Photo Gallery
March of Dimes Walk for Babies
The March of Dimes Walk for Babies offered games and educational booths and entertainment by Sean Michel. Held at the Promenade at Chenal.
Southern Arkansas University played a furious second half, trying to claw its way back against Missouri Western State University Saturday in the Agent Barry Live United Bowl at Razorback Stadium.
The Muleriders, who trailed 20-0 at halftime, piled up 321 yards of offense in the second half and scored 25 points during that time frame, but the Griffons were able to hold on for a 30-25 victory.
"At the end of the game, we had to have a kid make a play," Griffon head coach Matt Williamson said. "We break everyday by saying 'play to win' and our kids did; they finished up strong.
"I'm absolutely fired up for this senior class. The kids did it all, and it was a very impressive win; a great win to end the season."
It was the second loss for SAU in the annual NCAA Division II bowl game.
Up by eight, MWSU got its third field goal from bowl MVP Tyler Basch in a 27-yard chip shot with 5:58 left to seal the win. Basch had a bowl game record 58-yard field goal just before intermission to put the Griffons (7-5) up 20 at the break and a 36-yard kick to begin the scoring.
Missouri Western QB Dom Marino was 13-of-23 passing for 211 yards and a 9-yard TD to Austin Barau in the third quarter. Marino also had 29 yards rushing. James Bailey Jr. Led the Griffons with 10 rushes for 45 yards and two TDs, and Shamar Griffith added 34 rushing yards and 57 receiving on two catches.
Barrett Renner led the comeback with receiver Jared Lancaster, who had 10 receptions for 129 yards and a score. Renner was 30-of-45 passing for 328 yards.
Lancaster scored twice in the second half for Southern Arkansas (8-4), and Renner threw a pair of fourth-quarter TDs for the Muleriders.
Lancaster rushed in from the 3 to cap a 12-play, 75-yard drive with 56 seconds left in the third quarter to cut the deficit to 27-11 after Lancaster caught a 2-point conversion from Renner.
Following a three-and-out by the Griffons, Lancaster snagged a 9-yard score from Renner at the end of an 8-play, 70-yard campaign at 11:25. Karonce Higgins ran for the 2-point conversion to make it 27-19.
Missouri Western answered with an 11-play, 64-yard drive with Basch's third field goal.
"We've got a kicker who won MVP, and I'm so proud of him," Williamson said. "On the long one, the ref came up and said, 'I think he had another 10 yards.' He's like ice, very solid. He believes he's going to make it every time we walks out there, and the guys believe in him.
"When you play with confidence, a lot of great things can happen."
The Muleriders scored in 13 plays, Renner taking a double-reverse and tossing to a wide-open Jaidon Parrish with 1:48 left in the game. After holding MWSU without another first down, SAU drove to midfield before time ran out.
Southern Arkansas never got untracked offensively in the first half, and three miscues in special teams by the Muleriders aided the Griffons' 20-point lead at intermission.
SAU managed just 120 yards of total offense before halftime and five first downs. Missouri Western had 178 yards but blocked a field goal, a punt and capitalized on a fumbled snap on a Mulerider punt with the first score of the game.
SAU drove to midfield on its first possession After forcing a punt by the Griffons on the game's opening drive. A pair of sacks stalled the drive, and the snap was low on the punt.
Punter Jordan White completed a pass after regaining control, but the receiver was tackled short of the first-down marker.
Marino broke free on a 34-yard jaunt on the first play for MWSU, and four plays later Basch nailed his first field goal of the half, a 36-yarder with 6:42 left in the first quarter.
The Muleriders marched to the Griffon 28, but Kyle Dumler blocked a 45-yard field goal attempt to keep Missouri Western on top.
Marino hit Griffith on a screen pass, and the sophomore running back raced 50 yards to the Mulerider 23. On the next play, Bailey broke free up the middle for a 23-yard TD and a 10-0 Griffon lead with 1:56 left in the first.
Following three brief drives, Missouri Western took advantage of another short field, covering 45 yards on eight plays with Bailey bulling in from the 3 with 4:07 left in the half.
"The kids know we're good, and when you know you're good and you lose a game it leaves a little chip on your shoulder for the next one," Williamson said. "I could see it in their eyes, and that's the culture that we've created with Missouri Western football."
Southern Arkansas went three-and-out for the second consecutive drive. The first punt was erased by a holding penalty by the Muleriders after pinning the Griffons at their own 17. The next punt was returned 60 yards for a 60-yard TD by Brandin Dandridge only to be wiped out by off-setting penalties.
The third punt attempt was blocked and gave MWSU possession at the Southern Arkansas 35. The Mulerider defense knocked the Griffons backwards to the 48, but Basch nailed his 58-yard field goal with distance to spare with 2.8 seconds remaining.
Jabbar Miles led the Missouri Western defense with 13 tackles-eight solos-and Kobe Cummings added 12 tackles and two pass breakups.
DeMarcus Pegue led the Mulerider defense with nine tackles-1 1/2 for losses-Brock Floyd had eight stops and Kobe McDonald six.
Missouri Western 10 10 7 3 - 30
Southern Arkansas 0 0 11 14 - 25
First Quarter
MWS-Tyler Basch 36 FG, 6:42.
MWS-James Bailey Jr. 23 run (Basch kick), 1:56.
Second Quarter
MWS-Bailey 3 run (Basch kick), 4:07.
MWS-Basch 58 FG, 0:02.
Third Quarter
SAU-Austin Wilkerson 24 FG, 8:55.
MWS-Austin Burau 9 pass from Dom Marino (Basch kick), 5:45.
SAU-Jared Lancaster 3 run (Barrett Renner pass to Lancaster), 0:56.
Fourth Quarter
SAU-Lancaster 9 pass from Renner (Karonce Higgins run), 11:25.
MWS-Basch 27 FG, 5:58.
SAU-Jaidon Parrish 19 pass from Renner (pass failed), 1:48.
MWSU SAU
First Downs 16 26
Yards Rushing 28-116 31-96
Yards Passing 211 345
Passes A-C-I 23-13-0 47-31-0
Fumbles-Lost 0-0 0-0
Penalties 10-95 5-50
Punts-Avg. 4-37.8 3-28.0
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING-Missouri Western, Bailey 10-45, Shamar Griffith 8-34, Marino 5-29, Derek Gray Jr. 4-16, Joe Horn Jr. 1-(minus 8). Southern Arkansas, Lorenzo Alexander 8-34, Sir Charles Perkins 7-29, Keiandre Purifoy 6-27, Renner 8-4, Lancaster 1-2, Higgins 1-0.
PASSING-Missouri Western, Marino 13-23-0-211. Southern Arkansas, Renner 30-45-0-328, Jordan White 1-1-0-17, Higgins 0-1-0-0.
RECEIVING-Missouri Western, Horn 3-55, Carlos Thompson 3-45, Griffith 2-57, Luke Vang 1-16, Kyle Berry 1-10, Bailey 1-10, Burau 1-9, Cameron Grandy 1-9. Southern Arkansas, Lancaster 10-129, Higgins 7-67, Darrion Ardoin 5-31, Michael Ingram 3-48, Dalton Wright 1-20, Parrish 1-19, Andrew Pierce 1-17, Perkins 1-7, Kile Pletcher 1-6, Alexander 1-4, Mason Grantz 1-(minus 3).