SOUTHERN ARKANSAS
AT OUACHITA BAPTIST
WHEN 1 p.m.
WHERE Cliff Harris Stadium, Arkadelphia
RADIO Ouachita Football Network: 101.1-FM, KDXE in Little Rock (flagship), KUOA-AM, 1290 and KUOA-FM, 97.7 in Siloam Springs, KCXY-FM, 95.3, Camden, KZNG-FM, 105.5 and KZNG-AM, 1340, Hot Springs, KNAS-FM, 105.5, Nashville, KQOR-FM, 105.3, Mena; 99.1-FM KVMZ in Magnolia
INTERNET obutigers.com, muleridersports.com
RECORDS OBU (9-0, 9-0 GAC); SAU (8-1, 8-1)
COACHES Todd Knight (109-94 at OBU in 20th season, 137-126-2 in 26th season overall; Bill Keopple (57-47 in 10th season at SAU and overall)
SERIES OBU leads 38-35-1
LAST MEETING OBU won 45-42 in El Dorado
COMMENTS The Great American Conference title will go to OBU, No. 4 in the AFCA Top 25, if it prevails today, regardless of what happens next week in the Battle of the Ravine against Henderson State. No. 20 SAU not only needs to win today, but it would also have to defeat Arkansas-Monticello next Saturday to share the title with OBU if the Tigers beat Henderson. ... SAU is ranked No. 6 in the Super Region III rankings. OBU is the No. 2 team in the Super Region III rankings behind Ferris State. A No. 1 seed would give the Tigers to a first-round playoff bye in the 28-team field. ... Intriguing matchups are featured on both sides of the ball. Notably, there is All-American defensive end DaVondrick Lison, and the rest of the Muleriders' strong defensive front, matching up with a talented OBU offensive line anchored by junior offensive tackles Justin and Cori Goosenberry from Little Rock Episcopal. it's more than Lison, who leads the GAC and ranks No. 12 in the nation with 16 tackles for loss. Linemate Anthony Washington is second in the GAC in tackles for loss (15) and his brother, Antoine Washington, make up a defensive front that OBU Coach Todd Knight said can "give you fits." ... The teams match strength vs. strength in many areas. OBU (282.4 ypg) relies on the nation's No. 8 rushing attack, but will be opposed by an SAU rushing defense that allows 107.7 yards per game. SAU gains most of its yards through the air, averaging 272.1 yards, but OBU's defense has excelled against the pass, leading the nation in pass efficiency defense with 16 interceptions. SAU averages 31.7 points per game, but OBU leads the nation in scoring defense at 9.5 per game. OBU is second in the GAC in scoring offense (34.3), but SAU is No. 17 in the nation in scoring defense (17.1 ppg). "We can't trade possessions," SAU Coach Bill Keopple said.
SE OKLAHOMA STATE
AT HARDING
WHEN 2 p.m.
WHERE First Security Stadium, Searcy
RADIO Harding: 95.3-FM KVHU in Searcy
INTERNET hardingsports.com
RECORDS Harding (7-2, 7-2 GAC); SE Oklahoma State (5-4, 5-4)
COACHES Paul Simmons (18-6 in second season at Harding and overall); Bo Atterberry (32-22 in fifth season at SE Oklahoma State, 73-50 in 12th season overall)
SERIES Harding leads 22-7
LAST MEETING Harding won 42-3 in Durant, Okla.
COMMENTS Harding did it what it needed to do last week, winning 49-7 at East Central (Okla.), but when the second NCAA Region III rankings were released Monday, the Bisons slipped from No. 8, the next team in to the Division II playoff bracket, to No. 9 when Pittsburg State (7-2) leapfrogged them after it beat Missouri Western 34-14 in St. Joseph, Mo. ... Harding Coach Paul Simmons said he was not surprised by the change in the rankings -- "I saw this one coming," he said-- because he didn't think the Great American Conference would get three teams into the playoff bracket at the expense of the Mid-American Athletic Conference, one of the most powerful in Division II, getting only 1. "It doesn't look as good as it did last week," Simmons said. ... Harding still needs to win its final two games, both in Searcy -- against Southeastern Oklahoma State today and next week against Arkansas Tech -- but it needs somebody ahead of it to fall . ... The Bisons play host to a Savage Storm team that are coming off back-to-back losses -- 20-17 at Henderson 2 weeks ago and 10-6 to Arkansas Tech last week in Durant, Okla. The Savage Storm are No. 2 in the GAC and No. 6 in Division II in total defense (244.4 ypg), just behind Harding, which is No. 1 in the GAC and No. 2 in Division II (222.4 ypg). "We're expecting an angry bunch to come to town," Simmons said.
