies were led by running back Logan Moragne who found the end zone three times against Northwestern Oklahoma State. Marr was 17-for-37 passing for 246 yards and three touchdowns in SWOSU’s 42-20 loss to Southern Arkansas.
ATU at SNU
BETHANY, Okla. — The only winless team in the GAC has one of its best chances to earn its first victory as Arkansas Tech takes to the road to take on Southern Nazarene at 1 p.m. at SNU Football Stadium.
The Wonder Boys (0-5) have not lost to the Crimson Storm (14) in all six meetings between the teams, taking a 24-10 win last year in Russellville.
The Wonder Boys held a 24-7 lead over Oklahoma Baptist with
45 seconds left in the first half before the Bison put up 36 consecutive points to take a 43-31 win. Arkansas Tech has led at the half twice and were tied in a third contest, but the team has been outscored 101-28 in the second half.
Harding cruised to a 28-0 lead over the Crimson Storm in the first half en route to a 31-3 win. Southern Nazarene’s only points came on a 41-yard field goal to cap a 13-play, 51-yard drive.
SAU at NWOSU
ALVA, Okla. — SAU looks to extend its win streak to a third game as the Muleriders visit NWOSU for a 2 p.m. matchup at Ranger Field.
Leading the series with the Rangers 7-2 (5-1 in the GAC), the Muleriders (4-1) turned in its most balanced performance of the year with a 45-20 win over SWOSU with 223 aerial yards and 232 rushing yards. QB Hayden Mallory was
14-for-17 passing with two scores, and Kor’Davion Washington led the ground game with 18 touches for 88 yards. Washington is the GAC’s second-leading rusher with
107.8 yards per game in four wins. NWOSU (2-3) has won three of its last four home matches against Arkansas schools, including a 28-0 win over UAM two weeks ago. The Rangers trailed 10-7 with 13:35 left in the first half before the Reddies put up 37 unanswered points for a 47-7 win. Quarterback Trent Easley threw four interceptions, including one pick-six.
The Muleriders won 27-14 last year in Magnolia.
UAM at SEOSU
DURANT, Okla. — Winless against SEOSU in the last five contests, UAM enters today’s 2 p.m. contest against the Savage Storm at Paul Laird Field on a winless road streak for the season.
The Weevils (3-2) have been strong at home, averaging 39.6 points in their three home contests, but they have been outscored 52-0 on the road. True freshman quarterback Demilon Brown takes his first road trip with the team after accounting for 413 yards and five touchdowns in his first career start in a 49-46 win over East Central.
The Savage Storm (1-4) are on a three-game losing streak, picking up their only win against Northwestern State on the road in Week 2, but SEOSU leads the series against the Weevils, 6-3. Quarterback Rollin Kinsaul is 80for-140 passing for 854 yards and five touchdowns on the season to sit third in the GAC, and it is fourth in total offense with 392 yards, ninth in scoring offense (21.4 ppg) and last in the league in turnover margin (minus-2.2 per game).