TEXARKANA, Ark. – Cold, rainy, and windy conditions played a significant factor in the 2016 Agent Barry Live United Bowl between the Texas A&M University-Kingsville Javelinas and the Southern Arkansas University Muleriders as both teams were held well below their season averages in terms of scoring and total offense.

As a result, the outcome of the game figured to come down to field position and turnovers. For much of the game, the field position battle was even, but four turnovers by the Muleriders led to 17 points for the Javelinas, propelling A&M-Kingsville to a 24-17 win on Saturday afternoon at Razorback Stadium.

RECORDS
Texas A&M-Kingsville Javelinas (9-3)
(RV) Southern Arkansas Muleriders (9-3)

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Weather conditions throughout the game made it difficult for both teams to get in to any offensive rhythm with that statement ringing true the most in the first quarter. Through the opening 15 minutes of play, neither team scored, and there was just 125 yards of total offense combined.
  • The Muleriders had a significant amount of those yards with 114 compared to Kingsville’s 11, but SAU was unable to find the endzone
• The game’s first points came on SAU’s second drive of the second quarter as junior kicker Bradford Grems connected on a 40-yard field goal with 8:48 left on the clock
• A&M-Kingsville continued to struggle offensively in the second quarter with just 21 yards of total offense generated, but the Javelinas went into the locker room with a four-point advantage, 7-3, as Devonte Williams had a 58-yard interception return for a touchdown right before the end of the first half.
• The Javelinas got the ball first to begin the second half, but the SAU defense, who did not allow a single third-down conversion in the game, quickly forced a punt. Two plays into SAU’s ensuing possession, the Muleriders were struck with their third turnover of the game. The Javelinas then made their most productive drive to that point in the game and found the endzone at the end of the drive to take a 14-3 lead.
• Minutes later, SAU pulled back to within four of the Javelinas, 14-10, as Barrett Renner and Tnner Hudson connected on a 25-yard pass play. The TD catch for Hudson, who recently was named an All-Super Region 3 First-Team Tight End, was his ninth of the season.
• On Kingsville’s first possession of the fourth quarter, the Javelinas took a 21-10 lead as they hit their biggest offensive play of the game, a 41-yard touchdown pass from Myles Carr to Anthony Autry.
• Momentum stayed with the Javelinas on the ensuing kickoff as the Muleriders committed their fourth turnover on the return. Forced to defend a short field, the SAU defense held the Javelinas to a field goal, keeping the game within reach, 24-10
• Following that, the Muleriders cut their deficit in half with just under three minutes left in the game as a productive 12-play, 84-yard drive ended with a 1-yard touchdown plunge by Michael Nunnery.
• With all three of their timeouts at their disposal, the Muleriders kicked the ball deep and hoped to get the ball back to the offense for a potential game-tying score. The Javelinas, however were able to move the ball just enough and were able to run out the remainder of the game clock to secure the win.

OF NOTE

• The Muleriders end the season 9-3 overall. Their nine (9) wins are the most in a season since 2003 when the Muleriders finished 9-3 that year.
• Having already established 10 new records (single-game, single-season, or career) coming into the game, the Muleriders re-wrote six new marks at the conclusion of Saturday’s game. The new records included
  • Completion Percentage (Season)  – Barrett Renner (64.9 | 279-of-430)
  • Pass Attempts (Season) – Barrett Renner (430)
  • Pass Completions (Season – Team) – 296
  • Passing Yards (Season – Team) – 3,534 yards
  • Total Offense (Season – Team) – 5,637 yards
  • Points Scored (Season – Team) – 430
• Bradford Grems’ 40-yard field goal in the second quarter was his fifth made attempt from 40 yards or longer. Prior to this season, Grems career-long was 32 yards, set in 2014.

