Sept. 21, 2002

Southern Arkansas Pounds West Georgia 42-21

Magnolia, Ark.-Southern Arkansas University broke a 21-21 tie after three quarters with three fourth quarter touchdowns to drub State University of West Georgia 42-21 here Saturday night before over 5,000 fans. SAU and SUWG are both 2-1 for the season but the Muleriders are off to a 1-0 start in Gulf South Conference play while the Braves lost their league opener.

It could have been worse had not the ‘Riders shot themselves in the foot through the first three quarters. In the first period, SAU had to come from behind after ‘Rider wide receiver Nik Lewis returned a punt for 53 yards and a touchdown only to have it nullified by a block in the back on the opposite side of the field. With SAU’s defense dominating the Braves, the ‘Riders drove inside the SUWG 10 only for quarterback Ted Williams to fumble it away.

After SAU safety Brian Davis intercepted a long pass by the Braves, fullback Larnell Sinegal fumbled on the ‘Rider 23 and quarterback Bo Bartik was flushed out of the pocket and scrambled to the three. Bartik passed to wide receiver Detronn Harris for seven yards and a touchdown and Trevor Ramos added the extra point, 7-0, Braves, 4:08 left in the first quarter.

SAU evened it up by marching 82 yards in 10 plays with wide receiver Edwin Skipper taking a reverse for the final nine yards and Thomas LaToof adding the PAT, 7-7 with five seconds left in the period. A quarterback draw by Williams was the big play in the drive.

SUWG went back on top with a 68-yard, 12-play drive climaxed by a 17-yard pass from quarterback Corry Strange to tight end Jesse Marinko in the back of the end zone on third down and nine. An offside penalty on SAU kept the drive alive after a third down incompletion on the Brave 44. Ramos’ PAT made it 14-7, 5:27 left in the half.

SAU running back Donald Butler returned the kickoff 81 yards to the West Georgia nine. After a personal foul on SAU, the Braves were called for pass interference. From the 12, fullback Brandon Nightingale broke up the middle and scored standing. LaToof kicked it to 14-14, 3:53 left in the half.

SAU cornerback Dez Meyers intercepted a deflected pass on the West Georgia 23 in the next series. Directed by backup quarterback Damian Melancon, the ‘Riders reached the 15 where running back Torrence Jones broke a series of tackles to score around right end. LaToof’s kick put SAU ahead for the first time 21-14 with 1:48 left in the half.

The only score of the third period was on a one-yard run by SUWG tailback Patrick Prince with 10:11 on the clock. The drive covered 57 yards in six plays with Prince getting the big play by dashing over left tackle from the West Georgia 43 to the SAU 19. Ramos toed it through the upright to knot it 21-21.

The fourth quarter was only 12 seconds old when Jones scored from eight yards out the put the ‘Riders ahead to stay. LaToof’s PAT failed, leaving it 27-21 after the completion of a 10-play, 68-yard drive.

With 10:06 remaining, SAU got breathing room when Williams connected with wide receiver Jason Bennett for 26 yards over the middle and a touchdown. Williams tossed a two-point conversion pass to running back Rodney Hill, 35-21. This was a five-play, 42-yard march after the ‘Rider defense forced the Braves into a short punt.

Jones scored the final touchdown on a 15-yard jaunt after a towering punt by SAU freshman Tony Grecco was fumbled by WG’s Marquis Floyd on the Brave 19 and recovered by SAU freshman Tyler Briggs. It took three plays to cover the needed 19 yards. LaToof kicked it to 42-21 with 4:47 remaining.

SAU had a 25-12 advantage in first downs, rushed for 308 yards to 81 for the visitors, SAU completed nine of 16 passes for 121 yards and no interceptions while WG completed only 14 of 33 pass attempts for 170 yards and had two intercepted. SAU fumbled six times and lost three while the Braves fumbled three times and lost one. SAU had nine penalties for 65 yards and the Braves 11 for 159. SAU punted four times for a 32.3 average and WG seven times for a 31.4 average. SAU had a time of possession advantage of 33:27 to 26:33.

Individually, both Williams and Hill rushed for 79 yards and Jones added 70 and three touchdowns for SAU. Williams had 17 carries, Hill 13 and Jones nine. Prince had 47 yards on six carries to lead WG. Williams was seven of 14 in passing for 104 yards and a touchdown while Strange led WG with six of 14 for 62 yards and a touchdown and interception. Lewis caught six passes for 75 yards for SAU and Harris caught five for 56 for WG. Butler had two kickoff returns for 106 yards while Danny Daniels returned six kickoffs for 122. Linebacker Kendall Washington had nine tackles for SAU and safety Travis Williams had 13 and safety Devin Johnson had 10 for the Braves.