GAME INFORMATION
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ARKANSAS TECH
WONDER BOYS
0-1 (0-1 GAC) |
SOUTHERN NAZARENE
CRIMSON STORM
0-1 (0-1 GAC) |
Saturday, September | 6 p.m.
Simmons Bank Field at Thone Stadium | Russellville, Ark.
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KICKING OFF
A tough one-score loss in the season-opener at Oklahoma Baptist has the Arkansas Tech football team eager to return to the field for Week 2 of the 2023 season. That return to action will see the Wonder Boys make their home debut as they are set to take on Southern Nazarene on Saturday, September 9.
It will be the first game played on the newly-installed field turf at Thone Stadium, which will assume the name of Simmons Bank Field after a generous gift from Simmons Bank aided in the funding for the turf.
The Wonder Boys will also be looking to establish a home-field advantage against Southern Nazarene that they can use for the remainder of their five home games that will be left on the schedule. Last season, the Wonder Boys had winning record at home and went 3-2.
Saturday night's game is not only the home-opener, but is the eighth-annual Paint the Town Green & Gold game. Leading up to the game, a record 36 businesses around Russellville took part by decorating their businesses in Green & Gold to show their overall support of Tech Athletics. Winners of the various categories will be announced during the 1st half of the game.
TECH(NICALLY) SPEAKING
SCOUTING THE OFFENSE
Offensively after one game, the Wonder Boys are averaging 21.0 points per game and 307.0 yards of total offense. Their ppg average ranks eighth in the GAC, while their total offense ranks eighth as well.
In the game against Oklahoma Baptist, the Wonder Boys used a pair of quarterbacks with Hunter Loyd getting the start and Taye Gatewood taking over and finishing the game. Loyd was 4-of-12 passing for 35 yards and one interception. Gatewood would go 14-of-20 passing for 201 yards and one touchdown.
On the ground, the Wonder Boys had seven different ball carriers against Oklahoma Baptist. Deuce Wise and Deon Simmons had the most carries by a running back with seven each. Overall, Gatewood had the most attempts with 12. Corbin Humphrey gained the most yards with 32 while adding a touchdown. Jordan Edington handled most of the short-yardage downs and recorded the other touchdown.
In terms of receiving, Tech had pass completions to eight different targets. Caleb Tanis led the team in receptions and yards with five catches for 95 yards. Joyrion Chase had the lone receiving touchdown in the opener, a 23-yard fourth-quarter score.
SCOUTING THE DEFENSE
Defensively through one game, the Wonder Boys allowed an average of 329.0 yards of total offense per game by their opponents and 23.0 points per game. The total defense ranks eighth in the GAC, while their scoring defense is sixth.
Individually, Tech had five players that registered at least five tackles in their season-opener and are led by Jyrin Steward and his nine stops. Vershaud Richardson lead the team in tackles for loss with 1.5 and sacks with 1.0.
SPECIAL TEAMS
The new-look kicking game for the Wonder Boys saw Austin Hosier handle the placekicking duties. The junior transfer did not attempt a field goal, but was 3-of-3 in extra point attempts and averaged 52.3 net yards per kick on kickoffs.
In the punting game, Tech used a pair of punters with incumbent starter Aaron Winn booting the first punt 47 yards. An apparent injury on that punt allowed for freshman Logan Tymeson to assume the punting role for the remainder of the game.
In the return game, redshirt freshman Tyrique Jones handled each kickoff and punt return. On kickoffs, Jones returned two and averaged 31.5 ypr. On punts, he returned two as well and averaged 6.0 ypr.
ABOUT SOUTHERN NAZARENE
LAST GAME
The Southern Nazarene Crimson Storm are coming into their game against Arkansas Tech with an 0-1 record after losing their season-opener at home to then-ranked No. 15 Harding, 53-20. Against Harding, SNU was met by a stout Bison defense that held the Crimson Storm scoreless in the first half while forcing two punts and four turnovers.
THE COACH
The Crimson Storm are coached by Dustin Hada, who is in his fourth year as the head coach at SNU after taking over as head coach in 2020. Despite being in his fourth year, Hada and his Crimson Storm are only in their third season of action on the field as the 2020 season was not played due to COVID-19. Hada is no stranger to SNU, however, spending the previous four seasons as SNU's Offensive Coordinator and Offensive Line coach. His record at SNU is 6-20.
SCOUTING THE OFFENSE
Offensively, the Crimson Storm feature a spread-option attack. After the first week of the season, SNU has the ninth-ranked scoring offense in the GAC at 20.0 ppg and the seventh-ranked total offense with an average of 322.0 ypg. Through the air, the Crimson Storm are averaging 177.0 ypg to rank eighth in the GAC. On the ground, SNU is averaging 145.0 ypg to rank fifth in the GAC.
The leading rusher thus far has been quarterback Gage Porter with 102 yards gained. He also has both of the team's two rushing scores.
In the passing game, Porter has completed 38% of his passes (6-of-16) and has thrown for 116 yards and no touchdowns. He has been intercepted three times.
The leading receiver for SNU is Andrew Tisdale. He has two receptions for 74 yards.
SCOUTING THE DEFENSE
Defensively, the Crimson Storm base out of the 3-4 scheme and currently rank 11th in scoring defense, allowing 53.0 ppg through one week of play. Their total defense ranks seventh in the GAC allowing 322.0 ypg of total offense by their opponents. Through the air, SNU ranks 1st in the GAC with an average of 40.0 ypg. On the ground, the Crimson Storm allow an average of 282.0 ypg and rank 11th in the GAC.
Collectively, the Crimson Storm have forced two turnovers with both being fumble recoveries.
Individually, SNU's have four players that registered at least five tackles in their season-opener and are led by Jake Wright and his six stops. Wright also leads the team in tackles for loss with 3.0 and sacks with 2.0
THE SERIES
This will be the 10th meeting all-time between Arkansas Tech and Southern Nazarene in a series that began in 2013 when SNU joined the Great American Conference. Overall, Tech holds an 8-1-0 advantage. The Wonder Boys started off winning the first six games in the series before the Crimson Storm won their first game of the series in 2019. In games played at Tech, the Wonder Boys lead the series 4-0.
