Southern Arkansas University 2001 ‘Rider Football Volume 2 -- Issue 6 HTTP://WWW.SAUMAG.EDU/ATHLETICS Monday, October 8, 2001 Southern Arkansas University vs. Delta State University

WHEN: October 13, 2001 WHERE: Cleveland, MS @ Travis E. Parker Field KICKOFF TIME: 1:00 p.m.

The Series (DSU 12-5-0) The Muleriders first met the Statesmen in 1951, the VS. year SAU graduated their first senior class after moving up from the junior college ranks. SAU won that game 14-0 and also won their second meeting 27-20 in ’52. DSU walloped the ‘Riders in ’53 42-0 and made it a rout in ’54 with a 53-0 blanking. The ‘Riders and The Coaches Statesmen would not play again until 1958 when SAU SAU’s first-year head coach, Steve Quinn claimed a 13-6 win to go up 3-2 in the series only for (Ouachita Baptist, 1985), is off to a 2-3-0 start with DSU to shut out the ‘Riders in ’59 28-0. The series was the Muleriders following a 37-26 loss to West Georgia interrupted again and not resumed until 1980 when DSU last week. DSU’s third-year head coach, Steve took their first lead in the series by a 4-3 margin with an Campbell (Troy State, 1988), is 24-6 with the Statesmen 18-7 decision. After skipping five years, SAU and DSU after last week’s shocking 70-12 loss to Valdosta State. met again in 1986 with the Statesmen winning 28-13 and followed with a 21-14 decision in ’87, a 31-10 victory in ’88 and a 35-14 triumph in ’89 to improve So far this season... their series lead to 7-3. The ‘Riders and Statesmen did Southern Arkansas University vs. not play again until 1995 when SAU moved into the NCAA Division II ranks and the Gulf South Conference. Texas A&M-Commerce L 13-17 @ Valdosta State University L 14-41 DSU won that meeting 20-7 and claimed a 34-13 win @ Ouachita Baptist University W 10-3 in ’96 to go ahead 9-3 in the series with their seventh University of West Alabama W 38-7 straight win over SAU. In 1997, SAU defeated the State University of West Georgia L 26-37 Statesmen 24-6 in route to the conference championship but lost the following season 26-25 on a last second DSU field goal that prevented another GSC title for the Delta State University vs. ‘Riders. SAU pitched a shutout over DSU in 1999 with Mississippi Valley State University W 25-3 a 24-0 win but Delta once again broke the hearts of the University of West Alabama W 47-7 @ University of North Alabama W 21-3 ‘Riders with another last-second win in 2000, 30-28, in @ Harding University W 40-21 route to the GSC and national championships. Valdosta State University L 12-70

Media Coverage KVMA 107.9 FM in Magnolia, AR with Dan Gregory on play-by-play and Jay Adcox on color commentary and Lane Jean on the sideline; WDTL 92.9 FM in Cleveland, MS with Matt Jones on play-by-play, Richard Webster as color commentator and Andy Murphy on the sideline; Through the DSU Website: http://www.deltast.edu/pubinfo/sportinfo/sport-index2.html Last Season Team Leaders DSU took a 3-0 first quarter lead on a 37-yard SAU LEADERS: field goal by Billy Dorgan and went ahead 10-0 in the second period on a 30-yard scramble by quarterback In five games, QB Ted Williams has rushed for Josh Bright and Dorgan’s PAT. SAU got back in the 448 yards but has lost 100 for a net of 348. He has game with an 86-yard touchdown pass play from quarterback Tim Barrington to wide receiver Michael scored three touchdowns and averages 3.6 a carry. Beck and Jason Williams’ extra point. SAU went ahead HB Forrest Curry has a net 263, a 5.8 average, and 14-10 on an eight-yard touchdown run by fullback has two touchdowns. Williams has completed 39 of Scott Schroeder and Williams’ PAT only for fullback Rico McDonald to score from the six and Dorgan’s 101 pass attempts for 586 yards and four touchdowns kick put DSU back in front. The Statesmen padded with seven interceptions. WR Nik Lewis has 13 catches their lead on a 10-yard pass from Bright to Deforest Hart with only 1:20 left in the half and what proved to for 178 yards and three touchdowns, WR Jason be the winning margin on a 34-yard Dorgan field goal Bennett (three games because of an injury) has 12 with :00 remaining in the half, 27-14, DSU. The ‘Riders fought back with a one-yard catches for 127 yards and Edwin Skipper six catches touchdown keeper by Barrington and a Williams PAT for 163 yards and a touchdown. K/P Saul DeLa Cruz to narrow the deficit to 27-21 heading into the final quarter and the ‘Riders went up 28-27 with 4:00 has connected on four of five field goal attempts and remaining on a two-yard run by halfback Forrest Curry 11 of 12 PAT’s. CB Jordan Babineaux has three and Williams’ conversion. Dorgan’s 43-yard field goal interceptions and is second in total tackles with 38. with only 47 seconds to play lifted Delta to a hard- earned come-from-behind 30-28 squeaker in route LB Keenan Washington is first in tackles with 40, FS to the national title. Brian Davis is third with 36, LB Eddie Key fourth with 34 and LB Tim Rose fifth with 33. Injuries DSU LEADERS: ‘RIDERS: FB Rico McDonald has 484 net yards rushing and SAU had an injury early in their game with West Georgia when their most experienced defensive six touchdowns and an average of 5.3 yards per carry. lineman, Chad James, injured an ankle. It is not known QB Josh Bright has 237 yards, a 4.5 average and two how severe the injury is at this time. Wide receiver touchdowns. Bright has completed 43 passes in 76 Jason Bennett is questionable after attempting a few attempts for 611 yards and five touchdowns with only plays last week vs. the Braves but had to hobble off one interception. WR Jody Jennings has 12 catches the field. FB Scott Schroeder remains sidelined for for 169 yards and one touchdown and WR James the season with a wrist injury. Grubbs has seven catches for 164 yards and two

