Football
10/31/2024 11:40:00 PM

Jon Chidester, Assistant AD/Media Relations

SWOSU Football is back at home again this Saturday looking to notch an upset win over a Southern Arkansas team receiving votes in Division II national polls.

The Bulldogs are fresh off a 30-15 defeat at the hands of Southeastern a week ago in a game that saw SWOSU tally a season high 256 yards through the air. A 21-point Savage Storm third quarter proved to be too many points to overcome in the loss. SWOSU’s season high 10 penalties for over 100 yards did not help the cause.  

Tate Robards, in his first significant time at quarterback this season, finished 13-for-25 for 229 yards and one touchdown – a 72-yard strike to Julian Stratford in the second quarter. That touchdown was Stratford’s first of his collegiate career, and he became the fourth Bulldog receiver to score this year.

Similarly, Keyshawn Walls’ fourth quarter score against Southeastern marked his first in college. He joins Logan Johnson (1) and Kai Kunz (9) for Bulldogs with rushing touchdowns on the year.

On the defensive side of the ball, Desmond Greene grabbed his sixth interception of the season. That number leads the GAC and is tied for the nation’s lead in Division II. Linebackers Logan Monroe and Keshaun Jackson both accumulated double-digit tackles last week. Jackson has done that in three straight weeks, while Monroe has now done it in back-to-back games.

The obvious storyline entering Saturday is head coach Andrew Rice‘s first matchup against his old team. Rice spent two seasons (2022-23) as the offensive coordinator of the Muleriders before getting hired to head the SWOSU program.

SAU, fresh off a loss to Harding last week, fell out of the top 25 after the result and is currently receiving votes in the AFCA’s D2 poll. The Muleriders sport the second-best offense in the league, averaging 36.9 points and 422.8 yards per game. They’ve scored 25 rushing touchdowns this season, second most to Harding, and added another 12 through the air.

Judd Barton, at quarterback, heads the offense as a dual threat. He has thrown for over 1,500 yards and is one of three SAU runners to rack up at least 440 yards on the ground.

On defense, they have limited opponents to under 23 points per game in large part to a red zone defense that ranks atop the GAC. Opponents have entered the red area and come away with no points nine different times against SAU.

The Muleriders have intercepted 10 passes this season and forced a league most nine fumbles, though they recovered six of those. They’ve won or tied the turnover battle in every game but one this season and that ‘one’ came against Harding a week ago.

SWOSU is 2-10 against Southern Arkansas in a series that dates to the origination of the GAC in 2011. The Bulldogs have fared better in Weatherford during that span, holding a 2-3 record which includes a 24-20 win back in 2022 when the Muleriders last visited the Dub.