For the second consecutive week, Arkansas-based programs swept the Oklahoma side as all six Natural State squads are off to a 2-0 start.
Week 3 features a full slate of in-state games that includes the primetime headliner as Southern Arkansas welcomes No. 16 Ouachita Baptist to Wilkins Stadium.
Here are the top headlines from Week 2.
Edwards named GAC Offensive Player of the Week
Henderson State junior quarterback Andrew Edwards continued his strong start to the 2024 season by passing for a career-high 443 yards in Henderson State’s 34-17 victory over Southeastern Oklahoma State. This is the Bentonville native’s seventh time to win the Great American Conference’s Offensive Player of the Week. He completed 79% of his pass attempts with 3 touchdowns to only 1 interception while connecting with 11 different receivers.
Through two games, Edwards has completed 71.6% of his passes for 667 yards and 5 touchdowns, along with a 173.9 QB rating, all of which lead the conference.
Steward named GAC Defensive Player of the Week
Arkansas Tech junior Jyrin Steward (El Dorado) was unstoppable in the Wonderboys’ 26-6 win over Southern Nazarene. For his efforts, Steward was named the Great American Conference’s Defensive Player of the Week. Of his 9 total tackles 8 were solo and 5 for loss, including a sack and he also forced a fumble.
Steward currently leads the nation with 8.5 tackles for loss and tied for eighth in the country with 14 solo stops.
McElhany named GAC Special Teams Player of the Week
Ouachita Baptist sophomore Carter McElhany (Greenbrier) was selected as the Great American Conference’s Special Teams Player of the Week following a breakout performance in the Tigers’ 56-2 road win over Northwestern Oklahoma State last Thursday. This is McElhany’s third time to win the award in his career.
McElhany, the 2023 GAC Freshman of the Year, became the first OBU player of the GAC era to return a kickoff 100 yards when he accomplished the feat immediately following halftime. He also caught two passes, including a 58-yard touchdown, and is averaging 49 yards per return through the first two games, which ranks fourth nationally.
Week 2 Results
Arkansas-Monticello 39 Southwestern Oklahoma State 28
Arkansas Tech 26 Southern Nazarene (Okla.) 6
No. 1 Harding 59 Oklahoma Baptist 7
No. 19 Henderson State 34 Southeastern Oklahoma State 17
No. 17 Ouachita Baptist 56 Northwestern Oklahoma State 2
Southern Arkansas 28 East Central (Okla.) 20
Top Performers
QB Demilon Brown (Rivercrest), Arkansas-Monticello, Senior
Brown compiled 333 yards of offense (205 passing, 128 rushing) and scored 4 touchdowns in UAM’s 39-28 win over Southwestern Oklahoma State.
WR Jody Easter (McGehee), Henderson State, Junior
Easter caught 3 passes, including a 60-yard touchdown reception, in HSU’s 34-17 win over Southeastern Oklahoma State.
WR Connor Flannigan (Fayetteville), Ouachita Baptist, Senior
Flannigan hauled in 2 passes, highlighted by a 35-yard touchdown, plus returned 3 punts for 86 yards that included a long of 53.
RB Kendel Givens (Little Rock Christian), Ouachita Baptist, Senior
Givens rushed 18 times for a team-leading 145 yards and scored a touchdown in OBU’s 56-2 win over Northwestern Oklahoma State.
ATH Braden Jay (Cabot), Harding, Junior
Jay averaged 8.1 yards per carry on 7 touches and scored a touchdown in Harding’s 59-7 win over Oklahoma Baptist.
DL Gary Lewis (Fordyce), Henderson State, Redshirt Junior
Lewis logged total tackles, including 4 solo and 1.5 for loss with a sack, in HSU’s 34-17 win over Southeastern Oklahoma State.
QB Eli Livingston (Batesville), Ouachita Baptist, Senior
Livingston completed 9 of 17 passes for 171 yards and 3 touchdowns in OBU’s 56-2 win over Northwestern Oklahoma State. He also rushed for 66 yards, averaging an impressive 16.5 yards per carry.
DB CJ Palmer (Pocahontas), Arkansas Tech, Junior
Palmer logged 3 total tackles, broke up a pass, and nabbed an interception in ATU’s 26-6 win over Southern Nazarene (Okla.).
RB Jariq Scales (Osceola), Southern Arkansas, Senior
Scales led the Muleriders with 68 yards rushing and 2 touchdowns on 10 attempts in SAU’s 26-20 win over East Central (Okla.). Scales also returned 2 punts for 83 yards with a long of 44.
WR Stone Sheffield (Harding Academy), Harding, Senior
Sheffield led the Bisons with 53 receiving yards on 2 catches, one for a score, in Harding’s 59-7 win over Oklahoma Baptist.
K/P Logan Tymeson (Bentonville), Arkansas Tech, Sophomore
Tymeson averaged 40 yards per punt with a long of 51 and pinned two inside the 20-yard line in ATU’s 26-6 win over Southern Nazarene (Okla.). Tymeson also averaged 62.7 yards on six kickoffs, including 2 touchbacks.
Week 3 Schedule
No. 1 Harding (2-0) at Arkansas-Monticello (2-0) (Thurs.) 6 p.m.
Arkansas Tech (2-0) at No. 17 Henderson State (2-0) 6 p.m.
No. 16 Ouachita Baptist (2-0) at Southern Arkansas (2-0) 6 p.m.
(Cover photo by Henderson State University Athletics)
Kyle Sutherland is a journalist and podcast host (Arkansas Preps Weekly) for The Natural State Sports Network. His written work has been featured in outlets including the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Best of Arkansas Sports and Hooten’s Arkansas Football. He is also the color commentator for 103.7 The Buzz’s high school football Game of the Week. Email Kyle at kyle@naturalstatesports.com.