SAU Shatters Conference and School Records at HSU

Southern Arkansas shattered ten Gulf South Conference records and erased nine school records in route to an 86-27 rout of Henderson State University Saturday at Arkadelphia. The Muleriders finished the season 5-5 overall and 4-5 in the GSC while the Reddies slumped to 1-10 for the season and 0-9 in conference play.

The 86 points by SAU was a new GSC record, breaking the old record of 80 set by Arkansas-Monticello in an 80-0 romp past Panhandle State earlier this season. SAU rushed for 637 net yards, breaking the old record of 566 yards by Jacksonville State vs. West Chester (Pa.) in 1988. SAU scored 12 touchdowns (11 by rushing) both new conference records, breaking the old record of eight shared by North Alabama vs. Delta State in 1993 and Jacksonville vs. West Chester in 1989. The ‘Riders also averaged 9.8 yards per rushing carry that bettered the old average of 9.3 by North Alabama vs. West Georgia in 1993. A new PAT record for a game, 11, broke the old record of nine held by other schools.

Senior halfback Kevin Wilcott scored six touchdowns, a loop record that beat the old record of five by Arkansas Tech’s Eddie King vs. Ouachita Baptist in 1996 and Matt Carman of West Alabama vs. Delta State in 1993. His 36 points were the most ever, bettering 30 by King vs. OBU. Senior kicker Jason Williams converted 11 PAT’s, erasing the old record of nine held by several players. His 12 attempts wiped out the previous record of 10 by Jeremy Coates of West Georgia vs. Tusculum in 1996. Ironically, his missed extra point kick was only the second of his three-year kicking career (he has drilled 106 out of 108 and his other miss was from the 35 following a penalty after a touchdown).

New SAU records vs. HSU were most yards rushing in a game (637), most total yards in a game ( 702), most touchdowns in a game (12), a 23.1 rushing average by freshman Rodney Evans on seven carries for 162 yards, most touchdowns and rushing touchdowns (6 by Wilcott), most points in a game (36) by Wilcott, most extra points in a game (11 by Williams) and consecutive extra points in a game (9 by Williams).

For the season, SAU had a record most rushing attempts (82) vs. Arkansas-Monticello, most total plays in a game vs. Arkansas-Monticello (90), and two more team records that tied earlier records, most touchdowns that tied the 1990 record of 42, and most punt returns in a season, 2, that tied the 1969 and 1996 record. Evans also set a new rushing average for the season with 10.9 yards per carry, breaking the record set last year by Jerry Bowman, who had a 7.1 average. Tim Barrington set a new total offensive record for a season and a career with 1,774 yards in 2000 and 3,974 yards for a career. The old record for a season was 1,770 yards by Cory Scarborough in 1993 and the career record was 3,893 by John Launius from 1988 through 1991. Williams also broke his own records for a season and career in PAT’s, in a career (106, the previous record was 66), most PAT’s in a season (40, the previous record was 36), his 11 PAT’s in a game bettered the old record of 7 he shared with Greg Reap, 40 field goals in a career and 226 points by kicking in a career. His 16 points in a game against both Valdosta State and North Alabama, both in 1998, remains secure.

The defense added a record for interception return yards for a season with 139 by Eric Woods and the specialty teams had a record 91-yard punt return for a touchdown by Jason Bennett vs. Central Arkansas. The SAU rushing yardage record set in the season opener at Southeastern Oklahoma was blown away at Henderson State.