MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Despite forcing four turnovers and allowing a season-low 46 rushing yards, the Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys (2-2) dropped a 28-21 contest to the Southern Arkansas Muleriders (3-1) on Saturday.
 
SCORING PLAYS

• Tech 3, SAU 0 – 11:50 1^st Quarter – Eric Perez 39 yard FG – 8 plays, 21 yards, 3:10.
• SAU 7, Tech 3 – 1:18 2^nd Quarter – Karonce Higgins 27 yard pass from Barrett Renner (Grems kick) – 6 plays, 76 yards, 2:28.
• Tech 10, SAU 7 – 0:15 2^nd Quarter – Bryan Allen 19 yard run (Perez kick) – 6 plays, 60 yards, 0:56.
• SAU 14, Tech 10 – 13:44 3^rd Quarter – Tanner Hudson 18 yard pass from Barrett Renner (Grems kick) – 3 plays, 75 yards, 1:15.
• SAU 14, Tech 13 – 10:45 3^rd Quarter – Eric Perez 40 yard FG – 9 plays, 42 yards, 2:59.
• SAU 21, Tech 13 – 3:46 3^rd Quarter – Tanner Hudson 14 yard pass from Barrett Renner (Grems kick) – 9 plays, 75 yards, 3:48.
• SAU 21, Tech 21 – 13:01 4^th Quarter – Kristian Thompson 1 yard run (Eastburn 2-point) – 6 plays, 33 yards, 2:24.
• SAU 28, Tech 21 – 7:24 4^th Quarter – Will Haines 1 yard run (Grems kick) – 12 plays, 75 yards, 5:37.

 
NOTABLES

• For the past nine consecutive seasons, the winner between Arkansas Tech and Southern Arkansas has been the home team.
• Down 28-21 with less than five minutes to play, Arkansas Tech failed on a fourth down conversion attempt on SAU's seven yard line.  The Wonder Boys recovered an SAU fumble on the following drive, but Jabyes Cross' third-down pass was intercepted in the end zone to give the ball back to the Muleriders.
• In the second quarter, Jarrett Clayton blocked an SAU field-goal attempt to preserve the Wonder Boys' 3-0 lead. Clayton's block was the first for Tech since Logan Genz blocked a Northwestern Oklahoma State field goal on Oct. 31, 2015.
• Braden Stringer set a season-high in rushing after just the first half of play, going into the break with 73 yards on the ground. Stringer finished the game with team-high 89 rushing yards.
• Kristen Trammell led all players with a career-high 12 total tackles. Seth Culp had at least 10 tackles for the third consecutive week.
• Arkansas Tech finished with a season-high 260 yards on the ground, but also posted a season-low 85 passing yards.
• The Wonder Boys allowed 399 yards passing, the most by a Tech defense since 2012 when the Wonder Boys gave up 424 yards to SAU's Tyler Sykora.
• Southern Arkansas took advantage of Arkansas Tech mistakes, as the Wonder Boys finished with 10 penalties for 115 yards. The Muleriders committed just six penalties for a total of 56 yards.
• Tech's defense kept the Wonder Boys in the contest, intercepting SAU's Barrett Renner twice and also recovering two fumbles.
• SAU converted on just 1-8 third downs, while Tech moved the chains on 3-15.
• The Wonder Boys reached the redzone five times in the loss, converting on three trips. SAU was 3-4 in the redzone.

 
NEXT UP

• The Wonder Boys return home next week, as Tech hosts Henderson State at Thone Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.