October 27, 2002

SAU Establishes New Records Saturday At Ouachita

Lost in the excitement of a 50-47 four-overtime win over Ouachita Baptist University Saturday in Arkadelphia were new Southern Arkansas University school records established by quarterback Damian Melancon and wide receiver Nik Lewis.

Melancon, a red-shirt freshman from Hester, La., passed for four touchdowns against OBU, breaking the old school record of three shared by six previous Mulerider quarterbacks. Stanley May threw for three touchdowns against Henderson State in 1966, Russ Bechtelheimer had three against Mississippi College in 1973 and three against Southeastern Oklahoma in 1975, Jerry Copeland had three against Southeastern Oklahoma and three against Cameron University in 1984, Cody Vanderford had three against Henderson State in 1984, Cory Scarborough had three against East Central University in 1993 and Scott Fusselman had three against Arkansas-Monticello in 1994.

Melancon also set a new total offense record for a single game with 399 yards in the OBU game. He rushed 23 times for 109 yards and completed 16 of 22 pass attempts for 290 yards. The old total offense record was 335 yards set by quarterback John Launius against Arkansas Tech in 1989.

Lewis, a junior from Jacksboro, Tex., set two records and tied another. With eight catches for 172 yards against OBU, he now has 864 receiving yards this year that erased the old record of 838 yards in a season by Val Morris in 1993.

Lewis’ three touchdown receptions at Ouachita tied a school record for touchdown catches in a game set in 1973 by Larry Reeder against Mississippi College, and helped Lewis eclipse the touchdown receptions in a season record with ten, breaking

the old record of eight set by Kenneth Brown in 1984.

The ‘Riders turn their attention this week to Arkansas-Monticello in hopes of a possible post-season playoff berth. SAU must continue to win down the stretch and be focused to avoid an upset when the Boll Weevils come to Magnolia Saturday afternoon.