GAC Week 2 Rankings and Selections

GAC 

WEEK 2

RANKINGS

RK. — PV.  TEAM (RECORD; WEEK 1 RESULTS)

1. ↔ 1. HARDING (1-0; beat NW Oklahoma State 76-0).
2. ↑  4. HENDERSON STATE (1-0; beat S. Nazarene 57-21). 
3. ↑  5. ARKANSAS TECH (1-0; beat SW Oklahoma State 26-20)
4. ↓  3. SOUTHERN ARKANSAS (0-1; lost to Oklahoma Baptist 38-20)
5. ↓  2. OUACHITA BAPTIST (0-1; lost to East Central 27-17)
6. ↔  6. ARKANSAS-MONTICELLO (0-1; lost to SE Oklahoma 21-12)

GAME OF THE WEEK

Oklahoma Baptist (1-0) at HENDERSON STATE (1-0, 6 p.m.): Oklahoma Baptist produced one of Week 1’s biggest surprises by defeating Southern Arkansas 38-20. The Bison overcame an early 64-yard touchdown run and a 20-17 deficit by scoring the game’s final 21 points. Oklahoma Baptist was picked 10th in the GAC preseason poll; Southern Arkansas entered the season as the third-rated team. The Bison’s ability to adjust after SAU’s explosive start suggested they may be more competitive than their preseason ranking indicated. Henderson State delivered the most complete offensive performance among the conference’s Arkansas teams. The Reddies totaled 580 yards, including a GAC-leading 338 passing yards, in a 57-21 road victory over Southern Nazarene. Quarterback Austin Ledbetter directed a balanced attack that quickly separated the teams. Henderson’s defense limited Southern Nazarene to 5 completions and 50 passing yards. This is the most intriguing matchup of Week 2. Oklahoma Baptist proved it can respond to adversity, but Henderson’s passing game, offensive balance and home-field advantage should make the difference.

WEEK 2 PREDICTIONS

(Predicted winner highlighted in orange).

THURSDAY’S GAMES 

HARDING (1-0) at SW OK State (0-1, 7 p.m.): Harding answered every offseason question in its 76-0 victory over Northwestern Oklahoma State. The Bisons held Northwestern to minus-26 total yards and no first downs while producing the most dominant statistical performance in the Great American Conference’s opening week, piling up 747 yards. QB Malik Young (11-162 rushing, 3 TDs; 2-2-80 passing, 2 TDs) was the ringleader. Twelve Bisons carried the ball, with Young, Josh Strickland, Jr. and Andrew Miller accounting for 35 carries, 335 yards and 4 TDs.  The game ended with 13:15 remaining after Harding RB Cedric Hawkins experienced a medical emergency. Team officials reported afterward that Hawkins, a transfer from Arkansas State who is from Stuttgart, was awake, communicating, and showing positive signs, but remained hospitalized for observation. He was released on Friday morning but will not make the trip to Weatherford, Okla., for the game. Harding entered the season as the overwhelming GAC favorite with new head coach Roddy Mote and fifth-year senior Young starting at quarterback. Nothing about the opening performance suggested the program is ready to surrender its place atop the conference. Southwestern Oklahoma State nearly produced an opening-week road victory at Arkansas Tech. The Bulldogs converted a fourth-and-11 with a 24-yard completion and reached the Tech 5 with 15 seconds remaining. Their final pass sailed beyond the intended receiver in the end zone, allowing Arkansas Tech to escape with a 26-20 victory. SWOSU proved it can compete, but preparing for Harding’s Flexbone offense on a short week presents a much different challenge. Harding’s rushing attack, defensive depth, and ability to control field position should travel well.

