No. 14 Southern Arkansas (6-0, 6-0 GAC) enters is preparing for the season’s final trip into Oklahoma where a highly-anticipated conference showdown with Southeastern Oklahoma State (4-2, 4-2 GAC) awaits on Saturday.
It’s homecoming weekend for the Savage Storm and it will also be SAU’s first trip to Durant since 2015 when the Savage Storm defeated Southern Arkansas 35-13. The Muleriders’ last win in Durant came in 2012.
Two of the GAC’s top two defenses square off as the both teams are allowing fewer than 18.5 points and less than 120 yards on the ground per game.
Southern Arkansas owns the nation’s third-most turnovers gained (17) and the team’s turnover margin of 1.33 ranks seventh in Division II. Of the team’s 54.0 total tackles for loss at 9.0 per game, which ranks 14th in the country, senior Anthony Washington is averaging 2.1 tackles for loss (TFL) per game; the sixth-highest per game clip in Division II.
Offensively, the Muleriders own the GAC’s second-highest scoring offense at 34.2 points per game and boast the league’s top total offense averaging 434.7 yards per contest. This season, SAU is converting just under 53% of their third-down opportunities; the nation’s fourth-highest success rate.
Leading the offensive charge has been senior quarterback Barrett Renner who is Division II’s career active leader in total offense with 12,251 yards. Renner is 2,104 yards away from becoming the state’s all-time collegiate passing yards leader.
Southeastern Oklahoma enters the matchup having won three straight games, which include road wins over Arkansas-Monticello and Southwestern Oklahoma and a home win against Northwestern Oklahoma State.
Offensively, the Savage Storm are averaging 27.4 points per game and 341.6 yards of total offense per game as well with 187.8 of the yards coming through the air and the remaining 153.8 yards being gained on the ground.
The Savage Storm have relied on a pair of starting quarterbacks this fall in Rollin Kinsaul and Austin Skinner. Kinsaul is the league’s reigning Offensive Player of the Week and has passed for 617 yards and five touchdowns in five games, while Skinner has tossed for 654 yards and four scores.
The Savage Storm’s leading pass catcher is Jaylen Sims with 38 receptions for 554 yards.
This will be the 43rd meeting all-time between the Muleriders and Savage Storm with SAU holding a 22-17-3 lead in the series.