Game Notes - Arkansas Tech vs. SAU

RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. - The Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys football team will kick off its 2017 campaign with one of the toughest challenges it will face all season - a date with preseason conference favorite and nationally 22nd-ranked Southern Arkansas this Thursday night at Thone Stadium at Buerkle Field. 

A 7 p.m. kickoff is scheduled. The game will be broadcast locally on KCJC-FM (102.3) in Russellville.

With two of the toughest tests in the first two weeks of the season, Arkansas Tech will seek to pick up a win against a Southern Arkansas squad that has not found much hospitality on its trips to Russellville. Southern Arkansas has not won in Russellville since the 2007 season, and that win is SAU's only win in Russellville since 1993. 

The Muleriders will bring their spread offense into Russellville to face a Wonder Boys defense that saw several seniors depart from last year's highly-experienced unit. However, Cua' Rose has established himself as one of the most fearsome secondary defenders in the GAC while returnees Seth Culp and K.J. Reid will provide experience at the linebacker position. 

Another return of sorts for the Wonder Boys comes in the form of co-defensive coordinator Raleigh Jackson, who rejoined the Arkansas Tech program after one season at Delta State to lead the defense alongside Kurt Corbin. The last time Jackson and Corbin mentored a Wonder Boys defense, Arkansas Tech posted the league's second-rated defense, surrendering just 21.1 points and 333.8 yards per contest.

Meanwhile, on the offensive side of the football, Ty Reasnor returns under center. The senior suffered a season-ending injury in the Wonder Boys trip to Magnolia last season, but returns to helm an offense that features one of the top rushing units in all of Division II. The foursome of Bryan Allen, Justin Bailey, Brayden Stringer, and Kristian Thompson paced a rushing attack that racked up 215.4 yards per game last season, the fourth-highest rushing total in the GAC. 

Live audio, video, and statistics will be available at www.arkansastechsports.com.