Southern Arkansas Stuns No. 18 Arkansas-Monticello

Magnolia, AR—Underdog Southern Arkansas University stunned high-flying University of Arkansas-Monticello here Saturday 31-21 to climax Homecoming before 5,790 fans. UAM came into the game with an impressive 7-1 record and 5-1 in the Gulf South Conference while SAU’s injury-depleted squad had dropped three in a row to slump to 3-4 and 2-4 in the GSC. The 18^th-ranked Boll Weevils were dominated even more than the score indicates as they fell to 7-2 and 5-2 while the Muleriders pulled even at 4-4 and 3-4 in conference play.

Kevin Craft’s 34-yard field goal put UAM up 3-0 on their first possession that covered 61 yards and consumed 11 plays with 10:53 left in the first quarter. Halfback Forrest Curry’s 14-yard scamper for a touchdown capped a 75-yard, 11-play march and Jason Williams’ PAT gave the ‘Riders the lead for good with 2:39 remaining in the quarter.

SAU put up two more scores in the second period when fullback Scott Schroeder crashed over the goal line from the four to finish a 42-yard, 11-play drive and halfback Kevin Wilcott’s one-yard run to end an 80-yard, 12-play drive, along with two PAT kicks by Williams, put SAU ahead 21-3 at half. Schroeder’s score came with 7:26 left in the period and Wilcott’s run beat the halftime clock with 13 seconds remaining.

Mental miscues by SAU in the third period aided UAM in getting back in the game with two fumbles, one of them forced, and two major penalties that were instrumental in keeping Weevil drives alive as UAM pulled to within 21-14. Craft booted a 37-yard field goal after UAM could only manage one yard in three attempts after one ‘Rider fumble. The next came on a 10-yard pass from quarterback Kevin McCarn to wide receiver Greg Lawson and a run for a two-point conversion was successful after a roughing-the-passer penalty on SAU after McCarn had thrown incomplete on the 2-point attempt. UAM had gained possession on the SAU 26 after linebacker Danielle Rollins picked off a bullet by SAU quarterback Tim Barrington on the ‘Rider 26.

The ‘Rider offense then cranked up a 57-yard, 10-play drive with Curry scoring from the five and Williams converting, 28-14, 6:57 left in the game. UAM roared back to close out a 10-play, 80-yard march with wide receiver Derrick Armstrong hauling in a five-yard pass from McCarn for the score. Craft’s PAT closed it to 28-21, 5:22 remaining. Williams split the uprights with a 34-yard field goal with only 18 ticks left for the clincher.

The ‘Riders chewed up 362 yards on the ground and added 49 more passing for 411 yards total offense while the high-octane UAM offense could manage only 88 yards rushing and 189 yards passing for a total offense of 262 yards. SAU piled up 31 first downs to 15 for UAM and had 38:36 possession time to only 21:24 for UAM.

SAU suffered four turnovers, fumbling five times and losing three, in addition to an interception. UAM fumbled twice, losing both, and an interception. Several times the unheralded SAU defense stepped it up when called upon to defend against the high scoring Weevil offense deep in ‘Rider territory and they finished with their best effort of the season. Penalties were also a benefit in keeping UAM in the game as SAU was flagged 11 times for 152 yards, exactly 100 more than UAM’s seven for 52.

Schroeder rambled for 98 yards on 23 carries, Barrington finished with 89 before limping out with an injury early in the fourth quarter. Wilcott added 59 on 13 totes and Curry had 50 on 15. McCarn scrambled for 35 yards to pace UAM. McCarn was 20 of 35 for 150 yards and two touchdowns while SAU attempted only nine with Barrington completing two. Armstrong caught nine passes for 92 yards. Freshman Rodney Evans returned a kickoff 55 yards to put SAU in excellent field position and Mike Beck returned two for four.

Rollins had 21 tackles for UAM, 10 unassisted, one for a loss and an interception returned for six yards to set up a score. Linebacker Jamarcus Owens finished with 16 and safety Shaun Manning had 10. Linebacker Marcoles Board had eight tackles for SAU, four of them solos with one for a five-yard loss and a pass broken up. The SAU defense was so successful in stopping UAM on three down and out and SAU’s offense hogged the ball in possession time, there were not many chances for SAU to get a lot of tackles.

SAU meets Central Arkansas here Saturday at 2:00 p.m. in their final home game of the season.