When: November 9,
2002//Where: Magnolia, Arkansas @ Wilkins Stadium//Time: 2:00 p.m.
The Series (SAU 24-15-1)
Today’s game between Harding University and Southern Arkansas University will be the 41st meeting between the Bisons and the Muleriders. SAU has a 24-15-1 advantage in the series that began in 1925 with a 19-0 win by the ‘Riders. After blanking the Bisons in 1926, 21-0, SAU and HU did not meet again until 1930 when the ‘Riders pitched their third straight shutout in the series by a 19-0 score. It would be 29 years before SAU and HU would play again. With Harding resurrecting their football program again in 1959, SAU drubbed the Bisons 42-14 and shut them out 13-0 in 1960 for their fifth win, four by shutouts.
HU defeated the ‘Riders for the first time in 1961, in Searcy, when SAU, with a comfortable lead, turned to their reserves and the Bisons caught fire to stage a remarkable comeback and shock the ‘Riders 27-25. In 1972, a 14-9 setback to HU was SAU’s only conference loss and forced the ‘Riders to share the Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference championship. The only tie in the 40 games was a 21-21 deadlock in 1984. Harding’s last win in the series was 24-14 in 1994. The final game between the ‘Riders and Buffs was in 1995 with the ‘Riders winning 34-20.
The
Coaches
SAU’s second-year head coach, Steve Quinn (Ouachita Baptist, 1986), has a 12-7-0 record with the ‘Riders following a most-complete 48-0 shutout of Arkansas-Monticello last week. HU’s ninth-year head coach, Randy Tribble (Harding, 1977), has a 49-41-1 record with the Bisons following a 49-25 loss to Delta State last week.
SAU (7-2, 6-1) HU
(7-2, 5-2)
@ Midwestern State 26-35 Missouri-Rolla 23-15
@ Texas A&M-Commerce 27-23 East Central U., OK 34-23
West Georgia 42-21 @ North Alabama 45-38
@ Valdosta State 28-31 @ Arkansas Tech 32-14
@ North Alabama 43-33 West Alabama 38-10
Central Arkansas 38-21 @ West Georgia 13-0
Delta State 30-10 @ Henderson State 8-29
@ Ouachita Baptist (4 OT) 50-47 Arkansas-Monticello 40-27
Arkansas-Monticello 48-0 Delta State 25-49
Nov. 9-Harding University 2 p.m. @ Southern Arkansas 2 p.m.
KVMA 107.9 FM in Magnolia with Dan Gregory in his 21st year as the voice of SAU athletics, Jay Adcox as color commentator and Lane Jean on the sidelines; KAPZ-KKSY 107.1 FM in Searcy with David Matthews as the play-by-play announcer and Jerry Mote as the color commentator.
Don Hansen’s Football Gazette ranks unbeaten Valdosta State third and Southern Arkansas 11th in
the top 25 from the GSC. SAU moved up from 13th last week and
Harding dropped from 22nd out of the poll following their 49-25 loss
to Delta State. D-2 Football.com has Valdosta ranked second and Southern
Arkansas 20th as the only teams from the GSC ranked in the top
25. Harding was 23rd the previous week. Dopke D-2 has Valdosta
ranked second and Southern Arkansas 13th, the only GSC schools ranked after Harding
dropped out after being 20th last week. SAU was 14th the previous week.
Valdosta State 45-North Alabama 28; Delta State 49-Harding 25; Arkansas Tech 25-West Alabama 0; Ouachita Baptist 28-Henderson State 14; Central Arkansas 49-West Georgia 33; Southern Arkansas 48-Arkansas-Monticello 0.
Arkansas Tech @ Valdosta State, 11:30 a.m.; Central Arkansas @ West Alabama, 1 p.m.; West Georgia @ North Alabama, 1:30 p.m.; Delta State @ Ouachita Baptist (HC), 2 p.m.; Henderson State @ Arkansas-Monticello, 2 p.m.; Harding @ Southern Arkansas, 2 p.m.