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Southern Arkansas 2016 senior class ends careers with impressive 16-2 home record

HOW IT HAPPENED – First Half 

• Defense dictated much of the first quarter, but an interception by SAU’s Lorenzo Watkins with 4:02 on the clock in the first set up the Muleriders’ first score of the game; a 13-yard TD pass from Barrett Renner to senior wideout Jared Brown
• A three-and-out followed on Southeastern’s ensuing possession and the Muleriders’ offense ate up the next five minutes of game clock before Bradford Grems capped a 15-play drive with a 21-yard field goal to make it 10-0 SAU
• Moments later, following another three-and-out forced by the Muleriders’ defense, SAU raced out to a 17-0 lead as Tanner Hudson turned a five-yard inside route into a 61-yard touchdown as he evaded numerous Savage Storm defenders and added a few shifty moves to break out into the open
• The Savage Storm scored their first points of the game on their next possession to cut SAU’s lead to 10 points at 17-7
• Both teams then traded three-and-outs to give SAU the ball back with 1:42 left before halftime
• After three plays on that drive, Hudson broke out again for a long score, this one from 45 yards out, and the Muleriders went into the locker room up 24-

HOW IT HAPPENED – Second Half 

• Coming out of the break, SAU received the ball after winning the toss and deferring. The Muleriders made the most of that decision as they found themselves up 31-7 at the end of lengthy drive that covered 84 yards on 12 plays, while consuming 5:21 of game time. Accounting for that Mulerider score was Hudson as he hauled in his third touchdown reception of the game
• Three plays later, it appeared as though the SAU defense forced another three-and-out, but faced with a 4th-and-3 from their 35, the Savage Storm elected to go for a fake punt as punter Joel Carlos ran for the needed three yards to keep the drive going.
• That 4th-down conversion on the fake punt sparked the Southeastern offense and two plays later, quarterback CB Cantwell found Anterric Maxey wide open from 45-yards out for the score
• An unproductive SAU drive led to another score by Southeastern as Carlos made good on a 20-yard field goal to make it 31-17, SAU with 1:10 remaining in the third quarter
• SAU’s ensuing possession took the game into the fourth quarter and eventually, the Muleriders lit up the scoreboard once more as Renner found his fullback Dalton Wright from four-yards out to make it 38-17, Muleriders
• The Savage Storm answered relatively quickly with a score of their own to make it a two-possession game at 38-24 with 9:21 left in the fourth quarter
• SAU had another unproductive offensive drive and punted the ball away to the Savage Storm with just over seven minutes left in the game
• As it has done in numerous games this year, the SAU defense came up with a game-saving turnover as Elgin Moore intercepted Cantwell, giving the Muleriders the ball back with 6:44 left on the clock
• In no hurry, the Muleriders embarked on a methodical drive that had the primary goals of ball security and first downs
• SAU got both on that drive as they held on to the ball and four first downs gained on the drive allowed the Muleriders to go in to victory formation on the game’s final two plays

TURNING POINT

• Southeastern converting a 4th-down on a fake punt about midway in the third quarter and two plays later, the Savage Storm scored their second touchdown of the game to make it 31-14 SAU
• Prior to that, SAU was firmly in control of the game and was perhaps looking to go up by five possessions if they were to have scored a TD
• Southeastern went on to score 10 more points from there and had a lot of momentum going their way as they attempted to comeback on the Muleriders, but the SAU defense stood tall once more and Elgin Moore’s INT essentially ended the game as Southeastern did not touch the football again

OF NOTE

• This game marked the final home game in the playing careers of SAU’s nine seniors and with the victory, this senior class will end their careers 16-2 at home inside Wilkins Stadium at Rip Powell Field
• SAU QB Barrett Renner tied a single-game best in touchdown passes as he threw for five in the game against Southeastern. Renner has accomplished that feat now three times in his career and the five TD tosses are tied for the second-most in a game at SAU
• On the receiving end of three of Renner’s TD passes was tight end Tanner Hudson. The three receiving TDs for Hudson are a single-game high for him and also are tied for the second-most in a game at SAU
• A dual-threat player, Hudson also had a fine game as SAU’s punter. Having to punt five times, Hudson averaged 51.8 yards per punt with two going over 50 yards including a long punt of 70 yards. Hudson now has two punts of 70 yards or longer on the season
• The Mulerider defense had two interceptions against Southeastern, making it the sixth game this season that SAU has had at least two interceptions. Coming into play, the Muleriders were leading the GAC in interceptions with 13
• Also on defense, the Muleriders managed to stop the league’s best 1-2 running combo in Devlon Wortham and Ronnie Green to just a combined 75 yards on 20 carries (3.8 yards/rush). Both backs were averaging over 100 yards per game and ranked in the top-three in the GAC in rushing. Additionally, Wortham had over 500 yards and nine touchdowns scored in his career against SAU coming into the game