UAM (0-1) at EAST CENTRAL (1-0, 6 p.m.): Arkansas-Monticello struggled to generate offense in its 21-12 home loss to Southeastern Oklahoma State, finishing with 184 total yards, including 58 rushing yards.  The Boll Weevils failed to capitalize on several opportunities their defense created. UAM received an early scoring opportunity after Southeastern’s failed fake punt, but a goal-line stand kept the Boll Weevils off the scoreboard. UAM again advanced into Southeastern territory during the fourth quarter before being stopped on downs. East Central opened with an impressive 27-17 road victory at Ouachita Baptist. ECU totaled 429 yards and outgained Ouachita by 169. Quarterback Sergio Kennedy completed 18 of 27 passes for 200 yards, while East Central’s defense forced 3 fumbles and limited Ouachita to 74 passing yards. UAM’s defense should keep the Boll Weevils competitive early, but the offense must improve dramatically. East Central enters with confidence after defeating one of the conference’s preseason contenders and now gets its home opener.

NW OK State (0-1) at ARKANSAS TECH (1-0, 6 p.m.): Northwestern Oklahoma State enters Week 2 after getting held to minus-26 total yards and not recording a first down in a 76-0 loss at Harding, a game that was stopped with 13:15 to play because of a medical emergency. Arkansas Tech’s opener was much different. The Wonder Boys survived in the GAC’s only one-possession game of Week 1, scoring with 1:56 remaining and then protecting their lead with a goal-line stand against Southwestern Oklahoma State. SWOSU converted a fourth-and-11 and advanced to Tech’s 5 with 15 seconds left. The Wonder Boys defended the final play and escaped with a 26-20 victory. The teams combined for 747 yards but committed 6 turnovers, including 4 interceptions and 2 fumbles. Tech must take better care of the football, but its ability to produce the winning drive and protect 5 yards with the game on the line demonstrated important late-game composure. Northwestern’s offense faces another difficult assignment. Arkansas Tech should control field position, generate consistent defensive pressure, and improve to 2-0 without needing another final-play stand.

SATURDAY’S GAMES

Southern Nazarene (0-1) at SOUTHERN ARKANSAS (0-1, 6 p.m.): Southern Arkansas appeared ready to continue its recent success against Oklahoma Baptist when a 64-yard touchdown run helped the Muleriders build an early lead. SAU led 20-17 late in the first half, but Oklahoma Baptist scored the game’s final 21 points to win 38-20. The result was especially surprising because SAU entered the season third in the GAC preseason poll. The Muleriders did not score after taking the 3-point lead and failed to regain control after Oklahoma Baptist adjusted to their explosive start. Southern Nazarene opened with a 57-21 home loss to Henderson State. SNU allowed 580 yards and struggled to establish a passing attack, completing 5 of 16 attempts for 50 yards. Both teams are 0-1, but they enter under different circumstances. Southern Arkansas led a winning team before collapsing, while Southern Nazarene was decisively outgained from the beginning. The Muleriders should establish the run, finish drives more effectively and play with urgency in their home opener. An 0-2 start would place significant pressure on a program that entered the season with conference-title expectations.

OUACHITA BAPTIST (0-1) at SE OK State (1-0, 6 p.m.): Ouachita Baptist faces a dangerous road assignment after losing 27-17 to East Central. Quarterback Tre Nichols completed 8 of 21 passes for 74 yards. One completion accounted for 36 yards; the other 7 completions produced 38. The Tigers finished with 260 total yards and lost 3 fumbles. The problems extended beyond turnovers. East Central outgained Ouachita by 169 yards and prevented the Tigers from consistently threatening through the air. Southeastern Oklahoma State opened with a controlled 21-12 road victory over Arkansas-Monticello. The Savage Storm scored the game’s first 21 points, made an early goal-line stand, and stopped UAM on downs after the Boll Weevils crossed midfield in the fourth quarter. Southeastern’s defense allowed 184 yards, including 58 rushing yards. That performance makes this a difficult matchup for an Ouachita offense that lacked efficiency and ball security in its opener. Ouachita has enough experience and talent to respond, but the Tigers must protect Nichols, establish the run and eliminate the turnovers that undermined their opening performance. Expect a competitive game with Ouachita producing a much more disciplined effort.