Family
Day
When: September 21, 2002//Where: Magnolia, Arkansas, @ Wilkins Stadium//Time: 6p.m.
The Series (SUWG 4-1-0)
Saturday’s Family Day game between Southern Arkansas University and State University of West Georgia will be only the sixth meeting between the Muleriders and the Braves. The series began in 1995 on a rainy day in Georgia with the Braves pitching a 28-0 shutout at the ‘Riders. SAU and SUWG did not play again until 1998 when the Braves again won, but this time in a squeaker, 17-13.
In 1999, SAU won for the first and only time over the Braves as the ‘Riders rallied from a big halftime deficit to dominate the last half and win 29-24 in Magnolia. SUWG outscored the ‘Riders in 2000 38-28 in Carrollton and returned to Magnolia in 2001 to take advantage of SAU turnovers and win 37-26 despite a big statistical advantage by the ‘Riders.
The Coaches
Second-year SAU head coach Steve Quinn (Ouachita Baptist, 1985) will be coaching his 13th game as the chief mentor with the Muleriders. He finished his first season at SAU with a 5-5-0 record in 2001 and is 1-1-0 so far this year.
Mike Ledford (Tennessee Tech, 1975) is in his first year as head coach at SUWG after serving as offensive coordinator for the Braves the previous season and as an assistant coach the previous four years. He is unbeaten with a 2-0-0 record.
KVMA 107.9 FM in Magnolia with Dan Gregory on play-by-play and Jay Adcox as color commentator with Lane Jean on the sideline; KCKS 102.7 in Carrollton with Mitch Gray on play-by-play and Top Cooper as color commentator with Andy Micacchione as sideline analyst.
Last Season
The Braves led 7-3 after the first quarter, 16-6 at the half and it was 16-13 heading into the last quarter. SUWG outscored SAU 21-13 in the final period to win 37-26. The ‘Riders had 492 net yards to 362 for the Braves, had a 289 to 205 advantage in rushing yards and had a 203 passing yards total to 157 for SUWG but the ‘Riders lost two of three fumbles to none for the Braves and suffered two interceptions for four turnovers while SUWG had one pass intercepted for their only turnover.
GSC
This Week
Arkansas-Monticello @ West Alabama; Central Arkansas @ Henderson State;
Delta State @ Valdosta State; West Georgia @ Southern Arkansas; Arkansas Tech @
Ouachita Baptist; Harding @ North Alabama.
GSC Last Week
West Georgia 32-Albany State 29; Central Arkansas 47-Langston
(Okla.) 0; Southern Arkansas 27-Texas A&M-Commerce 23; Arkansas
Tech 24-Central Oklahoma 17; Mississippi Valley State 28-Delta
State 26; Stephen F. Austin 55-Henderson State 7.
Team
Leaders
SAU: In the win over
TA&M-C last week, RB Torrence Jones rushed 10 times for 91 yards, an average
of 9.1yards per carry, and scored a touchdown. QB Ted Williams completed eight
of 16 pass attempts for 121 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. WR
Nik Lewis caught six passes for 86 yards and two touchdowns. P Tony Grecco
punted four times for a 39.8 average and RB Rodney Hill returned a kickoff for
52 yards. K Thomas LaToof connected
on both of his field goal attempts and all extra points.
SUWG: In the win over Albany State last week, TB
Brandon Glover rushed 11 times for 69 yards, a 6.3 average per carry. QB Corry
Strange completed eight of 13 passes or 82 yards and a touchdown with no
interceptions. TE Jesse Marinko caught four passes for 49 yards and a touchdown.
SE Detronn Harris returned two punts for 40 yards. K Clay Robertson booted a
42-yard field goal in his only attempt. SS Devin Johnson and LB Kemo Dassau had
10 tackles each with Johnson recovering a fumble.
From
Coach Quinn
“I was pleased with the
overall effort of our football team this past game. We played hard and created
our own excitement for a road game. We still have to correct some mental
mistakes and continue to mature as a football team.”
“This week, we will be facing a very tough football team in the (State)
University of West Georgia. They are playing well defensively. They have good
speed, are well coached and have some playmakers. They are an experienced team
that is currently 2-0. They have done the things they have needed to do in order
to win. Offensively, they have some big-play receivers and experience at
quarterback, but can run the football.”
“We are very excited about playing at home after being on the road the
past two games. Mulerider fans are a big part of this football program and have
helped us win a lot of games over the years. It will be the first time some of
our freshmen will experience just how good our fans are and how involved our
band is in the game. It is one of the best atmospheres in NCAA Division II that
you will get to play in.”
Of Interest
SAU and SUWG were mirror images of each other last week. The Muleriders led Texas A&M-Commerce 27-3 midway the fourth quarter but by the end of the game, the margin had been closed to 27-23. The Braves led Albany State 32-15 with just over four minutes remaining and were hanging on at the end with a 32-29 advantage.