ARKANSAS MONTICELLO
AT HENDERSON STATE
WHEN 2 p.m.
WHERE Carpenter-Haygood Stadium, Arkadelphia
RADIO Henderson State Sports Network: 100.9-FM KDEL and 1240-AM KVRC in Arkadelphia, 99.7-FM KWPS in Hot Springs, 106.9-FM KYXK in Gurdon, 104.1-FM KZYP/1310-AM in Malvern, 99.3-FM KAFN/690-AM in Benton; 93.7-FM KHBM (Southeast Arkansas)
INTERNET hsusports.com, uamsports.com
RECORD Henderson State (5-4, 5-4 GAC), UAM (4-5, 4-5)
COACHES Scott Maxfield (99-52 in 14th season at Henderson State, 128-64 in 17th season overall); Hud Jackson (27-58 in eighth season at UAM and overall)
SERIES Henderson State leads 48-30-2
LAST MEETING Henderson State won 28-21 in Monticello
COMMENTS The Reddies and Boll Weevils are scheduled to kick off about one hour after the start of today's Southern Arkansas-Ouachita Baptist matchup, which will be taking place across Arkansas 7 at Cliff Harris Stadium. That game will help determine the Great American Conference champion, but there is incentive on the other side of the Ravine, with Maxfield going his 100th victory in 14 seasons at Henderson. A victory would also guarantee the Reddies of a winning season, which would be their 12th in Maxfield's tenure. ... UAM needs to win today and next week against SAU to score its first winning season under Hud Jackson, who has finished 5-6 three times in his first seven seasons. ... Both teams will be trying to rebound from losses. Maxfield's Reddies fell behind 34-0 at halftime and lost to SAU 34-14 in the Murphy USA Classic in El Dorado. ... Logan Moragne (104-648 rushing, 5 TDs) is the Reddies' leading rusher; Ben Johnson (52-559, 4 TDs) is the leading receiver. ... UAM is coming off a 35-10 loss to OBU in Monticello after trailing 28-0 at the half. ... Quarterback Cole Sears ranks third in the GAC in passing yards (2,184) and total offense per game (255). Sears has accounted for 20 touchdowns, 13 passing and 7 rushing. DeAndre Washington (25-486 receiving, 4 TDs) is second in the GAC in yards per reception (19.4). Freshman cornerback Jimel London leads the GAC with four interceptions, returning three of those for touchdowns.
EAST CENTRAL (OKLA.)
AT ARKANSAS TECH
WHEN 2 p.m.
WHERE Thone Stadium, Russellville
RADIO 102.3-FM KCJC, Russellville
INTERNET arkansastechsports.com
RECORDS Arkansas Tech (3-6, 3-6 GAC); East Central (2-7, 2-7)
COACHES Raymond Monica (34-32 in six seasons at Arkansas Tech, 79-66 in 12th season overall; Al Johnson (2-7, first season at East Central and overall)
SERIES East Central leads 11-9
LAST MEETING Arkansas Tech won 38-10 in Ada, Okla.
COMMENTS Arkansas Tech ended a four-game losing streak with a 10-6 victory over Southeastern Oklahoma State last week in Durant, Okla., but the Wonder Boys did not celebrate. Things turned somber as soon as Arkansas Tech's defense held on a fourth-and-7 play at the Tech 27 when senior linebacker CJ Johnson crumpled to the artificial turf at Paul Laird Field. Johnson collided with Southeastern Oklahoma wide receiver Tarrence Taylor's backside after the receiver twisted and turned after having a pass go through his outstretched hands. "Like I told the team, you won the game, but you are much more concerned about your teammate," Coach Raymond Monica said, describing the scene of Johnson being placed on a backboard and loaded into an ambulance. Johnson suffered a crushed C5 vertebrae, Monica said, and was flown from Durant to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences on Sunday. Monica said Johnson underwent surgery Monday, and left the hospital Wednesday night. Monica said Johnson is still feeling numbness in his finger tips, but is walking and has use of his arms, legs and hands. ... Junior-college transfer Manny Harris started at quarterback for the second consecutive week, completing 17 of 28 passes for 156 yards and 1 touchdown, a 12-yard scoring pass to Tremel Glasper. ... Senior running back Bryan Allen (3,419 yards) is No. 2 on Arkansas Tech's all-time rushing list, passing Eddie Meador and is within 184 yards of all-time leader Larry Brown.
Sports on 11/03/2018