Worth the Wait – Muleriders Pull Off Last-Second Win

MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Trailing by six points with 1:31 left in the game, the Southern Arkansas defense recovered a fumble to set up the eventual game-winning drive as the Muleriders’ (1-0, 1-0 GAC) quarterback Si Blackshire connected with wide receiver Aaron Johnson in the back corner of the south endzone as time expired to knot the game at 29-all. A good extra point by Dylan Nowak followed to give SAU the one-point win.

The game, which was slated to start at 6 p.m., kicked off at 7:57 p.m. due to a lengthy lightning delay to during pregame warmups. Once the game was officially under way, wet conditions contributed to a handful of fumbles for both teams and no score through the first quarter.

Just under two minutes into the second quarter, a second lightning delay forced the teams off the field. That delay would last 51 minutes in length.

Following that second delay, the playing conditions would dry up some and the score reflected it as the two teams traded touchdowns in the latter moments of the second quarter to make it a seven-all tie at the break.

An abbreviated five-minute halftime was then observed to try and help the speed of the game along.

With 8:01 left in the third quarter, SAU took their first lead of the game as Blackshire capped off a six-play, 56-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown run. The Blackshire score was set up by a 32-yard rush by Deion Williams on the previous play.

The momentum built on that scoring drive was quickly evaporated as it took the Savage Storm (0-1, 0-1 GAC) one play to answer back with a score of their own as Devlon Wortham broke a 76-yard run to knot the game at 14-all. 

Following that big run by Wortham, the Muleriders showed some resolve on their ensuing possession as they went on an eight-play, 84-yard drive to regain the lead on another rushing TD by Blackshire. Seven of those eight plays were rushes as Deandre Jenkins, Dwight Smith, and Deion Williams all had carries on the drive.

The extra point following the Blackshire TD run was blocked by Southeastern, making it just a six-point game, 20-14, SAU. 

On the opening play of the fourth quarter, Southeastern’s Ryan Polite connected with Franky Okafor for a 34-yard touchdown strike to knot the game at 20-all. A successful extra point followed to give the Savge Storm a one-point lead, 21-20.

Five minutes later, the Muleriders jumped ahead once more on a 29-yard field goal by Dylan Nowak with 9:40 left in the game.

On Southeastern’s ensuing possession, Wortham broke another long touchdown run as he went 45 yards for the score, giving SE a 27-23 lead. The Savage Storm would elect to go for two points in hopes of making it a six-point lead with 8:26 remaining. The attempt was successful as Polite hooked up with Southeastern’s starting quarterback from a year ago, Nick Sioson.

Following that Southeastern score, the Muleriders were in great field position to start their next drive as Zikerious Ware returned the kickoff 34 yards to get the ball to the SAU 49-yardline. That promising drive would stall, however, after an illegal blocking penalty was called, turning a would-be first down into a third and eight. The Muleriders would punt two plays later, giving Southeastern the ball back with 5:44 remaining in the game.

Looking to drain as much time off the clock, Southeastern stuck to the running game. On first and 10 from the SE 39, the Savage Storm would run the ball twice, but the Muleriders’ defense remained taught to set up a third and four from the SE 45. The Muleriders wouldn’t be able to force a stop on that play as SE quarterback Polite rushed for eight yards and the first down. 

With time dwindling, Wortham got the next carry and gained six yards to move the ball into SAU territory with under two minutes to go.

Needing to not allow another first down to keep their hopes alive, the Mulerider defense came up with something even better…the ball…on a recovered fumble after Wortham lost control of the handoff. SAU’s DeMario Thomas would make the recovery at the SAU 39 with 1:31 left in the game.

Following an incomplete pass by Blackshire, the senior quarterback would hit running back Deandre Jenkins for huge 24-yard pass play to move the ball into Southeastern territory. Blackshire would be sacked on the following play for a loss of eight yards, but a 14-yard scramble by Blackshire on the next play, gave SAU a manageable third and four situation. 

An incomplete pass on that third-down put the game on the line with a fourth and four situation with just 30 seconds left in the game. Given the weight of the next play, the Muleriders would take their final timeout to come up with the perfect play. That play would end up being another Blackshire scramble as he raced for seven yards and the first down before being forced out of bounds at the SE 24-yardline.

Three consecutive incomplete passes followed forcing another fourth down play for the game. This time the fourth down play came with two seconds left on the clock. Those two seconds were on the clock because of a head’s up play by Blackshire as he fired the ball out of the endzone on the third down play after finding no open receivers, giving SAU one final chance.

That extra opportunity would prove to be clutch as Blackshire rolled out to his right on the fourth down play and found Aaron Johnson in the back corner of the endzone for the tying score with no time on the clock.

Statistically, the Muleriders found more success on the ground with the wet conditions as they used a stable of four backs (including Blackshire) to gain 357 yards rushing. Jenkins would lead that group with 155 yards on 22 carries. Blackshire was next with 86 yards rushing and two scores. Smith and Williams would add eight carries each as they combined for 140 yards.

Through the air, the Muleriders only had 206 yards on 13 competitions, but the yards and completions happened when they needed them the most. Johnson would lead all receivers in the game with 66 yards on four catches and two scores.

Defensively, the Muleriders were led in tackles by A.J. Steele, DeMario Thomas, and James Thurston as the trio each had eight tackles.

The Muleriders will now look to ride this wave into their next game as they hit the road and take on East Central on Saturday, September 13. Kick-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. in Ada, Okla.