Austin Wilkerson’s winning field goal triggers SAU’s celebration.
The ball floated in the hot, muggy Magnolia air for no more than 4 or 5 seconds Saturday night.
It felt like an eternity to Southern Arkansas University sophomore kicker Austin Wilkerson.
“It was definitely the longest few seconds of my life,” Wilkerson said, recalling how his
48-yard, game-winning field-goal attempt floated toward the north end zone at Wilkins Stadium. “It was in the air for a long time.”
Wilkerson, watching intently with his hands on his knees, said he never saw the referees hoist their arms into the air.
Muleriders holder Jared Lancaster grabbed Wilkerson around the waist and lifted him into the air to celebrate SAU’s 30-28 victory over Oklahoma Baptist.
“I assumed it was through,” said Wilkerson, somehow escaping an ensuing victory dog pile. “I was looking at them, giggling.”
SAU Coach Bill Keopple, too old for dog piles, watched on the sidelines.
“I was relieved,” Keopple said. “From my standpoint, I was like, ‘Wow, I’ve had it done to me. I’m due. I’m due.’ ”
Keopple’s relief was magnified since SAU blew a 27-14 lead in the final 7:05 and found itself trailing 2827 with 1:34 to play.
But the Muleriders, with all three timeouts remaining, drove across midfield, and Keopple said he told Wilkerson to get ready to win the game.
Wilkerson never got a chance — at that moment — as quarterback Hayden Mallory was intercepted by Oklahoma Baptist’s Myles Russell, giving the Bison the ball at its 30 with the lead with 51 seconds left.
“To be honest, I didn’t give up completely,” Wilkerson said. “But the stress had gone away.”
Wilkerson said his stress level returned when SAU got the ball back at its 13 with 31 seconds to play, and increased when Mallory hit Sir Charles Perkins out of the backfield for a 6-yard gain with four seconds left at the Bison 31.
“I could hardly breathe,” he said.
Bison Coach Chris Jensen took a timeout, presumably to ice Wilkerson.
“That really helped me,” Wilkerson said, explaining that he stood off to the side as his teammates huddled. “I just thought to myself, ‘This is what I do in practice. This is what I do.’ ”
Wilkerson said he has watched video of the kick on ncaa.com about 30 times, a play that has been recognized No. 1 among Division II highlights in Week 2.
“That’s the moment we fantasize about,” said Wilkerson, the Great American Conference Special Teams Player of the Week. “The celebration really lasted a few days.”