Tech vs. SAU Game Notes

RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. - The Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys football team (2-1) will look to pick up its first road win of the 2016 season, as Tech heads to Magnolia this Saturday for a matchup at Southern Arkansas (2-1). 

Kickoff from Wilkins Stadium is set for 6 p.m., with the game carried live locally on 102.3-FM (KCJC) in Russellville. 

This matchup, the 80th meeting between the two schools, is a pivotal early-season matchup as both teams look to keep pace with current leaders Henderson State and Harding, who sit atop the GAC standings at 3-0. 

Tech is coming off an impressive 38-31 win over Arkansas-Monticello, where the Wonder Boys held off a late surge by the Boll Weevils. Ty Reasnor threw for 330 yards in the win, with two long touchdown passes, while both Seth Culp and D'Vonta Derricott had big weeks on the defensive side of the ball. 

Southern Arkansas opened the season 2-0 with a road win at Southwestern Oklahoma and a home win against Northwestern Oklahoma, but the Muleriders ran into a tough Harding team and suffered a 35-14 loss to fall to 2-1. SAU gave up 385 yards on the ground to Harding's triple-option offense,  but collected 275 yards in the air. Harding jumped out to a 28-7 lead before SAU was able to narrow the gap late in the fourth quarter. However, the Bisons tacked on an insurance score in the final minute to set the game at its final margin. 

The game is part of a loaded slate of Great American Conference games. Tech and SAU are tied with Southeastern Oklahoma (home vs. Southern Nazarene) and Ouachita (at NWOSU) at 2-1 in GAC play, while undefeated Henderson State (at SWOSU) and Harding (at UAM) face road tests this weekend.