SAU Holds Off OBU

The win snapped a two-game skid against OBU for the Muleriders (2-5, 2-4 GSC), giving them their second win of the season and handing Ouachita Baptist (4-3, 3-3 GSC) its third straight loss.

The game became a defensive struggle with neither team's offense clicking, as the Muleriders managed just 202 yards. OBU ran the ball for 124 yards, but got only 75 through the air, well below their 236.5 per game. SAU had but 39 yards rushing, and threw for 163.

Southern Arkansas jumped out to a 10-0 advantage behind a 31-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Austin Civita (Newbury Park, Calif.) to sophomore receiver Travarus Brown (Longview, Texas) at 7:35 in the first quarter, and followed that with a 40-yard field goal from junior Noé Cuevas (Pasadena, Texas) at 4:16 in the second.

The Muleriders used their opening drive in securing the touchdown pass, traveling 74 yards in seven plays in 4:16, and got the field goal following Ouachita Baptist's first turnover, a fumble dropped by quarterback Eli Cranor near mid-field.

The Tigers had a chance to get on the scoreboard early in the second quarter after Civita fumbled it away on SAU's first possession of the quarter, giving OBU the ball at the Southern Arkansas 19. But the Mulerider defense stiffened, holding Ouachita Baptist to just three yards in three plays and Jason Fowler's 33-yard field goal missed right.

After Cuevas' 40-yard shot, which actually hit the middle bottom of the goal post and scraped over, the Tigers took the ensuing series and went 71 yards in five plays and consumed only 1:49 of the clock to score on a 19-yard run by receiver Kendall Council. Fowler's kick made it 10-7 at 2:19 and that stood at the half.

Scoreless in the third, SAU took their first possession of the fourth at 13:29, but didn't go anywhere. Junior punter Zach Massingill (Hawkins, Texas) bailed Southern Arkansas out with his second booming 59-yard punt of the game, dropping it at the OBU one. Tailback K.J. Johnson managed two yards to the three on two rushes, but on third down and with Cranor throwing from the end zone, Ouachita Baptist was flagged for holding giving the Muleriders a safety and a 12-7 lead at 10:22.

The teams traded four-and-outs over the next three series, with Massingill bombing another long punt on the third, a 54-yarder to the Tiger 20 that Nico Hobbs muffed and SAU's Anthony Johnson (Raney, La.) recovered and actually ran to the end zone with. Via NCAA rules and not being able to return a muffed punt, Southern Arkansas was in good shape at the 20. The Mulerider offense couldn't muster anything though, and Cuevas came on to kick his second field goal, a 39-yarder at 4:00 that set the final score of the contest.

Taking over at 3:53, Cranor was picked off on the second play by SAU sophomore cornerback Don Unamba (Arlington, Texas) at the Southern Arkansas 38. The Muleriders lost yardage though and wound up punting it away, with OBU getting one last gasp at 1:28 from their own 11. After rushing for seven yards and completing two nine-yard passes to Clinton Dewitt, Cranor threw four consecutive incomplete to essentially end it.

Civita was 14 of 25 passing for the 163 yards, and was minus 31 rushing due to being sacked four times. Cranor completed just seven passes in 25 throws and tossed two interceptions.

Johnson led all rushers with 67 yards on 19 carries, while red-shirt freshman Carlos Brown (Pittsburg, Texas) had 30 yards on 13 rushes for SAU.

Travarus Brown had seven catches for 76 yards to lead all receivers.

Both teams combined for 15 punts, with Massingill belting nine, averaging 40.6 yards and dropping four inside the 20.

Defensively, Denszell Brown led all players with 14 tackles for Ouachita Baptist, including one sack and 2.5 tackles for loss. Teammate Tyler George finished with 11 tackles, 10 unassisted.

Southern Arkansas junior tackle Cedric Thornton (Star City) recorded eight tackles, four unassisted, including an assist for loss. Junior cornerback Trent Stevenson (Cedar Hill, Texas) added five solo tackles, including one for loss, had an interception for a 20-yard return, and broke up a pass.

The Muleriders travel next Saturday to Cleveland, Miss. to face Delta State in a 3 p.m. kickoff.