STATESMEN: touchdowns. Punter Blake Koenigsberger has punted QB Josh Bright was injured in last week’s VSU 20 times for a 39.9 average and is three of eight on game but the Statesmen report no injuries for their field goals. LB Jamall Johnson is the leading tackler game with the ‘Riders. with 32 with LB Tedric Polk second with 24. GSC Last Week Of Interest Valdosta State 70 @ Delta State 12 *DSU was balanced last week on offense against Arkansas Tech 32 @ West Alabama 10 VSU, running for 178 net yards and passing for 178 Central Arkansas 51@ Harding 27 for 356 total yards. VSU rushed for only 149 yards but passed for 364 for 513 total yards. So much for West Georgia 37 @ SOUTHERN A RKANSAS 26 wanting a balanced offense since VSU won 70-12. Ouachita Baptist 10 @ Ark.-Monticello 13 North Alabama 22 @ Henderson State 7 *DSU has won two of their last three meetings, both in Magnolia, with less than a minute remaining in the game. In 1998, DSU’s Blake Koenigsberger GSC This Week kicked a 23-yard field goal with eight seconds left to *Ark.-Monticello @ Arkansas Tech 2:00 pm give the Statesmen a 26-25 win that cost SAU a GSC *Henderson State @ Central Ark. 3:00 pm title. In 2000, Billy Dorgan toed a 43-yard field goal SOUTHERN A RKANSAS @ Delta State 1:00 pm with 47 seconds remaining for a 30-28 decision over *Harding @ Valdosta State 12:00 pm the ‘Riders and the Statesmen went on to the league North Alabama @ Ouachita Baptist 2:00 pm and national title. *West Alabama @ West Georgia 1:00 pm * = HOMECOMING *SAU has returning and pre-season first-team All- GSC picks center Trey LaValle and linebacker Eddie Key. DSU has guard Chris Booker (Clarendon, Ark.), GSC Next Week tackles Reed Stringer and Max Weathers, quarterback Josh Bright and fullback Rico McDonald on offense *Central Arkansas @ Arkansas-Monticello 3:00 pm *Arkansas Tech @ SOUTHERN A RKANSAS 2:30 pm but none on defense. LaValle has been selected pre- *Delta State @ Henderson State 3:00 pm season first-team All-American in three-major Harding @ North Alabama 1:30 pm publications while Booker was also named on all three Ouachita Baptist @ West Georgia 6:00 pm and McDonald first-team on one and second-team Valdosta State @ West Alabama 1:00 pm on another. * = HOMECOMING

