KICKING OFF
After a thrilling 44-41 win at home in overtime in their season-opener back on September 5, the Arkansas Tech football team is in position to do something that the program has not done since 2017, and that's start the year 2-0. In that 2017 season, the Wonder Boys won their first four games and ended with an 8-3 regular season record and appeared in the Agent Barry Live United Bowl in Texarkana.
In order to get to 2-0, the Wonder Boys must win on the road at Southern Nazarene. Saturday's game will be the sixth trip all-time for the Wonder Boys to Bethany, Okla. but their first since 2021. Tech is 4-1 in the previous games played at SNU.
TECH(NICALLY) SPEAKING
LAST GAME
It took overtime, but the Arkansas Tech football team picked up a win, 44-41, in their season-opener this past week at home against Oklahoma Baptist. The Wonder Boys were impressive on offense as they totaled 479 yards off offense and did so in a balanced manner with 245 yards coming on the ground and 234 coming through the air.
SCOUTING THE OFFENSE
Offensively after one game, the Wonder Boys are averaging 44.0 points per game and 479.0 yards of total offense. Their ppg average ranks third in the GAC, while their total offense ranks third as well.
In the game against Oklahoma Baptist, the Wonder Boys used a pair of quarterbacks with Ethan Forrester getting the start and Ethan Everson taking over as an injury replacement and finishing the game. Forrester was 15-of-18 passing for 197 yards and two touchdowns. He also added 78 yards of rushing on eight carries. Everson would go 2-of-8 passing for 37 yards.
On the ground, the Wonder Boys had seven different ball carriers against Oklahoma Baptist. Deuce Wise shouldered the load with 25 carries. He fell just a yard shy of 100 as he finished with 99 net yards. Luke Gall was next with 91 yards rushing on 10 carries with two touchdowns. Jordan Edington handled most of the short-yardage downs and recorded the other rushing touchdown.
In terms of receiving, Tech had pass completions to seven different targets. Joyrion Chase led the team in receptions and yards with six catches for 119 yards. Caleb Tanis had one of the two receiving touchdowns in the opener, a 45-yard score at the end of the first half. Tight End Dayton Keller had the other receiving touchdown.
SCOUTING THE DEFENSE
Defensively through one game, the Wonder Boys allowed an average of 299.0 yards of total offense per game by their opponents and 41.0 points per game. The total defense ranks fifth in the GAC, while their scoring defense is eighth.
Individually, Tech had six players that registered at least five tackles in their season-opener and are led by Javon Love and his eight stops. Jyrin Steward lead the team in tackles for loss with 3.5 while Israel Whitmore and Jordan Thompson recorded the sacks.
In terms of takeaways, the Wonder Boys recovered a fumble and had two interceptions. Both picks were hauled in by CJ Palmer while the fumble recovery was secured by Jordan Thompson.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Returner Austin Hosier started the placekicking duties for the Wonder Boys, but Christopher Baldazo ended up taking the final two attempts and was successful on both, including the game-winning 28-yard kick in overtime.
In the punting game, Logan Tymeson was called upon twice and averaged 40.0 yards per punt.
In the return game, Tyrique Jones handled a pair of kickoffs and one punt return. On kickoffs, Jones totaled 63 yards and had a long of 40 yards. On punts, he returned one for six yards.
COACH SHIPP
Kyle Shipp is in his sixth season as head football coach at Arkansas Tech and is in his fifth season of competition after the 2020 season was not played due to COVID-19. After a 3-8 season in his first year on the sidelines of his alma mater in 2019, Shipp would improve his team's win output each of the next two seasons with four wins in 2021 and five wins in 2022. This past season, Shipp matched that win total of five. Overall, Shipp carries an 18-27 record.
KNOW YO FOE
LAST GAME
The Southern Nazarene Crimson Storm are coming into their game against Arkansas Tech with an 0-1 record after losing their season-opener on the road at No. 1 Harding, 59-0. Against Harding, SNU was met by a stout Bison defense that held the Crimson Storm to just 49 yards of total offense for the game.
THE COACH
The Crimson Storm are coached by Dustin Hada, who is in his fifth year as the head coach at SNU after taking over as head coach in 2020. Despite being in his fifth year, Hada and his Crimson Storm are only in their fourth season of action on the field as the 2020 season was not played due to COVID-19. Hada is no stranger to SNU, however, spending the previous four seasons as SNU's Offensive Coordinator and Offensive Line coach. His record at SNU is 12-26.
SCOUTING THE OFFENSE
Offensively, the Crimson Storm feature a spread-option attack. After the first week of the season, SNU has the 12th-ranked scoring offense in the GAC at 0.0 ppg and the 12th-ranked total offense with an average of 49.0 ypg. Through the air, the Crimson Storm are averaging 16.0 ypg to rank 12th in the GAC. On the ground, SNU is averaging 33.0 ypg to rank 12th in the GAC.
The leading rusher thus far is wide receiver Evan Rader as he gained 37 yards on his lone carry in week one.
In the passing game, the Crimson Storm used a pair of quarterbacks in Rasheed Noel and Bryson Evans. The two combined to complete just three passes for 16 yards against Harding in week one.
All three of those receptions were recorded by different receivers with Dalen Smith, Karomo Collins and Westyn Smith recording catches.
SCOUTING THE DEFENSE
Defensively, the Crimson Storm base out of the 3-4 scheme and currently rank 12th in scoring defense, allowing 59.0 ppg through one week of play. Their total defense ranks 12th in the GAC allowing 607.0 ypg of total offense by their opponents. Through the air, SNU ranks second in the GAC with an average of 53.0 ypg. On the ground, the Crimson Storm allow an average of 554.0 ypg and rank 12th in the GAC.
Collectively, the Crimson Storm have forced three turnovers with all three being fumble recoveries. Each fumble recovery was made by a different player.
Individually, SNU's have three players that registered at least eight tackles in their season-opener and are led by Brock Carter and his nine stops.
THE SERIES
This will be the 11th meeting all-time between Arkansas Tech and Southern Nazarene in a series that began in 2013 when SNU joined the Great American Conference. Overall, Tech holds an 8-2-0 advantage. The Wonder Boys started off winning the first six games in the series before the Crimson Storm won their first game of the series in 2019. In games played in Bethany, the Wonder Boys lead the series 4-1.
