University of Central
Arkansas vs. Southern Arkansas University
When: October 12,
2002//Where: Magnolia, Arkansas @Wilkins Stadium//Time: 6 p.m.
The
Series (UCA, 35-22-5)
Saturday’s game between Southern Arkansas University and the University of Central Arkansas will be the 63rd meeting between the Muleriders and Bears. SAU records reveal the first meeting between the Muleriders and Bears was in 1926. However, UCA claims three more wins in the series and it could have been in 1921, ’22 and ’23 when SAU either did not keep records or they were lost. UCA had SAU with only 21 wins in the series until another win by the ‘Riders was recently discovered. SAU records have UCA with a 32-22-5 advantage. The advantage in favor of the Bears was a result of not losing to the ‘Riders in 14 games between 1978 and 1995. The best SAU mustered in that span were ties in 1979 and ’82. SAU’s best streak was five consecutive wins between 1971 and ’74. UCA will be after their third win in a row Saturday over the ‘Riders. SAU’s last two wins in the series were a 52-31 romp in Magnolia in 1998 and a 29-20 decision in Conway in ’99. UCA won the last two by 45-31 in 2000 in Magnolia and 49-25 in ’01 in Conway.
The
Coaches
This will be the 16th game for Steve Quinn as the second-year head coach of the ‘Riders. He is 8-7-0 heading into the UCA game.
Clint Conque, UCA’s third-year head coach, came into the season with a 12-11-0 record in his first two-years with the Bears. Unbeaten this year with a perfect 5-0-0 record and his Bears nationally ranked in the top 10, Conque now is 17-11-0.
2002
Results
SAU (3-2-0, 2-1-0) UCA
(5-0-0, 3-0-0)
@ Midwestern State 26-35 @ Abilene Christian 31-17
@ Texas A&M-Commerce 27-24 Langston (Okla.) 47-0
West Georgia 42-21 @ Henderson State 68-21
@ Valdosta State 28-31 Ouachita Baptist 30-14
@ North Alabama 43-33 @ Arkansas-Monticello 42-21
GSC
Last Week
Delta State 27-West Georgia 21; #2 Valdosta State 51-Ouachita Baptist 10; Henderson State 18-Arkansas Tech 12; #24 Harding University 38-West Alabama 10; #7 Central Arkansas 42-Arkansas-Monticello 21; Southern Arkansas 43-North Alabama 33. (#-American Football Coaches Association Rankings)
GSC This Week
Arkansas-Monticello @ Valdosta
State (HC), 12 noon; Harding University @ West Georgia (HC) 1:30 p.m.; Delta
State @ Arkansas Tech (HC), 2 p.m.; Henderson State @ West Alabama (HC), 2
p.m.; North Alabama @ Ouachita Baptist, 2 p.m.; Central Arkansas @ Southern
Arkansas, 6 p.m.
GSC Standings
Conference Overall
Central Arkansas 3-0 5-0
Harding University 3-0 5-0
Valdosta State 3-0 5-0
Southern
Arkansas 2-1 3-2
Arkansas-Monticello 2-1 2-2
West Alabama 1-2 3-2
West Georgia 1-2 3-2
Ouachita Baptist 1-2 1-3
Delta State 1-2 1-4
Henderson
State 1-2 1-4
Arkansas Tech 0-3 1-4
North Alabama 0-3 1-4
The Dopke D-2 poll has Central Arkansas second, Valdosta State fifth, Harding 24th and Southern Arkansas 26th. Don Hansen’s Football Gazette has Valdosta third, Central Arkansas 10th, Harding 21st and Southern Arkansas 23rd. D-2 Football.com poll has Valdosta third, Central Arkansas fifth and Southern Arkansas unranked. Last week’s American Football Coaches Association poll had Valdosta second, Central Arkansas seventh, Harding 24th and Southern Arkansas unranked.
Media
Coverage
“I am very happy to get a conference win on the road (last week at North Alabama). Being able to recover from the previous week’s long trip (to Valdosta State) and get on the bus again for a long trip and a win speaks well for this team. We played hard against a football team that is better than their record indicates. Our overall focus was not as good as it should have been and it showed in the mistakes we made. We had opportunities to put the game away and didn’t take advantage of them. Against a well-coached football team like North Alabama, it can come back to bite you if you are not careful.”
“(Quarterback) Ted Williams continued to produce both rushing and passing. (Wide receiver) Nik Lewis made big plays for us and our young offensive line played consistently. Our running backs played very solidly. I was very pleased we were able to create some turnovers defensively that led to some early scores. The kicking game was solid in most phases, but extra points continue to elude us and we need them in big games.”
“This is a big week in the fact this is another conference game and against a very good football team. They (Central Arkansas) have an explosive offense but can still patiently execute to drive the ball. They have a good scheme and are very well-coached. The biggest aspect of their offense is the fact they make very few mistakes. Sacks and turnovers are something they do not give up. They force you to stop them. Defensively, they have good speed to the football and play hard. They are also sound in what they do. We must play hard, mistake-free football.”
Team
Leaders
SAU: Last week against North Alabama, QB Ted Williams rushed for 88 net yards on 17 carries and two touchdowns and passed for 99 yards on six of eight completions and a touchdown with no interceptions. RB’s Rodney Hill rushed eight times for 79 yards and Torrence Jones rushed 10 times for 65 yards and a touchdown. WR Nik Lewis caught four passes for 110 yards and two touchdowns. Tony Grecco punted only once and it went for 49 yards. For the season, Williams has rushed or 216 net yards on 50 carries and a touchdown, Jones has 197 yards on 32 carries and six touchdowns and Hill 155 yards on 29 totes and a touchdown. Williams has completed 39 of 89 attempts passing for 672 yards and six touchdowns. Lewis has hauled in 26 receptions for 446 yards and five touchdowns. Grecco has a 39-yard punting average and S Brian Davis has 25 tackles, 19 solos.
UCA: Last week against Arkansas-Monticello, TB Shaun Mitchell rushed nine times for 76 yards and a touchdown. QB Zak Clark completed 28 of 48 pass attempts for 361 yards and three touchdowns with one interception. WR Jelani Lewis caught eight passes for 137 yards and a touchdown. LB Ranny Davis had nine tackles, six solos. John Newberry punted four times for a 44-yard average. For the season, Mitchell has rushed 42 times for 362 yards and three touchdowns. Clark has passed for 1,619 yards by completing 123 of 199 passes for 14 touchdowns with six interceptions. Lewis has caught 26 passes for 326 yards and two touchdowns and Newberry has a 42.8 punting average. Davis has 35 tackles to lead the defense.
Southern Arkansas University University of Central Arkansas
Magnolia, Arkansas Location Conway, Arkansas
Gulf South Conference Gulf South
NCAA Division II Affiliation NCAA
Division II
Dr. David Rankin President Lu Hardin
Jay Adcox Athletics Director Dr. William Lide
Steve Quinn Head Coach Clint Conque
Houston Taylor Sports Information Director Steve East
Muleriders Nickname Bears
Royal Blue & Old Gold Colors Purple & Gray
3,100 Enrollment 9,000
1909 (SAU in 1976) Founded 1908
Wilkins (6,000) Stadium Estes (8,500)
(870) 235-4117 Pressbox
Phone (501) 450-5743