Oct. 12, 2002

‘Riders Shock Previously Unbeaten Bears 38-21

Magnolia, Ark.-Southern Arkansas University stunned the previously unbeaten University of Central Arkansas Bears here Saturday night 38-21 before a near sellout crowd. UCA came in as the heavy favorite, ranked anywhere from second to 10^th in NCAA Division II polls, only to be dominated on both sides of the ball by the Muleriders. SAU improved to 4-2 overall and to 3-1 in the Gulf South Conference title chase while UCA dropped to 5-1 for the season and to 3-1 in the GSC.

The Bears came into the game ranked first in the nation in Division II in passing with 355 yards a game, sixth in total offense and seventh in scoring offense behind the passing of former Arkansas quarterback, Zac Clark, who was second in the country in passing with 325 yards a contest.

The ‘Rider defense limited UCA to 243 yards passing and the SAU offense, the 11^th rushing offense in the nation, finished with 415 total yards, 245 on the ground, to 335 total yards for UCA, which had only 92 rushing yards. Clark was 30 of 57 for 240 yards and one touchdown but had two passes intercepted.

UCA took the opening kickoff down the field but was forced to kick a field goal, which was wide left. ‘Rider quarterback Ted Williams fumbled on the first play from scrimmage to give the Bears new life on the SAU 13. Running back Shawn Mitchell scored from the one and Justin Smith kicked the Bears ahead 7-0 with 10:13 still left in the first quarter.

SAU then capitalized on a Bear turnover at the UCA 20 and running back Torrance Jones scored from the four. Thomas LaToof ‘s PAT tied it 7-7 with 5:24 left in the period. The ‘Riders then took the lead for good when Williams found backup tight end Laron Sylvester all alone for a 47-yard touchdown strike. LaToof’s kick made it 14-7 with 2:04 still left in the opening quarter. This drive covered 65 yards in three plays.

The underdog ‘Riders scored two more times in the second period. Williams kept for the final yard of a seven play 32-yard drive and LaToof converted, 21-7, 8:18 left in the half. With 4:43 remaining in the half, LaToof booted a 40-yard field goal to put SAU in command 24-7.

After a scoreless third stanza, both the ‘Riders and the Bears scored twice in the fourth quarter. SAU running back Rodney Hill scored from the four to finish a six-play, 31-yard march and LaToof toed it to 31-7, 10:47 remaining. UCA wide receiver Steven Nolan hauled in an 18-yard pass from Clark with an even nine minutes to go and running back Altrikii Brown added a two-point conversion run, 31-15. This was a four-play, 34-yard drive after a ‘Rider fumble.

SAU backup quarterback Damian Melancon wrapped up the ‘Rider scoring with a three-yard keeper that finished off a nine-play, 43-yard march. LaToof split the uprights and it was 38-15. UCA scored the final touchdown on a 10-yard scramble by backup quarterback Henry Young with 3:08 left. Mitchell’s two-point run attempt failed. This was a seven-play, 80-yard march.

In team statistics, SAU had a 22-20 first down advantage, rushed for 245 yards to only 92 for UCA, passed for 170 yards on 11 completions of 21 attempts with two intercepted while UCA had 243 yards in the air by completing 31 of 60 with two picked off, SAU fumbled five times and lost two while UCA fumbled four times and lost one, both suffered penalties that called back several long gains, SAU nine times for 88 yards and UCA seven for 97, SAU punted for a 32.2 average and UCA 44.4 and SAU had possession for 35.39 to 24.21 for UCA.

Individually, Hill rushed 11 times for 64 yards and a touchdown for SAU and Jones 13 times for 61 yards and a touchdown. UCA was led by Mitchell with 40 yards on nine carries and a touchdown. Williams completed 10 of 19 passes for 148 yards and a touchdown but had two intercepted. Clark was 30 of 57 for 240 yards and a touchdown but had two picked off.

Wide receiver Nik Lewis caught four passes for 43 yards for SAU while wide receiver Draylon Galloway had eight receptions for 57 yards for UCA. Lewis returned three punts for 56 yards for SAU and Brown hauled back five kickoffs for 134 yards for UCA.

Defensive back Charles Rollins had seven solo tackles and an assist for SAU, a fumble forced and a pass broken up. Linebacker Keenan Washington also had eight tackles, six solos and two assists and forced two fumbles. Linebackers Michael Alexander had 10 tackles for UCA, seven solos, and Ranney Davis had nine, five solos and a sack from a minus eight.

SAU meets Delta State here next Saturday at 2:30 in a Homecoming game.