GAC Week 9 Rankings and Selections
RK.-PV. TEAM (RECORD; WEEK 8 RESULTS)
- ↔ 1. HARDING (8-0; beat UAM 56-17)
- ↔ 2. OUACHITA BAPTIST (6-2; beat SAU 52-21)
- ↔ 3. HENDERSON STATE (7-1; beat Arkansas Tech 28-27)
- ↔ 4. ARKANSAS TECH (3-5; lost to Henderson 28-27)
- ↔ 5. SOUTHERN ARKANSAS (2-6; lost to Ouachita 52-21)
- ↔ 6. ARKANSAS-MONTICELLO (1-7; lost to Harding 56-17)
GAME OF THE WEEK
1 P.M.: Southeast Oklahoma State (6-2) at HENDERSON STATE (7-1): Henderson moved to 7-1 as it blocked a game-winning FG attempt with less than 30 seconds to play. Austin Ledbetter, returning from injury, threw for 325 yards and 2 TDs. DeAndra Burns, Jr. had a career night, totaling more than 100 receiving yards and scoring 2 TDs. Both teams are still fighting for an at-large playoff bid. The Reddies win at Carpenter-Haygood and move to 8-1.
SATURDAY’S GAMES (Favored teams listed in ALL CAPS and highlighted in orange)
2 P.M.: HARDING (8-0) at Oklahoma Baptist (3-5): No problem, once again, for Harding. The Bisons ran for more than 500 yards and knocked off UAM. Andrew Miller is now tied for the all-time Harding rushing-touchdown lead after a second-quarter score. Oklahoma Baptist poses little threat to Harding, which heads toward a 9-0 record and maintains its position to win the Great American Conference and earn a bye in the Division II playoffs.
1 P.M.: OUACHITA BAPTIST (6-2) at Northwestern Oklahoma State (0-8): OBU’s offense torched the Muleriders’ defense last week, putting up 523 yards as the Tigers won their fourth in a row. Ouachita led 17-0 early in the second quarter, held a 10-point lead at half, and never looked back.
2 P.M.: ARKANSAS TECH (3-5) at Southern Nazarene (2-5): Arkansas Tech had an opportunity to beat Henderson on a last-second field goal, but the try was blocked, and the Reddies prevailed after nearly seeing a 2-score lead evaporate. Southern Nazarene won last week and improved to 2-5, but the Wonder Boys hit the road and win.
2 P.M.: SATURDAY: Arkansas-Monticello (1-7) at SW OKLAHOMA STATE (3-4): UAM scored first, then went back and forth with the Bisons in the first half. The Bisons held an 11-point lead entering the third quarter after a Jeff Regan touchdown, then scored 35 consecutive points. Southwest Oklahoma State provides a challenge; UAM has played well on the road, but the Weevils come up short in Oklahoma. Southwest has momentum after its biggest win of the season over East Central.
2 P.M.: SATURDAY: EAST CENTRAL (6-2) at Southern Arkansas (2-6): SAU outgained Ouachita last week but could not finish drives. QB Ryan Shackleton sparked the Muleriders offense, and SAU trailed by 10 at halftime. Ouachita scored four consecutive TDs in the second half. East Central lost to Southwest Oklahoma State last week and will bounce back on the road.