GAC tilts shift back to Arkansas

Southwestern Oklahoma State (2-5)

at Arkansas Tech (2-5)

RUSSELLVILLE -- Arkansas Tech will host Southwestern Oklahoma State today at 2 p.m. at Thone Stadium as all six Great American Conference matchups are held in the Natural State.

Ouachita Baptist (8-0) remained undefeated and at the top of the conference Thursday with a home 41-0 victory against Southern Nazarene (1-7) at Cliff Harris Stadium in Arkadelphia.

The Wonder Boys and the Bulldogs will kick off today at 2 p.m.

Arkansas Tech is fifth in the conference in total offense with 376.3 yards per game, but the Wonder Boys only average 15.6 points. Their defense allows 24.6 points per game.

Senior running back Bryan Allen has 606 yards, but he has only scored twice. Sophomore quarterback Carter Burcham is 92-for-194 passing for five touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

Southwestern quarterback Casey Freeman has been limited since winning Offensive Player of the Week honors after the first game. He is 107-for-195 passing for 1,391 yards, 12 touchdowns and eight interceptions.

The Bulldogs average 20.7 points per game and give up 34.6.

The series is tied, 7-7. Arkansas Tech won, 38-21, when the two teams met a year ago.

Northwestern Oklahoma State (3-4)

at Harding (5-2)

SEARCY -- Harding will look to move up the GAC standings today at 2 p.m. at First Security Stadium against Northwestern Oklahoma State.

The Bisons are still ranked No. 23 by D2Football.com despite losses to the conference's top two teams. They are ranked No. 24 in Division II by the American Football Coaches Association.

Harding's 330.7 rushing yards and 37.4 points per game leads the GAC. Sophomore Tristan Tucker has 484 yards and five touchdowns on just 50 carries. Classmate Cole Chancey has 468 yards and five scores on 88 carries.

Northwestern leans on its passing game to average 21.1 points. Senior quarterback Isaiah Weed is 66-for-128 passing for six touchdowns with five interceptions.

Harding leads the series, 9-2. The Bisons won, 34-0, a year ago.

East Central (2-5) at

Southern Arkansas (6-1)

MAGNOLIA -- The Muleriders will look to bounce back from their first loss of the season at 2:30 p.m. at Wilkins Stadium against the Tigers of East Central.

Southern Arkansas was stunned a week ago with a 21-0 loss at Southeastern Oklahoma State. The Muleriders are ranked No. 22 by D2Football.com and No. 23 in Division II by the AFCA.

Their offense is still second in the GAC with 407.3 yards per game for 29.3 points. Senior quarterback Barrett Renner is 133-for-206 passing for 1,772 yards, which ranks third in the conference. He has 14 touchdowns to six interceptions.

East Central ranks near the bottom of the conference on both offense and defense. The Tigers average just 229.7 yards and 15.7 points per game, while their defense surrenders 28.6 per contest.

Southern Arkansas leads the series, 12-7, after a 35-28 victory last season.

Oklahoma Baptist (2-5)

at Arkansas-Monticello (3-4)

MONTICELLO -- The Boll Weevils will celebrate homecoming today at 3 p.m. at Cotton Boll Stadium in one of the conference's younger matchups.

Monticello leads its young series with Oklahoma Baptist, 2-1. The Boll Weevils won, 64-21, against the Bison last year.

Senior Cole Sears is 116-for-219 passing this season for 1,543 yards and nine touchdowns with five interceptions this season to lead Monticello to 29 points per game. The Boll Weevil defense has had more trouble, holding opponents to 337.9 points per game, but giving up 30 points, which ranks 10th in the GAC.

Sports on 10/20/2018

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