Valdosta State 7-0-0
9-0-0
Southern Arkansas 6-1-0
7-2-0
Harding 5-2-0 7-2-0
Central Arkansas 4-3-0 6-3-0
Ouachita Baptist 4-3-0 4-4-0
Arkansas Tech 3-4-0 4-5-0
Henderson State 3-4-0 3-6-0
Delta State 3-4-0 3-6-0
West Alabama 2-5-0
4-5-0
North Alabama 2-5-0
3-6-0
Arkansas-Monticello 2-5-0 2-6-0
West Georgia 1-6-0 3-6-0
SAU: For the season, RB Torrence Jones has rushed
for 522 yards and 12 touchdowns on 84 carries. RB Rodney Hill has 447 yards on
71 carries for six touchdowns. QB Ted Williams has 386 yards on 100 carries for
five touchdowns and QB Damian Melancon has 347 yards on 66 attempts for three
touchdowns. Williams has completed 61 of 129 passes for 1,081 yards and nine
touchdowns. Melancon has completed 32 of 52 pass attempts for 516 yards and
seven touchdowns. WR Nik Lewis has caught 53 passes for a school record 1,003
yards and a school record 12 touchdowns. Lewis has returned 14 punts for 179
yards and Hill has 15 for 313 yards on kickoff returns and RB Donald Butler has
11 returns for 339 yards. Defensively, SS Brian Davis has 79 tackles, 42 solos,
one tackle for a loss, four interceptions, two fumble recoveries and one forced
fumble. LB Keenan Washington has 76 tackles, 42 solos, seven tackles for
losses, two sacks for minus eight, one interception, one pass breakup, one QB
hurry and four forced fumble. CB Charles Rollins has 61 tackles, three tackles
for losses, one sack, one interception, eight pass breakups and a forced
fumble.
HU: TB Dontray
Thomas has rushed 493 yards on 93 carries for two touchdowns, TB DeJuan Patton
has 390 yards on 71 totes and TB Robert Lolohea has 73 attempts for 323 yards
and seven touchdowns. QB Freddie Langston has completed 149 passes in 252
attempts for 1,884 yards and 15 touchdowns. WR Demarcus Calhoun has 43
receptions for 549 yards and five touchdowns and WR Santiago Collins has 34
catches for 519 yards and three touchdowns. Collins has returned 17 punts for
234 yards and CB Errick Wilson has returned 10 kickoffs for 261 yards and
Calhoun has returned eight for 207 yards. Coy Nance has kicked 11 of 15 field
goal attempts, including five of seven over 40 yards. LB Tim Polk has 77
tackles, 42 solos, has five tackles for losses, three sacks and three recovered
fumbles. NG Tim Love has 65 tackles, 32 solos, 12 tackles for losses, five sacks,
one interception returned 38 yards and one forced fumble.
“This was a game (Arkansas-Monticello) that concerned me from an emotional perspective. I was not sure how our players would respond after last week’s four-overtime game. This is a part of the season that teams get emotionally drained if they do not prepare every week. Our players met that challenge head-on and showed they were capable of playing hard every week. We continued to get production out of our playmakers on offense and played shutdown football, defensively. The key to the game was being able to get the defensive shutout and have no turnovers on offense for the first time this season. The kicking stayed solid for us and we were able to create some breaks that helped us break the game open. Our effort and attitude were outstanding.”
“This week’s game (Harding) will be another tough GSC game against one of the top teams in the conference. They have a very solid quarterback (Freddie Langston) who is surrounded by playmakers. Defensively, they are big on the defensive line and solid at linebacker and in the secondary. They run to the football well and play extremely hard. Their kicking game is one of the most solid in the conference. They are a team with a lot to play for and we must play mistake-free with a lot of excitement. We are hoping for a large crowd. It is the seniors last regular season home game. It should be a great atmosphere Saturday.”
Quick Facts
3,100 Enrollment 5,000
1909 (SAU in 1976) Established 1924
Gulf
South Conference Gulf South
NCAA Division II Affiliation NCAA Division II
Dr.
David Rankin President Dr. David Burks
Jay Adcox Athletics Director Greg
Harnden
Steve Quinn Head Coach Randy Tribble
Houston
Taylor Sports Information Scott Goode
Muleriders
Nickname Bisons
Royal Blue & Old Gold Colors Black
& Gold