UP NEXT
The Muleriders will now prepare to hit the road next weekend as they will travel to Ada, Okla. to take on East Central University on Saturday, November 5. Kick-off is scheduled for 2 p.m.

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EL DORADO – For the second-straight season, the Murphy USA Classic trophy will reside in Magnolia as the Southern Arkansas football team took care of No. 15-ranked Henderson State by a score of 50-24 on Saturday afternoon at Memorial Stadium in El Dorado.

RECORDS
No. 15 Henderson State Reddies (6-2, 6-2 GAC)
Southern Arkansas Muleriders (6-2, 6-2 GAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED – First Half

• After forcing the Reddies to punt on their first possession of the game, the Muleriders used a methodical 16-play, 75-yard opening drive to score the game’s first points. A missed extra point, however made it just 6-0 SAU. That opening drive by the Muleriders ate up nearly nine minutes of game clock and gave the ball back to the Reddies with just over three minutes left in the first quarter
• Henderson responded quickly to that Mulerider score with a quick scoring drive following a good return on the kickoff that put the Reddies into SAU territory on the drive start. The Reddies made good on their extra point attempt and took a 7-6 lead
• SAU’s next drive stalled in the red zone at the Henderson 18-hardline, but Bradford Grems was good on his 35-yard field goal attempt to put SAU back up at 9-7
• Henderson’s Houston Ray matched Grems field goal on their next possession and the lead changed hands once more, 10-9 in favor of Henderson
• With 5:32 left in the second half, SAU grabbed the lead once more as Michael Nunnery converted and scored on a 4th-and-1 from the Henderson 2. That rushing TD by Nunnery was his second of the game to that point as he accounted for the Muleriders’ opening TD
• Another good kick return by Henderson gave  them a short field and the Reddies wasted little time in finding the endzone and in the process taking another one-point lead, 17-16
• The back-and-forth offensive showcase continued as the Muleriders scored on their ensuing possession, retaking the lead, 23-17. On that scoring play, Barrett Renner connected with Jaylon Dews from 18-yards out
• On the ensuing kickoff, the Muleriders, after several long returns by Henderson, elected not kick the ball deep and the change in strategy paid off as the Reddies’ return man Jacoby Lewis came up to field the shortened kickoff, but Lewis muffed the return as the Mulerider recovered the ball at the Henderson 30-yardline with 1:42 left before halftime
• SAU quickly turned that initial turnover into points as Renner hooked up with Darion Ardoin from 17-yards out to put SAU 30-17. The Muleriders forced another takeaway on an interception by Elgin Moore, but were unable to add any more points before the break

HOW IT HAPPENED – Second Half

• After winning the toss and deferring to the second half, the Muleriders had aspirations on extending their lead early in the third quarter, but a pair penalties and sack on third down were the undoing of that opening possession
• A slight momentum shift occurred four plays later as the Reddies scored another quick touchdown and made it back to a one-score game, 30-24
• Seemingly unfazed by the unproductive first drive of the second half, the Muleriders offense went on another long and methodical drive of 75 yards on 12 plays over the next 5:59 of the game. That drive was capped off with a Nunnery touchdown from a yard out; his third of the game
• On Henderson’s ensuing possession, the Muleriders turned the game completely in their favor by forcing their third takeaway of the game. This turnover was a sack-fumble forced by Davondrick Lison and it set up a quick scoring drive that made it a three-possession game. That short drive was capped by a six-yard run by Keiandre Purifoy; his fourth of the season
• The Reddies attempted to get back into the game on their next possession and got the ball just outside of the redzone in Mulerider territory, but SAU’s fourth takeaway prevented any Reddie points from coming on the board as Q’Niko Thomas intercepted Andrew Black in the endzone and returned it 33 yards to the SAU-33.
• SAU’s final points of the game came early in the fourth quarter as Malachi Pointer blocked a punt attempt by Henderson and Stacy Lawrence recovered it for a scoop-and-score from 25-yards out. That score gave the Muleriders 50 points in the game for the second time this season and the first time against Henderson since 2003 when SAU beat Henderson 53-14

