Wonder Boys seek bounceback against Southern Arkansas on Family Day

KICKING OFF
The Arkansas Tech football team is back at home this week and will be looking to shake off a difficult loss on the road at Henderson State last weekend as the Wonder Boys were poised for the upset of the nationally-ranked Reddies through three quarters of play before Henderson pulled away in the final period.
Awaiting the Wonder Boys on their home field will be a formidable Southern Arkansas team, who is also coming off a disappointing loss to a nationally-ranked opponent a week ago as SAU lost at home, 25-20, to Ouachita Baptist.
The Wonder Boys will also be in search of snapping a five-game losing skid to the Muleriders.
TECH(NICALLY) SPEAKING
LAST GAME
The Wonder Boys are coming off a tough loss on the road at No. 20/17-ranked Henderson State this past Saturday. In that game, the Wonder Boys more than rose to the challenge of playing a highly-potent Reddies offense on the road as Tech held Henderson to just 230 yards of total offense with only 79 of those coming through the air. Coming into the game, the Reddies were averaging 533.5 yards of total offense with 333.5 of those yards coming in the passing attack.
SCOUTING THE OFFENSE
Offensively after three games, the Wonder Boys are averaging 27.3 points per game and 389.7 yards of total offense. Their ppg average ranks fifth in the GAC, while their total offense ranks fourth.
In the passing game, the Wonder Boys used a pair of quarterbacks with Ethan Forrester getting the start against Oklahoma Baptist and Ethan Everson starting against Southern Nazarene and Henderson State following an injury to Forrester. In his game played against Oklahoma Baptist, Forrester was 15-of-18 passing for 197 yards and two touchdowns. He also added 78 yards of rushing on eight carries. Overall, Everson has played in all three games and has thrown for 618 yards on 44-of-75 passing with four touchdowns and two interceptions.
On the ground, the Wonder Boys have had 10 different ball carriers against this season. Deuce Wise has shouldered the largest load with 51 carries and leads the team in net yards with 185. Luke Gall is next with 131 yards rushing on 28 carries with a team-high two touchdowns. Jordan Edington, who handles most of the short-yardage downs, has recorded the other rushing touchdown.
In terms of receiving, Tech has had pass completions to 10 different targets. Caleb Tanis leads the team in receptions with 17, yards 309 and touchdowns with two. Joyrion Chase and Jared Long have also gone over 100 yards receiving through three games and have a touchdown each. Tight end Dayton Keller has the other receiving touchdown.
SCOUTING THE DEFENSE
Defensively through three games, the Wonder Boys allow an average of 246.0 yards of total offense per game by their opponents and 24.7 points per game. The total defense ranks third in the GAC, while their scoring defense is fourth.
Individually, Tech had eight players that registered double-digit tackles overall are led by Jyrin Steward and his 28 stops. Steward also lead the team in tackles for loss with 12.5 and has 2.0 sacks. Israel Whitmore is currently the team leader in sacks with 2.5.
In terms of takeaways, the Wonder Boys have recovered a fumble and come away with four interceptions. Three of the picks have been hauled in by CJ Palmer, while the fumble recovery was secured by Jordan Thompson.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Christopher Baldazo has assumed the placekicking duties for the Wonder Boys and in three games he is 6-for-6 in field goals with a long of 47 yards against Oklahoma Baptist. He is also 2-of-4 in extra point kicks.
In the punting game, Logan Tymeson has been called upon to punt 16 times this season and is averaging 40.2 yards per punt.

In the return game, Tyrique Jones leads the team in kickoff return yards with 90 yards on three returns. His long is 40 yards. On punts, he has returned three for 22 yards with a long of 16.
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 19-28 record.
KNOW YO FOE
LAST GAME
The Southern Arkansas Muleriders come into Saturday's game with a 2-1 record overall and are looking for a bounce back after their first defeat of the season last weekend at home to No. 17-ranked Ouachita Baptist. The game was close through the first half with Ouachita holding a two-point lead, 16-14. The Tigers would pull away in the second half and has a safety in the third quarter and a touchdown in the fourth before SAU scored with 2:25 left to bring the game to its final of 25-20.
THE COACH
The Muleriders are coached by Brad Smiley, who is in his third year as the head coach at Southern Arkansas. Prior to coming to SAU, Smiley was at Northwestern State where he was the team's offensive coordinator beginning in the 2018 season. Before that, Smiley spent time as the head coach at Trinity Valley Community College. Overall, Smiley has nearly 30 years of collegiate coaching experience.
SCOUTING THE OFFENSE
Offensively, the Muleriders feature a spread offensive attack. Through their first three games of year, SAU has the fourth-ranked scoring offense in the GAC at 28.0 ppg and the sixth-ranked total offense with an average of 338.0 ypg. Through the air, the Muleriders are averaging 156.3 ypg to rank sixth in the GAC. On the ground, SAU is averaging 181.7 ypg to rank fifth in the GAC.
The leading rusher thus far has been quarterback Judd Barton with 194 yards gained with one touchdown. Not far off Barton's pace are tailbacks Jariq Scales and Kadyn Roach. Scales has 192 net yards rushing with four scores while Roach has 136 yards and two touchdowns. All three have carried the ball over 30 times.
In the passing game, the Muleriders have been led by Judd Barton. He has thrown for 469 yards on 40-of-73 passing attempts with three touchdowns and three interceptions.
The leading receiver for SAU is Rasheen Green with 107 yards on 12 receptions. Three different receivers outside of Green have combined for the three receiving touchdowns.
SCOUTING THE DEFENSE
Defensively, the Muleriders base out of a multiple scheme and currently rank fifth in scoring defense, allowing 25.3 ppg. Their total defense ranks sixth in the GAC allowing 342.7 ypg of total offense by their opponents. Through the air, SAU ranks ninth in the GAC with 186.0 ypg allowed. On the ground, the Muleriders allow an average of 156.7 ypg and rank sixth in the GAC.
As a team, the Muleriders have come away with six take-aways with four being interceptions and two being fumble recoveries.
Individually, Southern Arkansas has six players with 15 or more stops and are led by Melvin Smith Jr. and Dawson Scott with 20. Scott leads the team in TFLs with 4.5 and sacks with 3.0.
THE SERIES
This will be the 87th meeting all-time between Arkansas Tech and Southern Arkansas in a series that dates back to 1916. Playing almost annually as conference opponents in the AIC and GSC, Tech and SAU also became charter members of the GAC in 2011. In that time span, SAU leads the series 9-3. Dating back to when both schools made the jump to NCAA DII in 1995, SAU holds a 15-11 lead.