Southern Arkansas University vs. Ouachita Baptist University

When: Oct. 26, 2002//Where: Arkadelphia, Arkansas @ A.U. Williams Field// Time: 2:00 p.m.

 

                                                                The Series (Tied 28-28-2)

            Saturday’s game between Southern Arkansas University and Ouachita Baptist University will be the 58th meeting between the Muleriders and Tigers. When the ‘Riders first played the Tigers in 1914, OBU shellacked SAU, then a district high school, 81-0. SAU did not play OBU again until 1924 and as a junior college at the time, was more competitive and lost only 6-0 to the Tigers.

 In 1925, SAU claimed their first win in the series by a 9-6 margin. The only two deadlocks in the series were in the 1920’s. After holding their own as a junior college, SAU became a senior college in 1950. The series was interrupted in 1934 and was not resumed until after World War II when OBU blanked the ‘Riders 27-0. In 1951, SAU shut out the Tigers 41-0. Lopsided wins have not been common in the series, however, with most going down to the wire.

            From 1959, SAU and OBU met every year as Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference rivals until 1997 when SAU, in their third year in the Gulf South Conference, won the league championship. In 2000, OBU moved from the Lone Star Conference to the GSC and the rivalry was resumed with SAU throwing a 10-0 shutout at the Tigers. OBU’s last win in the series was 19-14 in 1994.

            Throughout the years, neither side has been able to win more than four consecutive games with one exception, a five-game streak by OBU from 1988 through 1992 by scores of 15-10, 24-21, 39-35, 37-27 and 21-20, indicating how competitive the series has been.

            The ‘Riders and Tigers have played only twice as GSC rivals in 1999 and 2000 with SAU winning both, 10-0 in 2000 and 10-3 last year. In 1995 and ’96 with SAU in the GSC and OBU in the LSC, the ‘Riders won 21-20 and 30-14, respectively, to give SAU the last four wins. OBU’s last win was in the final year of the AIC, 1994, 19-14.

 

                                                            The Coaches 

            SAU’s second-year head coach Steve Quinn (OBU, 1986) is 10-7-0 in his first 17 games. His 2002 ‘Riders have already matched last year’s win total at five. OBU’s Todd Knight (OBU, 1986) is 11-25-0 in his fourth year as head coach at his alma mater. His overall record as a head coach is 39-57-2 in his 10th season. He was head coach at Delta State before returning to OBU. Quinn and Knight were teammates at OBU, along with former SAU head coach Steve Roberts, playing for the legendary Buddy Benson.

 

2002 Results

SAU (5-2-0; 4-1-0)                                                      OBU (3-3-0; 3-2-0)

@ Midwestern State                26-35                           @ Southeastern Oklahoma            17-20

@ Texas A&M-Commerce            27-24                           Arkansas Tech                                    35-3

West Georgia                           42-21                           @ Central Arkansas                      14-30

@ Valdosta State                28-31                           Valdosta State                          10-51

@ North Alabama                       43-33                           North Alabama                       38-24   Central Arkansas                      38-21                           @ Arkansas-Monticello            23-21

Delta State                               30-10

 

 

                                                            GSC Last Week

            Valdosta State 35-Central Arkansas 11; West Alabama 35-West Georgia 32; North Alabama 49-Arkansas Tech 14; Ouachita Baptist 23-Arkansas-Monticello 21; Henderson State 29-Harding University 8; Southern Arkansas 30-Delta State 10.            

                                                               

                                                                                GSC This Week

                West Alabama @ Valdosta State, 12 noon; Arkansas-Monticello @ Harding University (HC), 2 p.m.; West Georgia @ Arkansas Tech, 2 p.m.; Henderson State @ Delta State (HC), 3 p.m.; North Alabama @ Central Arkansas (HC), 3 p.m.; Southern Arkansas @ Ouachita Baptist, 2 p.m.

 

                                                            GSC Standings

                                                                                Conference          Overall

            Valdosta State                 5-0-0                        7-0-0  

            Harding University            4-1-0               6-1-0

            Southern Arkansas           4-1-0               5-2-0

            Central Arkansas             3-2-0               5-2-0

            Ouachita Baptist     3-2-0                        3-3-0

            Henderson State       3-2-0                        3-4-0

            West Alabama                 2-3-0                        4-3-0

            Arkansas-Monticello           2-3-0               2-4-0

            West Georgia                  1-4-0                        3-4-0

            Arkansas Tech                1-4-0                        2-5-0

            North Alabama    1-4-0               2-5-0  

            Delta State                      1-4-0                        1-6-0

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                                       National Rankings

            Don Hansen’s Football Gazette ranks Valdosta State second, Southern Arkansas 15th and Harding University 24th. Dopke  D-2 has Valdosta ranked second, Harding 12th  and Southern Arkansas 17th. D-2 Football.com has Valdosta ranked second and Central Arkansas 21st, the only GSC members ranked in the top 25. The American Football Coaches Association poll has not been released.

