MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Redshirt sophomore running back Jariq Scales recorded 26 touches for 195 yards and two touchdowns, junior linebacker Jacob Berry totaled 15 tackles, but turnovers proved costly for Southern Arkansas on Saturday in front of a homecoming crowd inside Wilkins Stadoum at Rip Powell Field. The Muleriders suffered a 34-22 Great American Conference loss to Week 5 opponent East Central and fall to 2-3 on the season.
Within Scales’ workload were 22 rushes for 173 yards and both of the scores in addition to four catches for 22 yards. Berry was in on 15 stops with 1.5 tackles for loss and a sack.
The Muleriders, which entered the contest 24-3 against Oklahoma foes at home since 2011, struck first with a nine-play, 80-yard drive halfway through the first quarter of play that was stamped with a 13-yard touchdown run by Scales that included a pair of impressive cutbacks en route to the end zone.
Less than four minutes later, the Tigers scored and used a successful PAT to take a 7-6 lead after SAU’s extra point missed left. Three and a half minutes into the second quarter, ECU scored to make it a seven-point game at 13-6 after an unsuccessful two-point play in an effort to make it a two-possession contest.
With under six minutes before the break, sophomore Jonathan Lewis scored practically untouched on a rush off left guard on the final play of a 12-play sequence that covered 94 yards.
A quick-strike drive with less than a minute to go put ECU up 20-13, but the Muleriders answered on the final play of the half as grad place kicker Austin Wilkerson nailed a 45-yard field goal as time expired to pull SAU to within four at 20-16 through two quarters of play.
Wilkerson’s make stands as the 41st in his stellar career and are the most ever by a Mulerider place kicker as he surpassed the mark of 40 set by SAU Sports Hall of Famer Jason Williams.
The only Mulerider touchdown in the second half was a 60-yard scamper by Scales that showcased the sophomore’s explosiveness as he outraced the secondary by splitting a pair of defenders at the third level.
Of the three turnovers by Southern Arkansas in the loss, the first was a fumble on the ECU48 that turned away the Muleriders and led to an ECU scoring drive early in the second quarter. After the Tiger score, an SAU fumble on the ensuing drive gave it back to the visitors, but sophomore Gavin Roe picked off a pass in the end zone to end the threat.
That turnover led to Lewis’ scoring rush. SAU’s final turnover ended the host’s first drive of the second half.
SAU was out gained on offense by 39 yards, but saw it’s rushing attack accumulate 326 yards on 46 carries at 7.1 yards per rush. The two fumbles were the first for SAU this season.
Redshirt freshman Judd Barton completed ten passes for 100 yards and added 72 yards on the ground. Sophomore Cole Williams hauled in three passes for 59 yards and Dekendrick Bender added five catches for 58 yards.
Melvin Smith Jr. followed Berry’s 15 stops with seven and five other Muleriders were in on at least five tackles. Grad Prince Udenze recorded 2.5 tackles for loss.
Andrew Schreiner punted four times at an 44.8 average with two punts over 50 yards and two downed inside the 20.
The Muleriders return to the Sooner State on Saturday, October 8 for a 2 pm kickoff in Durant against Southeastern Oklahoma. Live coverage links are available at www.MuleriderAthletics.com.