Muleriders Down Weevils

---

Photograph by Lee Hassler

Ready ... Set ... - The UAM offense squares off against Southern Arkansas on Family Appreciation Day.

   Using a tenacious running attack, the Southern Arkansas Muleriders downed the University of Arkansas at Monticello Boll Weevils (1-5, 1-3) 52-21 Oct. 1 at Willis "Convoy" Leslie-Cotton Boll Stadium in Monticello.

   SAU's defense caused the Weevils to go three-and-out on their opening drive, and the Mulerider offense responded with a score on the very first drive, capping an eight-play, 73-yard drive with a 3-yard touchdown run by D.D. Holyfield.

   The Weevils responded almost immediately, as Anthony Rodriguez connected with Tim Harris on a 63-yard touchdown strike to knot the game at 7-7.

   The Muleriders marched downfield on their next drive, finishing off an eight-play, 60-yard drive with a 6-yard touchdown run by Holyfield, his second of the game. SAU made it 21-7 on their next drive as Josh San Filippo found Torrance Hoye with a 38-yard touchdown strike to finish a three-play, 58-yard drive which covered 45 seconds.

   The Muleriders took the 21-7 advantage into the second quarter and scored on their first drive of the period on a four-yard run by Keundric Loucious to take a 28-7 lead.

   The Weevils cut the margin to 21-14 after Rodriguez completed an 11-yard pass on third down to Jaleel Harris and looked to have momentum in their corner when Reynaldo Veal intercepted a San Filippo pass and returned it to the UAM 48 yard line.

   Unfortunately, the Weevil offense was unable to muster any offense and punted on their fourth play of the drive.

   SAU carried their 28-14 advantage into the half but recovered an onside kick to open the half and marched 46 yards downfield, scoring on a 35-yard touchdown strike from San Filippo to Hoye to give SAU a 35-14 lead.

   The Muleriders extended their lead to 42-14 on their next drive as San Filippo found Hoye once again, this time from 19 yards out to cap a five play, 78-yard drive.

   The Boll Weevils fought back on the following drive, going 86 yards in 11 plays, topped off by a 37-yard touchdown run by Scott Carpino to pull the Weevils to within 42-21.

   However, the Muleriders were there with an answer yet again as Ryan Sworn returned the next kickoff 63 yards to the UAM 23, and San Filippo found Johnny Fields open in the end zone to extend the SAU lead to 49-21.

   SAU tacked on their final score on the first play of the fourth quarter as David Korff connected on a 42-yard field goal to push the Muleriders ahead 52-21.

   Rodriguez completed 8 of 28 passes for 131 yards and two touchdowns while John L. Williams led the Boll Weevils with 90 yards on 24 carries. Carpino had eight carries for 70 yards and one touchdown.

   Jaleel Harris was UAM's leading receiver, snagging four catches for 45 yards and a touchdown. Harris was the only Weevil receiver to catch more than one pass.

   Jordan Wisener led all players with 18 tackles while Wes Ables added 15 and DeMathus Ledet chipped in 14 tackles and two interceptions.

   The Muleriders racked up 329 yards on the ground, keyed by an 11 carry, 115-yard night by San Filippo and a 15 carry, 108-yard, two-touchdown night from Holyfield.

   San Filippo was equally effective throwing the ball, completing 8 of 14 passes for 187 yards and four touchdowns with two interceptions. Hoye led SAU's receiving corps, hauling in five passes for 130 yards and three touchdowns.

   The Weevils return to action Saturday, Oct. 8 as they travel to Arkadelphia for a 1:30 p.m. kickoff against the Ouachita Baptist Tigers at A.U. Williams Field.

Have a comment? Please e-mail us.

---

© The Voice 2005
Revised 09/17/2007 02:15:32 PM — http://www.uamont.edu/Organizations/TheVoice/3_5/fbrecap.htm