Southern Nazarene Game Notes
Southern Arkansas Game Notes
Great American Conference Notebook
BETHANY, Okla. — Southern Nazarene looks to make it two in a row after the Crimson Storm picked up the first win of the season in impressive fashion last week. SNU scored a 44-19 win over Kansas Wesleyan to finally break through after losing by three points in each of the last two games. It was the first time in school history that the Crimson Storm started off a season 0-6.
SNU now turns its attention on a Southern Arkansas team that is 5-1 on the year with its only loss being a 23-20 loss against No. 23 Harding. The Muleriders won their first four games of the season before the loss to the Bisons and then shutout East Central.
The last two games for SAU are common opponents for the Crimson Storm as Southern Nazarene fell 37-15 to East Central in week two before losing 42-13 to Harding two weeks later in the home opener.
Live video/audio along with live stats will be provided on muleriderathletics.com and if you're in the Magnolia, Ark., area the game can be heard on 99.1 FM and 630 AM.
RECAPPING THE WEEK
Success finally came all in one shot for Southern Nazarene as the Crimson Storm had a season-high 558 yards of total offense, including a career-high 362 yards passing from Dylan Terry. The junior quarterback also threw a career-high three touchdowns while going 32-for-44 in passing attempts. Sedrick Johnson pulled in 119 yards receiving and scored twice, both in the first half, as he pulled in 11 receptions.
The Crimson Storm also rushed for a season-high 196 yards. It was the most yards rushing in a single-game since Sept. 24, 2011, when the Storm ran for 377 yards against Bethel (Kan.). Chris Hunter led the way with a career-high 108 yards on 19 carries while Derick Perkins had 87 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries.
SNU also got plenty of help from its defensive unit as Kansas Wesleyan was held to 98 yards rushing and Josh Daugherty scored his second defensive touchdown of the season. Daugherty, who already has a fumble recovery returned for a touchdown, picked off a pass and took it back 38 yards for the score.
The Muleriders totaled 477 yards of offense against East Central and held the Tigers to just 123 yards of total offense. Southern Arkansas rushed for 224 yards and threw for 253 yards. ECU was held to just 53 yards rushing and 70 yards passing. SAU's Tyler Sykora threw for 253 yards and one touchdown and went 21-for-26. Carlos Brown had 105 yard receiving on four catches. Mark Johnson ran for 132 yards and two touchdowns.
TURNING OVER POINTS
Southern Nazarene has scored four touchdowns on the defensive side with two coming by way of interceptions and two off of fumble recovery. Josh Daugerty has one on either side while Stan West as an interception return and Matt Pruitt has a fumble returned for a touchdown.
AMONG THE GAC
Southern Nazarene ranks second in the Great American Conference in pass defense as it is allowing just 171.9 yards per game through the air. SNU is also fifth in pass defense efficiency at 104.5. The Crimson Storm are also fourth in the GAC in interceptions with eight and third in sacks with 18.
Derick Perkins is in the top 10 in the GAC in rushing, averaging 50.7 yards per game and has 355 total yards on the year. Dylan Terry is sixth in the conference in passing passing yards per game at 191.6. Sedrick Johnson is third in the conference in receptions per game at 6.6 and sixth in reception yards per game at 74.0.
Michael Hicks leads the GAC in tackles with 81 while Dillon Brumbaugh is third with 67. Hicks is also in the top 10 in sacks as he is seventh in the conference with four sacks while Chriso Lisika is just ahead of him in sixth with 4.5 sacks. Those two are also tied for third in tackles for a loss with 10.
RECORD CHASERS
Sedrick Johnson is just four catches away from becoming just the fourth player in a single-season to have at least 50 catches. The senior currently has 46, the seventh most in a single-season in school history. Kevin Brooks (2009-65), Jarod Martin (2010, 61) and Jared Elmore (2008-54) are the only other players to have at least 50 catches in a single season.
Derick Perkins also became the third player in school history to reach the 2,000-yard mark in rushing. He joined Jason Kilmer (2000-03) and Branden Smith (2006-09) and is third all-time in school history in rushing. Perkins needs just two more touchdowns to tie Smith for second all-time in rushing touchdowns and moved into second all-time in scoring past Martin as he now has 172 career points while Martin has 168. The two are also tied for second all-time in school history in total touchdowns scored with 28.
Matt Pruitt tied D'Antae Mitchell for the all-time lead in school history in interceptions with 15. Pruitt is also the all-time leader in fumble return yards with 105 as all of those yards have come this season.
Dillon Brumbaugh moved to fourth all-time in school history with 233 tackles as he slid past Adrian Valdes (2008-11). He now needs six more to catch Luke Olson (2008-11) for third all-time. Michael Hicks and Matt Pruitt are both tied for seventh at 215.
ABOUT THE MULERIDERS
Southern Arkansas might be one of the more balanced teams in the Great American Conference. The Muleriders are fourth in the GAC in scoring offense (31.8 ppg.) and are second in the conference in scoring defense (15.8 ppg.). SAU is total offense
averaging 431.8 yards per game and are third in total defense, giving up 307.5 yards per game. Mark Johnson is the second leading rusher in the GAC has he averages 112.5 yards per game. He averages 5.0 yards a carry and has seven touchdowns on the year. Tyler Sykora is third in the conference in passing yards per game at 262.2. Rafael Thomas leads the GAC in receiving yards per game at 98.4 and Jack Brown is also in the top 10 at 59.0 yards per game. Mark Spaight is eighth in the conference in tackles per game at 8.5. Don Unamba also leads the GAC in passes defelected per game at 2.17. Two other Muleriders are in the top 20.
