Tech vs. SWOSU Notes - "Star Wars" Edition

RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. - After a tough two-week stretch that has seen the Arkansas Tech football team drop a pair of games by a combined five points, the Wonder Boys will look to get back on the winning path this Saturday with a road contest at Southwestern Oklahoma.

Kickoff from Milam Stadium is set for 2 p.m.

Arkansas Tech (4-2, 4-2 Great American Conference) climbed as high as No. 11 in the American Football Coaches Association NCAA Division II football poll after a 4-0 start to the season. The two close losses have knocked the Wonder Boys out of the top-25 and into a three-way tie for second place. Southwestern Oklahoma (2-4, 2-4) had an opportunity to even its record and knock off first-place Southeastern Oklahoma last weekend, holding a 17-7 fourth-quarter lead, however, the Savage Storm put up 24 fourth-quarter points to remain undefeated and grab a two-game lead with five games remaining in the conference season.

This week, the Wonder Boys will look to take the opportunity to hold their position in a race that appears to be set to come down to the wire.

Last weekend, the Wonder Boys dropped a heartbreaker in Monticello after a back-and-forth contest that featured a lightning delay midway through the first half. 

Tech's rushing attack combined for 217 yards and four scores, with Bryan Allen racking up a team-best 114 yards, Ty Reasnor adding 79 yards and two scores, and both Justin Bailey and Tanner Gaines also finding the end zone. Reasnor connected on 10 of 21 passes for 167 yards and a score as well. 

Defensively, Tech was led by KJ Reid, who turned in a 14-tackle performance and returned a pick for a touchdown. 

For the Bulldogs, Casey Freeman has taken the great majority of snaps under center, completing 116 of 205 passes for 1,327 yards, and nine touchdowns. His favorite end zone target has been Jordan Jackson, who has hauled in nine passes - four for scores - while his most frequent dance partners have been Jared Rayburn (27 catches, 258 yards, two scores) and JR Omigie (16 catches, 285 yards, two scores). The tandem of Karltrell Henderson and Cedric Cooper have combined to rush for 531 yards and five scores, while defensively, Austin Loomis leads the way with 44 tackles, including three for loss and two interceptions. 

Arkansas Tech's offense still rates as the GAC's most prolific averaging 40.0 points per game, while the defensive unit is the second-stingiest, surrendering just 21.0 points per game. While the Bulldogs rank 10th in scoring offense at 21.7 points per game and eighth in scoring defense at 33.3 points per game, it is the Bulldogs' rush defense that may present problems for the Wonder Boys. SWOSU has allowed 180.8 yards per game - sixth in the league, while the Wonder Boys' rushing attack averages 223.2 yards per game - trailing only triple-option adherent Harding - to rank second in the GAC. 

With a standard windy day in the cards for Saturday - winds at kickoff in Weatherford are forecast to be in excess of 20 MPH, both teams may be forced to play close to the ground. That should favor the Wonder Boys, who have relied less on the pass than SWOSU this season.

Saturday's game will be broadcast live on 102.3-FM (KCJC) in Russellville, with live audio, video, and statistics available at www.arkansastechsports.com.