MONTICELLO - Southern Arkansas will more than likely go bowling instead playing in this week’s NCAA Division II football playoffs.
The UAM Boll Weevils rallied from a 14-point deficit and stunned the Muleriders (8-3) 20-17 with a game-winning field goal as time expired Saturday afternoon in Monticello.
“It should have never gotten to that point,” said a disappointed SAU coach Bill Keopple.
Favored going into the game, the Muleriders simply had to win to secure the seventh and final spot in the playoffs.
“It’s aggravating. You get in a situation where you are one win away from going to the national playoffs and blow it,” said Keopple.
The Muleriders appeared focused to start the game, using just under two minutes to go up 7-0.
Lorenzo Alexander ran for 23 yards on the drive before Barrett Renner later threw 28 yards to Karonce Higgins for the touchdown.
Austin Wilkerson’s PAT made it 7-0.
Following a goal line stand in the second period, SAU doubled its score to 14-0 on a 5-yard TD pass from Renner to Dalton Wright.
The Mulriders missed an opportunity to added to its lead when Wilkerson slipped on a field goal attempt from 35 yards out early in the third quarter.
The Weevils, following a 39-yard run to the 1, scored when Jeremy Hampton caught a touchdown pass from Cole Sears to make it 14-7.
Following a 42-yard kickoff return by Higgins, SAU had to convert on a fourth down play to gain a 17-7 advantage with 2:34 left in the third period.
Wilkerson’s 23-yard field goal gave the Muleriders the 10-point lead.
Early in the fourth, UAM closed the gap to 178-10 off a 30-yard field goal by Josh Marini.
SAU gave the ball over on downs midway through the quarter and UAM used a 12-play, 94-yard drive to tie the game at 17-17 with 1:04 to play. Two personal foul penalties on the Muleriders helped the Weevils down the field.
SAU took possession, but gave the ball back after three consecutive passes.
With 35 seconds remaining, UAM used a 32-yard pass play to get deep into Mulerider territory.
After a time out with 3.3 seconds left, Marini kicked the game winner.
“We got down in the red zone on three occasions and did not convert,” said Keopple. “That’s not good and I know it was tough footing out there. But they got after us and got after us pretty hard.”
The coach said his Muleriders were simply not up to the challenge.
“Their backs were against the wall and fighting for a winning season. I’ve been there,” said Keopple.
The coach said he’s certain OBU and Harding will represent the GAC in the playoffs and the Muleriders should get an invitation to the Live United Bowl in Texarkana set for Dec. 1 at Arkansas High Razorback Stadium.