Gulf South Conference Standings Conference Overall Institution W L Pct. For Opp. W L Pct For Opp Valdosta State 4 0 1.000 212 63 6 0 1.000 295 75 Arkansas Tech 4 0 1.000 103 52 5 0 1.000 135 78 Central Arkansas 3 1 .750 155 97 5 1 .833 288 123 West Georgia 3 1 .750 110 67 5 1 .833 174 114 Delta State 3 1 .750 120 101 4 1 .800 145 104 Arkansas-Monticello 3 1 .750 82 75 4 2 .667 130 127 Southern Arkansas 2 2 .500 88 88 2 3 .400 101 105 North Alabama 1 3 .250 58 98 2 3 .400 95 125 Harding1 3 .250 87 126 1 4 .200 98 140 Ouachita Baptist 0 4 .000 34 77 1 4 .200 75 90 West Alabama 0 4 .000 52 151 1 5 .167 87 184 Henderson State 0 4 .000 34 140 0 6 .000 64 236 Coach Quinn says... Facts on SAU ABOUT LAST WEEK: Location ...... Magnolia, Arkansas “On a negative note, four mistakes for us...four Conference ...... Gulf South turnovers by us to one for them (West Georgia)...played a Affiliation ...... NCAA Division II big role in the ball game. We cannot give a good football President ...... Mr. Louis Blanchard team that many (scoring) opportunites... or cost yourself Athletics Director ...... Jay Adcox the opportunity to score against a good team. Even with Head Coach ...... Steve Quinn that, we still had chances to win the football game but we Asst. Coaches ..... Tommy Laurendine, Carey Baker, didn’t quite execute at critical times. I was proud our Joe Carter, and Jason Smelser players never quit. They went out to play hard, physical Sports Information Dir...... Landon Stevens football for 60 minutes. Hopefully, we proved we are Nickname ...... Muleriders talented enough to play with the top team’s in the GSC Colors ...... Royal Blue & Old Gold but it is matter of when we can get over the top of big Enrollment ...... 3,100 football games. We will be back at work this week trying Founded ...... 1909 (SAU ‘76) to make it happen.” Stadium ...... Wilkins (6,000) Pressbox Phone ...... (870) 235-4117 ABOUT INDIVIDUALS: Internet Address ..... http://www.saumag.edu/athletics The coach credited quarterback Ted Williams and the offensive line (Trey LaValle, Rory Green, Shane Clancy, Kyle Sanders, Bill Parker and Ryan Baker) and defensive Facts on DSU tackle Joey Robinson and linebacker Keenan Washington Location ...... Cleveland, Mississippi with outstanding games against West Georgia. He also said Conference ...... Gulf South sophomore wide receiver Nik Lewis and freshman Affiliation ...... NCAA Division II halfback Rodney Hill stepped up their play against the President ...... Dr. David L. Potter Braves. Athletics Director ...... Dr. Jim Jordan Head Coach ...... Steve Campbell ABOUT DELTA STATE: Asst. Coaches ...... Gwaine Mathews, Cody Gross, “Delta State took a loss last week (against Valdosta Carlton Bucles, Sean Cannon, Lee Hollyfield, State 70-12) that I do not believe is indicative of the kind Steve Vowell of football team they have.They still have one of the top Sports Information Dir...... Fred Sington football team’s in the nation. Their defense has great speed Nickname ...... Statesmen and plays very aggressively trying to keep you off balance Colors ...... Forest Green & White and off rhythm.Offensively, they have great schemes Enrollment ...... 4,084 executed by a veteran quarterback (Josh Bright) who Founded ...... 1924 knows how to win football games. We must play well in Stadium ...... Travis E. Parker (8,000) all phases of the game and must eliminate mistakes (to Pressbox Phone ...... (662) 846-4593 have a chance to win). It will be one more opportunity for Internet Address ...... http://www.deltast.edu/pubinfo/ our football team to improve.” sportinfo/sport-index2.html Delta State University 2001 Depth Chart (as of 10/08/2001)

Offense Defense

Pos. No. Name Cl. Ht. Wt. Pos. No. Name Cl. Ht. Wt.

TE 91 Nick McCain SO 6-3 216 DE 56 Clayton Mosley JR 6-2 246 TE 85 Andy Granger FR 6-2 239 DE 66 Jeremy Weaver FR 6-2 220

RT 79 Max Weathers SR 6-3 325 DT 98 Kelvin Redd FR 6-5 265 RT 71 Kenneth Johnson JR 6-2 278 DT 94 Joey Sylve SO 6-0 247

RG 73 Shane Rodgers JR 6-1 283 NG 11 Anthony Scott SR 6-3 280 RG 68 Clayton Gibson FR 6-1 280 NG 99 Westley Bayas FR 6-4 240

C 51 Dan Cirilli JR 6-2 266 DE 55 Brian Jones SR 6-0 226 C 75 Jeremy Fremin SO 6-3 270 DE 21 Mondale Bates JR 6-1 235

LG 70 Chris Booker JR 6-1 288 SLB 4 Jerrod Beckett SR 6-2 253 LG 64 Justin Ashley SO 6-3 273 SLB 35 Reggie Winners JR 6-1 215

LT 74 Reed Stringer JR 6-5 282 MLB 8 Jamall Johnson SO 5-11 182 LT 52 Ron Brewer SR 6-0 276 MLB 42 Demetric Armstead SR 5-11 195

