Muleriders focused, excited for bowl game

When the holiday season rolls in, so does Texarkana's own college football bowl game.

Southern Arkansas University (8-3) is preparing to take on Missouri Western State (6-5) in the Agent Barry Live United Bowl on Saturday at Noon at Razorback Stadium in Texarkana.

"Getting invited was an honor," Muleriders' head coach Bill Keopple said. "Playing in the postseason means that we've had a good season. For me, personally, it's always fun to come back and play where I have previously coached. As a team, we were wanting to go to the national playoffs. But the guys are over it, and they are competitors. We've had great practices this week, and there is a lot of excitement."

SAU averages 28.5 points per game and gives up 19.0. The Muleriders average 401.7 yards of offense per contest (135.0 rushing and 266.7 passing). Opponents average 120.4 yards on the ground and 184.4 yards through the air against SAU's defense.

Barrett Renner is the starting quarterback for the Muleriders. Renner has thrown for 2,804 yards on 222-of-330 passing and nine interceptions.

Ka'Ronce Higgins has been Renner's favorite target and has 66 catches for 1,083 yards and nine touchdowns. Renner tossed 21 TD passes during the regular season. Higgins is a finalist for the prestigious Harlon Hill Trophy. This trophy is awarded to Division II Football's Player of the Year.

Jared Lancaster is the team's second-leading receiver with 530 yards on 49 grabs and four scores. Lancaster handles the punt returns and has taken back 16 punts for a total of 155 yards and a score. Lancaster averages 9.7 yards per return.

Lorenzo Alexander leads SAU's rushing attack. Alexander has 625 yards on 140 carries for an average of 4.5 yards per tote. Alexander has found the end zone seven times.

SirCharles Perkins has totaled 395 yards on the ground on 80 attempts. Perkins averages 4.9 yards per rush and has four touchdowns.

"Barrett (Renner) has been a four-time, all-conference quarterback for us," Keopple said. "He is going to end his career as the second all-time leading passer in Arkansas collegiate football. Ka'Ronce (Higgins) is the all-time leading receiver in school history. We will throw the ball as much as we will run it."

Southern Arkansas converted 48 percent of its third downs and 52 percent of fourth-down tries during the regular season.

The Muleriders run a 4-2-5 defense and are led by their tenacious defensive line. Defensive linemen Antonio Washington and DaVondrick Lison are first team, all-conference selections. Lison is one of eight finalist for the 2018 Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year Award.

Lison is SAU's leading tackler with 61 stops on the season, including 18 for a loss. Lison along with defensive end Anthony Washington lead the team in sacks with 6.5 apiece.

"We consider our defensive line to be one of our great strengths," Keopple said. "We are an athletic bunch, and we can run. We will come at opponents some; it just depends on the situation. We are multiple in the aspect of how we will bring pressure."