Muleriders trim No. 22 Wonder Boys 28-25

Magnolia, Ark.--True freshman Donald Butler took a reverse the final 13 yards to cap an eight-play, 80-yard drive that gave Southern Arkansas University a 28-25 Homecoming win over Arkansas Tech University with only 1:37 remaining here Saturday. The nip and tuck win by the Muleriders kept the streak intact of the home team never losing to the visitor in the series since SAU and ATU have been members of the Gulf South Conference. SAU is 3-4 overall and 3-3 in conference play while ATU is 5-2 after a 5-0 start and 4-2 in league action.

Tailback Travis Horn scored on a five-yard run with 2:11 left in the first quarter. Tommy Edwards' PAT failed, leaving the score 6-0. Horn's run finished an 80-yard, 15-play drive. The Wonder Boys made it 12-0 with 4:48 left in the half with a one-yard run by redshirt freshman tailback Marcus Godfrey of Junction City. Godfreys' 2-point run for a conversion was snuffed out.

SAU answered when true freshman Rodney Hill of Shreveport (Byrd) scampered for a nine-yard touchdown to end a 65-yard, nine-play march. Saul DeLa Cruz' PAT closed the margin to 12-7 with 2:10 left in the half.

With only 19 ticks left in the half, wide receiver Nik Lewis hauled in an 11-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Ted Williams after a 65-yard, six-play assault. DeLa Cruz toed the conversion to put the 'Riders up for the first time and gave them a 14-12 advantage at the half.

ATU regained the lead in the third period when quarterback Josh Price connected with wide receiver Greg Washington of Nashville for a 75-yard pass play and a touchdown. Price's pass for a 2-point conversion failed, 18-12, Tech, 11:19 left in the stanza.

The 'Riders bounced back with Williams keeping for a 15-yard touchdown to finish a seven-play, 67-yard march and DeLa Cruz split the uprights on the PAT, 21-18, SAU, 1:03 left in the third quarter.

The Wonder Boys got another touchdown from Horn from the two after having to cover only 34 yards in seven plays, getting a crucial penalty on SAU to keep the drive alive. Branson Pyle kicked the extra point to put ATU up 25-21 with 10:26 left in the game.

SAU, after two punt exchanges, took possession on their own 20 with 4:49 remaining and drove for the winning touchdown.

Statistically, the game was not as close as the score. SAU had 24 first downs to 15 for ATU, rushed for a 257-146 advantage, had an unexpected 145-139 advantage in passing, a total offense of 402 yards to 285 and an edge in possession time 30:52 to 29:08.

Williams led SAU's ground assault with 126 net yards rushing on 32 carries and a touchdown. Horn paced ATU with 107 net yards on 20 totes and two touchdowns. Williams had perhaps his best game as a 'Rider through the air, completing 10 of 19 passes for 145 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions. Price completed nine of 24 pass attempts for 139 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Lewis caught six passes for 88 yards and a touchdown for SAU and Washington caught three for 88 yards and a score for ATU. Defensively, free safety Brian Davis had 13 tackles and an interception for the 'Riders and linebacker Eddie Key had 12 tackles, a sack and two tackles for losses. Linebacker Scott Pryor led the Wonder Boys with 11 stops, one for a two-yard loss.

SAU's 1951 Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference football team was honored at halftime before a Homecoming audience of 6,015 on a bright, sunny afternoon perfect for football.