TURNING POINT

• Up by 12 points (two possessions) with just over six minutes left in the game, SAU’s Davondrick Lison forced a fumble, which was recovered by Jaquel Owens on a sack of Reddie quarterback Andrew Black to account for the Muleriders’ third takeaway of the game.
• The Muleriders then needed just three plays to find the endzone to go up by three scores, 43-24

OF NOTE

• The win for SAU over Henderson is the first for the Muleriders since 2005. Henderson had won the last nine meetings over the Muleriders
• SAU is now 2-4 all-time in the Murphy USA Classic with their two wins coming in consecutive years (2015 vs. Ouachita and 2016 vs. Henderson State). Prior to that, SAU was 0-4 in the neutral site game held in El Dorado
• For the first game this season, SAU did not turn the ball over. Additionally, their four takeaways tied a season-high
• The Muleriders also had over 500 yards of total offense for the fourth-consecutive game and are now averaging 456.0 yards per game
• Nunnery saw his string of over 100-yard rushing games end at three, but the junior tailback did score a single-game career-high three touchdowns. Nunnery also set a new season-high in touchdowns as he now has seven; previous most was six TDs set a year ago
• Jaylon Dews and Darrion Ardoin each caught their first TD passes of the year. SAU now has nine different receivers who have caught a TD pass

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To describe 2015 as an up and down season would be accurate – two wins, two losses, three wins, two losses, two wins. Still, the Muleriders collected seven wins on the year and the third winning season in four years and were tied for fourth in the Great American Conference. SAU won the games it was supposed to win, but unfortunately fell to the nationally ranked teams (or teams receiving votes in the D-II poll) in those contests, even in heartbreaking fashion in a 29-28 loss at No. 14 Henderson State.

OFFENSE

The offense was big for the Muleriders last season, scoring 35.5 points per game, which was third in the GAC, and leading the conference by racking up 471.3 yards per game. After a stellar freshman season, in which he was named GAC Freshman of the Year and First Team All-GAC, Barrett Renner will be back to lead the offense. His two most often found targets in Tanner Hudson, a second team All-GAC wide receiver-turned-tight end who led the team in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns, and Jonathan Weisheit, honorable mention All-GAC who led the team in receptions, are back as juniors. Another junior, Michael Nunnery was the team’s leading rusher in last year’s pass-dominated offense.

DEFENSE

Renner wasn’t the only fantastic freshman on the roster in 2015. Davondrick Lison earned honorable mention All-GAC with a season that included 9.0 sacks, 17.5 tackles-for-loss and a D-II high seven forced fumbles, and returns this year to the SAU defensive line. Dominic Kelly, a senior, should be a force again at linebacker. And the team’s two leading tacklers from last season in Elgin Moore (93 tackles, four interceptions) and Q’Niko Thomas (78 tackles, one interception) headline the defensive backfield.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Bradford Grems was called upon for field goals only five times in 2015, and made three of them. He was also 47-of-54 in PAT duty. Weisheit had a punt returned for a touchdown as one of his 29 returns last year and Sidney Moore could be returning kicks again in his junior year.

OUTLOOK

With the breakout season from Renner as a freshman, it’s reasonable to think that the Muleriders were a little ahead of schedule. But with so many key components to the success of 2015 back for another go-round, there won’t be any surprise in the GAC about what the team from Magnolia can do. The task of breaking through into the upper echelon on the league is what lies ahead for Coach Keopple and his team. SAU should put together another winning season and will need to win a game or two that they “aren’t supposed to” in order to move into play beyond the regular season.

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