Late field goal lifts Muleriders past Tigers

2019-10-28 -

ADA, Okla. — Austin Wilkerson’s 35-yard field goal with

5:24 left in the fourth quarter proved to be the game-winner in Southern Arkansas University’s 24-23 victory over East Central at Koi Ishto Stadium in Ada, Okla.

After Wilkerson’s field goal, the Muleriders (7-1) held the Tigers (1-7) to one first down on their ensuing drive before forcing a punt. SAU took over with 3:16 left, using eight plays to run out the remainder of the clock.

The Muleriders trailed by as many as 13 points, 20-7, with

7:50 left in the third quarter. Kor’Davion Washington’s 12yard touchdown run got SAU to within 20-14 before East Central’s Harper Simmons kicked a 20-yard field goal to start the fourth quarter.

Hayden Mallory’s 67-yard touchdown pass to Micah Small one play after Simmons’ field goal pulled the Muleriders to within 23-21 with 13:20 left in the fourth quarter before Wilkerson’s kick ended the scoring.

Washington’s 140 yards on 27 carries led all rushers, while Small’s 97 yards on three catches led all receivers.

Mallory finished 13-of-21 passing for 202 yards, as the Muleriders won their fifth consecutive game. It also was SAU’s fifth victory in a row over East Central.

Ark. Tech 36, SWOSU 35

WEATHERFORD, Okla. — Arkansas Tech (2-6) held Southwestern Oklahoma State (2-6) on downs with 31 seconds remaining to secure the victory at ASAP Energy Field in Weatherford, Okla.

The Wonder Boys, winners of two games in a row under first-year coach Kyle Shipp, trailed 35-26 entering the fourth quarter. They got a

10-yard touchdown run from Carter Burcham with 14:56 remaining to make it 35-32, before Jesus Zizumbo made a 28yard field goal at the 7:03 mark for the game’s final points.

After both teams traded punts, the Bulldogs took over at their own 8 with 1:46 remaining. They went 52 yards in 10 plays with the drive ending when Tyler Marr’s fourthand-2 pass to Justin Bailey fell incomplete at the Arkansas Tech 40.

Burcham led the Wonder Boys offensively, completing

13 of 25 passes for 191 yards with one touchdown and an interception.

The Wonder Boys had 439 yards of total offense to 388 for the Bulldogs.

Leading 20-13 at halftime, Harding got a 6-yard touchdown run by Preston Paden with nine minutes left in the third quarter to take a 27-13 advantage.

Grant Ennis closed the quarter with a 37-yard field goal as the Bisons led 30-13.

Tristan Tucker (29 yards) and Robert Wilcke (7 yards) had touchdown runs in the fourth before Ennis nailed a

32-yard field goal with 1:31 remaining to cap the scoring.

The Bisons piled up 413 rushing yards to 101 for the Rangers. They also led in first downs (30-11), total yards

(469-308) and time of possession (40:09-19:51).

Harding’s Cole Chancey led the way with 206 rushing yards on 30 attempts. He had a 1-yard touchdown run in the first quarter to give the Bisons a 13-3 advantage, and he added a 45-yard score late in the second quarter as they pushed the lead to 20-3.

Harding 47, NWOSU 13

ALVA, Okla. — Harding University (7-1) scored all 27 of the game’s second-half points on its way to an easy victory over Northwestern Oklahoma State (2-6) at Ranger Field in Alva, Okla.

The victory was the seventh in a row for the Bisons, who lost 16-14 in the season opener at Ouachita Baptist.