Ouachita Baptist was riding high on the national scene when it snapped Harding’s 25-game win streak just over two weeks ago, but the Tigers gained the same attention for all of the wrong reasons when it was upset by winless Southern Nazarene last Thursday on senior night at Cliff Harris Stadium.
Arkansas Tech was the other Natural State GAC squad to fall, likely diminishing the Wonder Boys’ chances of finishing with their first winning record since 2017 as they wrap up 2024 with road trips to Southeastern Okla. State and Harding.
Harding, Henderson State and Southern Arkansas all won handily, while Arkansas-Monticello earned a victory in comeback fashion after scoring 14 unanswered points in a fourth quarter rally.
Week 9 Results
Southern Nazarene 18, Ouachita Baptist 17
Harding 56, Southeastern Okla. State 14
East Central 23, Arkansas Tech 13
Henderson State 44, Northwestern Okla. State 10
Arkansas-Monticello 24, Oklahoma Baptist 20
Southern Arkansas 48, Southwestern Okla. State 14
Top Performers
QB Andrew Edwards (Bentonville), Henderson State, R-JR
Edwards completed 13 of 23 passes for 140 yards and 3 touchdowns in HSU’s 44-10 win over Northwestern Okla.
RB Kendel Givens (Little Rock Christian), Ouachita Baptist, SR
Givens led the Tigers with 123 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries in OBU’s 18-17 loss to Southern Nazarene.
ATH Braden Jay (Cabot), Harding, JR
Jay led the Bisons with 108 yards on 6 carries (18 yards per rush with a long of 61) and 2 touchdowns in Harding’s 56-14 win over Southeastern Okla. State. Jay also hauled in a 51-yard touchdown.
RB Andrew Miller (Harding Academy), Harding, SO
Miller rushed for 91 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries in Harding’s 56-14 win over Southeastern Okla. State.
RB/RS Jariq Scales (Osceola), Southern Arkansas, SR
Scales returned 5 punts for 65 yards, including a long of 51, plus rushed for 51 yards and a score on 12 attempts, in SAU’s 48-14 win over Southwestern Okla. State.
DL Jakobe Shell (Forrest City), Henderson State, R-SO
Shell led the Reddies with 10 total tackles, including 6 solo and 1.5 sacks, in HSU’s 44-10 win over Northwestern Okla.
K/P Logan Tymeson (Bentonville), Arkansas Tech, SO
Tymeson averaged 37.2 yards on 8 punts with a long of 50 and downed 2 inside the opponent’s 20-yard line in Tech’s 23-13 loss to East Central.
Week 10 Schedule
Rankings based on D2Football.com’s poll.
Southwestern Okla. State at Henderson State, 1 p.m.
Arkansas-Monticello at Southern Nazarene, 2 p.m.
Arkansas Tech at Southeastern Okla. State, 2 p.m.
No. 5 Harding at East Central, 2 p.m.
Northwestern Okla. State at Southern Arkansas, 2 p.m.
No. 12 Ouachita Baptist at Okla. Baptist, 2 p.m.
* Note – This weekly report is exclusive to Arkansas-based GAC schools and native Arkansas prep players. Football.com’s poll.
Cover photo of Southern Arkansas’ Jariq Scales submitted
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.