BETHANY, Okla. — Both riding with a 3-1 record prior to this game, the meeting between Southern Nazarene and Southern Arkansas was highly anticipated as one squad would end up with their second loss of the season Saturday afternoon.
 
That team turned out to be SNU who fell by just a single touchdown on their home turf, dropping their second game of the 2023 season. The Muleriders (4-1, 4-1 GAC) maintained a pretty potent ground game, totaling 262 rushing yards for four total touchdowns. The Storm (3-2, 3-2 GAC) was more efficient in the air this game with 187 total passing yards for all three of their touchdowns. SNU's 10 penalties for a loss of 73 total yards was a key difference maker in the matchup, allowing SAU to capitalize in moments where it mattered most.
 
SNU took no time marching down the field, breaking open seven plays for 75 yards that resulted in the game's first score. Pushing their way to the SAU 16, Porter made it an easy first-score for the Storm, finding a wide-open Jarrell Farr for the 16-yard touchdown pass. Kameron Van Prooyen landed the ball through the uprights for the extra point attempt, and SNU was off to a hot start, getting the 7-0 lead over the Muleriders.
 
The Storm defense put up a wall early against the Muleriders, forcing their first three-and-out of the afternoon with Southern Arkansas only seeing eight total yards of offense on their first possession of the opening quarter.
 
The Muleriders were quick to turn the momentum around, holding their ground on defense. The Muleriders put a stop to the Storm with a sack for a loss of 11 yards, getting the ball back on their own 46-yard line. The blue and gold wasted no time on the offensive end, putting up a 27-yard run to get even further down the field. SAU's OB Jones connected with one of his lonely receivers for the 25-yard pass for the touchdown, knotting the game up at seven-all to end quarter one.
 
 
Continuing their drive from the first quarter, Southern Arkansas was unable to make anything happen to start the second quarter and were forced to punt. The teams traded punts over the next three minutes, and SNU went to work on their next drive, making their way down the field from the SAU-48. Finding their way to the SAU-19, Porter found an open Carlos Zepeda in the end zone for the 19-yard touchdown pass and SNU took back the lead at 14-7.
 
The Muleriders had enough time to try and cut the gap before the end of the half, beginning their next drive from their own 25-yard line. Escaping another three-and-out, SAU got first down before having to turn the ball back over to SNU they turned it into a score. On 3rd and 2 at the SNU-17, Jones connected with Matthew Whitten for the 17-yard touchdown, tying the game once more at 14-14.
 
With two minutes left on the clock, SNU hurried to regain the lead before halftime. With the ball on their own 38-yard line, SNU began their lead takeover. Porter led the march with run after run and then a huge 16-yard pass to Asa Robertson for the score, gaining the 21-14 advantage and leaving SAU just 35 seconds left.
 
The Muleriders were unsuccessful in those remaining 35 seconds as Jalen Mays intercepted the ball on 2nd and 3, leaving SAU empty-handed and keeping the Storm ahead by a touchdown heading into the break.
 
 
SNU almost forced another punt on the Muleriders in their opening drive of the half, but a roughing-the-kicker call gave possession back to SAU. Southern Arkansas escaped the three-and-out and continued with a 40-yard completion down the middle to gain excellent field position. An SNU holding call bumped the Muleriders further to the end zone and SAU capped off their drive with a 20-yard pass for the touchdown. Their extra point was good, and the Muleriders made it a tie ballgame at 21-21.
 
Both squads hit offensive stalls the rest of the quarter, making it a heavy defensive game that featured multiple three-and-outs. With the Muleriders scoring the only touchdown of the quarter, the two squads were gridlocked at 21 a piece heading into the final quarter.
 
 
Southern Arkansas reignited their offense in their first drive of the fourth quarter, marching down the field from the SNU 48-yard line. The Muleriders capped off a 13-play, 70-yard drive with a three-yard pass to the left side for a score, gaining their first lead of the day at 28-21.
 
With just under 10 minutes left in the final quarter, SNU looked to make a comeback. Porter excited the crowd with two huge passes to Asa Robertson for 17 yards and again to Andrew Tisdale for 36 yards, moving all the way down to SAU-20. SNU was unable to convert on the next few snaps and were forced to punt with just under seven minutes left on the clock.
 
Rolling with the lead, Southern Arkansas looked to make the most out of their next possession, marching all the way down to the SNU-27 before SNU's Seth Spruiell picked off the Muleriders on the SNU-24. With just under two minutes remaining in the final quarter SNU worked quickly to awaken the offense. Porter connected with Donovaughn Hill for what would have been a game-changing completion, but an SNU holding call put the ball back on the SNU-37. With just seconds on the clock Porter made two quick completions to Tisdale and Robertson, marking the first down on SAU's 43-yard line.
 
Porter took the snap with under 30 seconds on the clock and launched one up to Hill, but was picked off by a Mulerider who made a great read on the ball, putting possession back with SAU with 19 seconds remaining.
 
The Muleriders melted the clock down and improved to 4-1 on the season with the final 28-21 victory.
 
 
Up Next:
 
Southern Nazarene will have a large task in front of them next weekend as they head to Arkadelphia, Arkansas for a meeting with Henderson State who were previously in the DII Top 25 at the 25 position. Last season, SNU lost by just a single point in overtime at 42-41 in Bethany.
 
Game time on October 7th is set for 2 p.m.