 

          Media Coverage

KVMA 107.9 FM in Magnolia with Dan Gregory in his 21st year with SAU athletics on play-by-play, Jay Adcox as color commentator and Lane Jean on the sideline; KDEL 100.9 FM in Arkadelphia with Rex Nelson in his 21st year as voice of the Tigers, Jeff Root as color commentator and Jon Hardin on the sideline.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                              Team Leaders

SAU: In seven games, RB Torrence Jones has rushed for 437 yards on 67 carries for nine touchdowns and a 6.5 average per carry. RB Rodney Hill has 370 yards on 60 totes for four touchdowns and a 6.2 average. QB Ted Williams has 357 yards on 93 carries for four touchdowns and a 3.8 average. Williams has completed 59 passes in 122 attempts for 1,012 yards and eight touchdowns with three interceptions. WR Nik Lewis has 39 catches for 694 yards and seven touchdowns. Lewis has 10 punt returns for 166 yards, a 16.6 average and Hill has 13 kickoff returns for 277 yards, a 21.3 average, and Butler has nine for 284 yards, a 31.6 average. SS Brian Davis has 62 tackles, one for a loss, a team-high four interceptions, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble. LB Keenan Washington has 53 tackles in six games due to an injury, has five for 16 yards in losses, has two sacks, one interception, one pass breakup, one QB hurry and three forced fumbles. CB Charles Rollins has 46 tackles, two for losses, one sack, five pass breakups and one forced fumble.

OBU: In six games, TB Montoya Brown has rushed for 577 yards, a 4.6 average per carry and five touchdowns. QB Tyson Washburn has completed 63 of 116 passes for 826 yards, six touchdowns and seven interceptions. WR Jett Furneaux has caught 24 passes for 340 yards and a touchdown and returned 18 punts for 108 yards, a six-yard average. RB Tommy Potts has returned nine kickoffs for 156 yards, a 17.3 average. DE Aaron Aultman has returned two fumbles for 59 yards. CB Jason Lee has 45 tackles, one pass breakup, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble. SS Arthur Spear has 41 tackles, four and a half for losses, has one sack, one pass breakup, two QB hurries, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble.

 

                                        Coach Quinn

“It is always good to win, but winning a conference game (over Delta State) that keeps us in a position to meet our goals is even bigger. In addition, it was a homecoming game celebrating the anniversaries of the 1952 and 1972 conference championship teams. This made the win special for this football program and the university.”

“I was concerned we would be a little flat emotionally after the big win (over Central Arkansas) last week and felt we were (flat) to some degree. We played hard and made plays, but did not play with as much excitement.”

“However, in order to be a good football team, you have to be able to win in these situations. Defensively, we kept them out of the end zone early and held them to 10 points, which was the kind of effort we needed. Our defensive front played well even though we were the smaller team playing on a muddy surface. We ran to the ball and were able to pick up a couple of interceptions. It was a great team effort on the defensive side of the football.”

 “Offensively, we were able to create the big play in both the running and passing games. (QB) Damian Melancon stepped in at quarterback and executed well. We only had one turnover, which is a positive after averaging three a game. Our offensive line played well in the mud against the biggest defensive line we have faced this season. We were able to make some breaks in the kicking game that helped get us going offensively.”

“This week will be a big challenge for our team as we get back on the road after two home games. Ouachita is a good football team that has improved every week of the season. They are moving the ball offensively, using a balanced attack. They can throw the ball well and have a great running game. Defensively, they are very sound and traditionally do a great job in defending us. We have scored 20 points the last two seasons combined. They will be well-coached and prepared for us. Their teams have always played hard and make very few mistakes. We must eliminate mistakes and play with some emotion on the road.”

 

 

 

                                                Quick Facts

Southern Arkansas University                                                         Ouachita Baptist University

Magnolia, Arkansas                                  Location                                  Arkadelphia, Arkansas

Gulf South                                             Conference                   Gulf South

NCAA Division II                                  Affiliation                     NCAA Division II

Dr. David Rankin                          President                     Dr. Andrew Westmoreland

Jay Adcox                                         Athletics Director                        David Sharp

Steve Quinn                                              Head Coach               Todd Knight

Houston Taylor                                 Sports Information                   Chris Babb

Muleriders                                            Nickname                    Tigers

Royal Blue & Old Gold                                   Colors                           Purple & Gold

3,100                                                    Enrollment                    1, 600

1909 (SAU in 1976)                            Founded                      1886

Wilkins (6,000)                                      Stadium                        A.U. Williams Field (5,600)

(870) 235-4117                                    Pressbox Phone                        (870) 245-5306

 

                                                                                Of Interest

            This will be a match-up between former Ouachita Baptist teammates, Steve Quinn and Todd Knight, when the ‘Riders square off against the Tigers. Both are 1986 graduates of OBU. Friends off the playing field, both are also best friends of Steve Roberts, now at Arkansas State, who coached at SAU from 1994 until 2000 and also played with both at OBU.