As hard as it is to digest, the final week of the 2024 regular season has arrived.
The majority of Natural State-based GAC squads took care of business in dominant fashion, while Arkansas Tech relied on defense and special teams to keep the minute hopes of its first winning season since 2017 within grasp.
Arkansas-Monticello suffered a close loss to Southern Nazarene and the Boll Weevils look to finish the year with a bang by upsetting Southern Arkansas in the 99th edition of the Battle of the Timberlands.
All eyes in the GAC, as well as plenty around the country, will be looking at Carpenter-Haygood Stadium in Arkadelphia where the 97th Battle of the Ravine, one of America’s best football rivalries, is taking place.
Week 10 Results
Arkansas Tech 6, Southeastern Okla. State 0
Harding 34, East Central 7
Henderson State 35, Southwestern Okla. State 17
Ouachita Baptist 55, Okla. Baptist 0
Southern Arkansas 78, Northwestern Okla. State 0
Southern Nazarene 24, Arkansas-Monticello 21
Top Performers
K/P Jay Todd Baker (Magnolia), Southern Arkansas, SO
Baker averaged 60.3 yards on 13 kickoffs, including 3 touchbacks, in SAU’s 78-0 win over Northwestern Okla. Baker also booted a 44-yard punt that landed inside Northwestern’s 20-yard line.
QB Demilon Brown (Rivercrest), Arkansas-Monticello, SR
Brown completed 12 of 19 passes for 170 yards and a touchdown, plus led the Boll Weevils on the ground with 79 yards and a score, in UAM’s 24-21 loss to Southern Nazarene.
QB Andrew Edwards (Bentonville), Henderson State, R-JR
Edwards completed 17 of 22 passes for 302 yards and 4 touchdowns in HSU’s 35-17 win over Southwestern Okla.
DB Mario Ganter Jr. (El Dorado), Ouachita Baptist, JR
Ganter Jr. logged 6 total tackles, including 1 for loss, plus recovered a fumble and returned it 40 yards fort a touchdown in OBU’s 55-0 win over Okla. Baptist.
RB Kendel Givens (Little Rock Christian), Ouachita Baptist, SR
Givens led the Tigers with 106 yards and a touchdown in OBU’s 55-0 win over Okla. Baptist. He also hauled in 4 receptions for 41 yards and a score.
LB Cam’Ron Holmes (Wynne), Arkansas Tech, R-JR
Holmes led the Wonder Boys with 13 total tackles and broke up a pass in ATU’s 6-0 win over Southeastern Okla.
ATH Braden Jay (Cabot), Harding, JR
Jay rushed for 122 yards and 2 touchdowns in Harding’s 34-7 win over East Central.
DB Josiah Johnson (Pulaski Academy), Ouachita Baptist, SR
Johnson logged 4 total tackles, forced 2 fumbles and intercepted a pass in OBU’s 55-0 win over Okla. Baptist.
WR Carter McElhany (Greenbrier), Ouachita Baptist, SO
McElhany led the Tigers with 92 yards and 2 touchdowns on only 3 receptions in OBU’s 55-0 win over Okla. Baptist.
RB Andrew Miller (Harding Academy), Harding, SO
Miller led the Bisons with 158 yards and 2 touchdowns on 16 carries in Harding’s 34-7 win over East Central.
DL Tyler Mosley (Bryant), Arkansas Tech, R-FR
Mosley collected 9 total tackles in ATU’s 6-0 win over Southeastern Okla.
RB Kadyn Roach (Magnolia), Southern Arkansas, SR
Roach rushed for 62 yards on 5 carries, including a long of 44, with a touchdown in SAU’s 78-0 win over Northwestern Okla.
RB Jariq Scales (Osceola), Southern Arkansas, SR
Scales led the Muleriders with 112 yards on just 8 carries, including a long of 53, and scored a touchdown in SAU’s 78-0 win over Northwestern Okla.
LB Jyrin Steward (El Dorado), Arkansas Tech, JR
Steward logged 10 total tackles, including 1 sack, in ATU’s 6-0 win over Southeastern Okla.
K/P Logan Tymeson (Bentonville), Arkansas Tech, SO
Tymeson averaged 44.2 yards on 8 punts with a long of 56 and pinned two inside to 20-yard line in ATU’s 6-0 win over Southeastern Okla.
Week 11 Schedule
Rankings based on D2Football.com’s poll.
Arkansas Tech (5-5) at No. 5 Harding (9-1), 2 p.m.
No. 12 Ouachita Baptist (9-1) at Henderson State (8-2), 1 p.m.
Southern Arkansas (8-2) at Arkansas-Monticello (4-6), 2 p.m.
* Note – This weekly report is exclusive to Arkansas-based GAC schools and native Arkansas prep players.
Cover photo courtesy of Ouachita Baptist University
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.