Mulerider Drop To 1-3 In Series With West Georgia

Unbeaten State University of West Georgia scored 10 points in the fourth quarter to snap a 28-28 tie with Southern Arkansas University to defeat the Muleriders 38-28 in Carrollton, Ga., Saturday night. The Braves improved to 6-0 overall and 4-0 in the Gulf South Conference while the 'Riders dropped to 3-2 for the year and 2-2 in GSC play.

West Georgia tailback Nick Price carried 23 times for 235 yards to set a new school single-game rushing record. The old record was 233 yards set against Delta State in 1993 by Felix Addo. The 'Rider defense gave up the most points since 1996 against the Braves and Carrollton remains the only site in the conference where SAU has not tasted victory, falling in the series to a 3-1 deficit.

The Braves came back from a 21-7 second quarter deficit to knot the halftime score at 21-21 after taking a 7-0 lead in their first series.

Tight end Frankey Iverson took a 12- yard pass from quarterback Jeremy Clements and Wes Wilson converted the Braves to a 7-0 lead with the game only 3:32 old. SAU bounced back for a tie with halfback Forrest Curry scoring from the four and Jason Williams adding the PAT to make it 7-7 with a minute and 40 seconds in the first quarter. Quarterback Tim Barrington put the 'Riders ahead on an 11-yard keeper and Williams added the point after, 14-7, 10:46 left in the half. Curry's nine-yard jaunt and Williams' kick put the 'Riders up 21-7, 20 seconds later, following a West Georgia fumble. The Braves fought back with Price scoring from the six and 278-pound fullback Chris Elam crashed over from the two on a pass from Clements with Wilson splitting the uprights each time for a 21-21 tie with 34 seconds left in the half.

Elam put West Georgia back out in front with a seven-yard run in the third period with Wilson making it 28-21 but Barrington raced 30-yards and Williams drilled the extra point, 7:05 in the third period, 28-28.

Wilson's 28-yard field goal put West Georgia ahead for good with 10:52 remaining and Elam's five-yard run clinched it with only 3:35 to play.