Arkansas-Monticello (2-4)
at Southern Nazarene (1-5)
BETHANY, Okla. -- Southern Nazarene will look to climb out from the cellar of the Great American Conference standings today in a matchup against one of six teams tied for sixth place in the conference.
The conference follows last week's slate of historical rivalries with matchups mostly contained within the GAC's seven-year history. Monticello leads the youngest series of the week, 4-1, against Southern Nazarene. Four of the six GAC games this week feature series with 15 games or less.
Kickoff between the Boll Weevils and the Crimson Storm is scheduled for 1 p.m. at SNU Football Stadium.
Monticello moved out of a tie for last place with a 34-16 victory a week ago against Arkansas Tech. Southern Nazarene has lost four games in a row.
The Crimson Storm ranks last in the conference with 199.7 yards and 13.5 points per game, while the Boll Weevils allow 33 points per game, second-most in the GAC. Monticello ranks fourth with 379.3 yards and fifth with 28 points per game on offense.
Senior quarterback Cole Sears leads the Boll Weevils with 1,410 yards and eight touchdowns. He ranks fourth in the conference in passing and total offense.
Arkansas Tech (2-4) at
Northwestern Oklahoma State (2-4)
ALVA, Okla. -- Ranger Field will feature the week's only matchup between two of the six teams tied for sixth place in the GAC at 2-4.
Kickoff between Arkansas Tech and Northwestern Oklahoma State is scheduled for 2 p.m. The Wonder Boys lead the series, 11-4.
Arkansas Tech is third in the conference with 383.7 yards per game, but the Wonder Boys only average 18.2 points. They rank 11th in the GAC in the red zone, converting on only 11 of 19 trips. Senior running back Bryan Allen leads the conference with 560 rushing yards, but he only has two touchdowns this season.
Northwestern ranks ninth in points at 21.2 points per game and 10th at 334.2 yards. The Rangers rank at the top of the lower half of the conference in defense, ranking eighth in both run and pass defense.
Southern Arkansas (6-0) at
Southeastern Oklahoma State (4-2)
DURANT, Okla. -- The Muleriders are still seeking control of the GAC on the road this week at Southeastern Oklahoma State.
Southern Arkansas leads the series, 22-17-3. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Paul Laird Field.
The Muleriders and the Ouachita Baptist Tigers are the only undefeated teams remaining in the conference. Southern Arkansas is ranked No. 14 by D2Football.com and No. 15 in the American Football Coaches Association's Top 25 Poll.
Senior quarterback Barrett Renner is second in the GAC with 1,670 yards, 14 touchdowns and six interceptions on 122-for-184 passing this season. Senior receiver Karonce Higgins leads the conference with 649 yards. He has four touchdowns on 38 receptions.
Southeastern is tied for fourth place with Harding. The Savage Storm averages 28 points per game, but their defenses allows only 17 per game, third in the GAC behind only Ouachita Baptist and Harding.
Harding (4-2) at
Southwestern Oklahoma State (2-4)
WEATHERFORD, Okla. -- Harding is still lingering in the top 25 of NCAA Division II polls after a second defeat a week ago, a close 7-3 result in Searcy to Ouachita Baptist.
The Bisons are No. 23 on D2Football.com and No. 24 in the American Football Coaches Association's Top 25 Poll. They lead their series with the Bulldogs, 8-5.
Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. at ASAP Energy Field.
Harding still leads the GAC in rushing offense and scoring despite last week's loss. Sophomore Tristan Tucker averages a league-best 9.7 yards per carry for 484 yards and five touchdowns on 50 carries to lead the ground game to 323 yards and 35.3 points per game. Fellow sophomore Cole Chancey has run 76 times for 412 yards and three touchdowns.
The Bisons' second-ranked defense is matched up with junior quarterback Casey Freeman, who ranks fifth in the GAC with 1,361 yards, 12 touchdowns and five interceptions on 101-for-181 passing. Freeman won the first Offensive Player of the Week award of the season, but he has only thrown six touchdowns in the past five games.
Sports on 10/13/2018