QB 10 Josh Bright SR 6-5 235 LB 30 Teddrick Polk SR 5-7 166 QB 5 Brian Bell FR 6-2 212 LB 46 Charles Pittman FR 5-9 180

SB 20 Trevan Dixon SR 5-7 192 LB 3 Jamie Washington SR 6-0 168 SB 32 Meret McKinnie JR 6-2 220 LB 24 John ColenburgJR 6-0 176

FB 9 Rico McDonald SR 5-8 197 CB 1 Shelton Belton SO 5-8 162 FB 26 Eric Riggins JR 6-0 205 CB 47 Ahmad Treaudo FR 6-0 165

SB 33 Ricky Posselt JR 5-10 211 FS 45 Travis Stevenson SO 5-9 185 SB 23 Mario Purifoy SO 5-7 172 FS 18 Brandon Butler JR 6-0 195

WR 2 Jody Jennings SR 5-9 195 CB 6 Derrick Pittman SR 5-9 180 WR 83 Chris Jones FR 5-8 153 CB 25 Tim Chester FR 6-0 170

WR 87 James Grubbs JR 6-4 185 WR 80 Josh LongJR 6-0 190

Special Teams

K/P 13 Blake Koenigsberger SR 5-9 184 P/HO 12 John Weaver JR 6-0 180 DS 50 Keith Pate SO 6-0 209 DS 51 Dan Cirilli JR 6-2 266 HO 14 Chad Blalack FR 5-10 195 PR 1 Shelton Belton SO 5-8 162 PR 6 Derrick Pittman SR 5-9 180 KR 23 Mario Purifoy SO 5-7 172 KR 32 Meret McKinnie JR 6-2 220 Southern Arkansas University 2001 Depth Chart (as of 10/08/2001)

Offense Defense

Pos. No. Name Cl. Ht. Wt. Pos. No. Name Cl. Ht. Wt.

SE 18 Nikolas Lewis SO 5-10 190 DE 84 Joey Robinson SR 6-3 251 SE 19 Edwin Skipper FR 6-0 192 DE 98 D.C. Chandler SO 6-1 231

TE 42 Ryan Baker SO 6-1 205 DE 43 Michael Webb SR 6-1 230 TE 29 Laron Sylvester RS/FR 6-1 205 DE 77 Kenny Pettway SO 6-3 220

OT 64 Kyle Sanders SR 6-2 262 DT 90 Chad James JR 6-1 257 OT 62 Byron Biagas RS/FR 5-11 250 DT 99 Tyrone Curtis FR 6-0 260

OG 75 Shane Clancy SR 5-11 267 NG 95 Cedric Brooks SO 5-11 286 OG 56 Timothy Bezenah FR 6-2 322 NG 52 Michael Christian SO 6-0 253 NG 55 Robert Hooks FR 5-11 263 C 50 Trey LaValle SR 6-1 265 C 53 Larry Tafoya RS/FR 5-9 272 SLB 11 Tim Rose SO 5-11 193 SLB 44 Andrekus Dixon SO 6-2 214 OG 76 Rory Green SR 6-0 303 OG 53 Larry Tafoya RS/FR 5-9 272 MLB 40 Keenan Washington RSFR 5-11 241 MLB 47 Belvis Duffield SR 5-11 215 OT 72 Bill Parker SO 6-2 290 OT 59 Nick Wright RS/FR 6-2 256 WLB 7 Eddie Key SR 6-2 220 WLB 41 Adrian Ross RS/FR 5-10 208 QB 4 Ted Williams SO 5-9 187 QB 1 Donald Butler FR 5-8 170 CB 15 Carl Bucknor JR 5-10 185 CB 27 Esquario Fuller FR 5-11 162 LHB 9 Forrest Curry SR 5-10 186 LHB 32 Rodney Evans SO 6-0 214 CB 28 John Bradley RS/FR 5-9 170 CB 26 Dez Myers FR 5-11 180 RHB 22 Torrance Jones RS/FR 5-8 162 RHB 30 Rodney Hill FR 5-9 164 FS 5 Brian Davis SO 6-0 170 FS 31 Austin Taylor SO 5-9 175 FB 8 Randy Givens SO 5-9 197 FB 6 Larnelle Sinegal SO 5-9 212 SS 2 Jordan Babineaux SO 5-11 189 SS 3 Charles Rollins SO 5-8 182

Special Teams

16 Saul DeLa Cruz P/K RS/FR 5-9 165 51 Roy Stewart DS FR 6-0 245 62 Byron Biagas DS RS/FR 5-11 253 1 Donald Butler PR FR 5-8 170 19 Edwin Skipper PR FR 6-0 192 22 Torrance Jones KR RS/FR 5-8 162 30 Rodney Hill KR FR 5-9 164