SWOSU Football Game Notes | vs Ark.-Monticello | 10.31.2026

SWOSU Football returns to Weatherford Saturday to host Arkansas-Monticello for Homecoming, seeking its third consecutive victory and a return to .500. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Flex-Chem Field at Milam Stadium.

The Bulldogs enter 3-4 after last week's 23-21 victory at East Central, their third win in four games. Arkansas-Monticello comes in at 1-7 following a 56-17 loss to No. 2 Harding.

Homecoming weekend also includes a 30-year reunion celebrating SWOSU's 1996 NAIA National Championship football team.

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW

1. HOMECOMING MOMENTUM
SWOSU seeks its third straight victory after defeating Southern Arkansas 28-18 and East Central 23-21 in its last two outings. A win Saturday would bring the Bulldogs to .500 for the first time this season.

2. PROTECTING POSSESSION
SWOSU has played turnover-free football in consecutive victories. UAM ranks last in the GAC in turnover margin at minus-13, with 11 interceptions and eight lost fumbles. The Bulldogs lead the conference with 11 forced fumbles.

3. ROOM TO RUN
SWOSU averages 167.6 rushing yards per game. UAM ranks 10th in the GAC against the run, allowing 252.4 yards per contest and 6.2 yards per carry. The Weevils have surrendered 28 rushing touchdowns through eight games.

4. CONTAINING ALSTON
UAM's Dave Alston ranks third in the GAC with 104.9 rushing yards per game, totaling 839 yards and five touchdowns. He faces a SWOSU defense that ranks third in the conference against the run, allowing 157.0 yards per game.

5. EXTENDING DRIVES
SWOSU ranks 11th in the GAC in third-down offense at 32.0%, while UAM ranks 10th defensively, allowing opponents to convert 49.4%. The Bulldogs converted three third downs during their decisive eight-minute touchdown drive at East Central.

SCOUTING ARKANSAS-MONTICELLO

2025: 2-9 (2-9 GAC)
Head Coach: Gary Goff (1st Season at UAM)
Preseason GAC: 9th
2026 Record: 1-7 (1-7 GAC)

Arkansas-Monticello visits Weatherford under first-year head coach Gary Goff. The Weevils earned their lone victory against Arkansas Tech, 30-27, and have scored at least 30 points three times this season.

UAM ranks third in the GAC in passing offense at 221.8 yards per game. Quarterback Drew Forkner has thrown for 1,766 yards and 12 touchdowns with 11 interceptions. DT McCoy leads the receiving corps with 37 catches for 427 yards and two touchdowns, ranking eighth in the conference in receiving yards per game.

Dave Alston leads the ground game with 839 yards and five touchdowns, averaging 6.7 yards per carry. His 104.9 rushing yards per game rank third in the GAC. Alston rushed for 128 yards and a touchdown against Harding last week.

Defensively, UAM ranks 11th in the conference in total defense at 475.9 yards per game and scoring defense at 39.6 points per contest. Johnny Richardson leads the team with 37 tackles, while Keyon Clark has a team-high 7.5 tackles for loss and three sacks. The Weevils have collected six takeaways, recovering four fumbles and intercepting two passes.

Kicker Charles Stinson has made seven of 10 field goals with a long of 40 yards. Lance Resch averages 33.9 yards on 19 punts.

SERIES SNAPSHOT

All-Time Series: Tied, 7-7
GAC-era: Tied, 7-7
GAC-era in Weatherford: SWOSU leads, 5-1
Current Streak: SWOSU, W1
Last SWOSU Win: 2025, 49-7

Last three:
2025: W, 49-7
2024: L, 28-39
2023: L, 21-58

BULLDOG BITES

CHAMPIONS RETURN: SWOSU welcomes back its 1996 NAIA National Championship football team for a 30-year reunion during Homecoming weekend. The Bulldogs defeated Montana Tech in the national championship game at Milam Stadium on December 7, 1996, after beating rival Northwestern Oklahoma State in the semifinals.

NEW LEADER AT UAM: Gary Goff is in his first season as UAM's head coach after previous stops leading Tiffin, Valdosta State and McNeese State. He guided Valdosta State to the 2021 Division II national championship game and two Gulf South Conference titles.

A FAMILIAR CLIMB: SWOSU has won three of its last four after opening 0-3. The Bulldogs were also 3-4 through seven games last season before winning three of their final four to finish 6-5, their first winning season since 2015.

FINISHING THE CLOSE ONES: The 23-21 win at East Central was SWOSU's first victory decided by one possession this season. Three of the Bulldogs' four losses came by six points or fewer: Arkansas Tech by six, Southeastern by six and Henderson State by five.

POINTS HAVEN'T BEEN ENOUGH: UAM has scored at least 30 points three times but is just 1-2 in those games. The Weevils led East Central 31-28 in the fourth quarter before falling 42-37 and lost 40-34 in overtime at Southern Nazarene. Their lone win came 30-27 against Arkansas Tech. UAM ranks 11th in the GAC in scoring defense, allowing 39.6 points per game.

BRINGING THE PRESSURE: SWOSU leads the GAC with 3.14 sacks per game. The Bulldogs' 22 sacks have accounted for 128 lost yards, with Keshaun Jackson and Keith Hargraves combining for 9.5.

BEASLEY AMONG THE BEST: DeAndre Beasley ranks third in the GAC with 74.4 receiving yards per game and is tied for the conference lead with five touchdown catches. He has 35 receptions for 521 yards.

ETHERIDGE PROTECTS THE BALL: Braxton Etheridge has thrown seven touchdown passes without an interception in 106 attempts this season. He completed 20-of-32 passes for 241 yards and a touchdown at East Central, connecting with Beasley for a season-long 63-yard score.

MOORE AT THE RIGHT MOMENT: Kelton Moore intercepted a pass at the SWOSU 2-yard line with 2:47 remaining at East Central to preserve a 23-14 lead. It was his team-leading second interception, following his 43-yard touchdown return against Southern Arkansas.

PINNING THEM DEEP: Christian Clarke placed four of his six punts inside the 20 at East Central, bringing his season total to 16. He has seven punts of at least 50 yards, including a season-long 61-yarder.

KEEPING IT CLEAN: SWOSU ranks second in the GAC in fewest penalty yards per game at 45.0. The Bulldogs committed just three penalties for 15 yards at East Central, while the Tigers were flagged 11 times for 124 yards.

FINISHING IN THE RED ZONE: The Bulldogs scored on all three red-zone trips at East Central, producing two touchdowns and a field goal. UAM has allowed opponents to score on 29-of-32 red-zone possessions this season, including 27 touchdowns.

HOME FIELD IN THE SERIES: SWOSU is 5-1 against Arkansas-Monticello in Weatherford during the GAC era. The Bulldogs won the first five home meetings before UAM's 39-28 victory in 2024. The overall series is tied 7-7.

DEFENSIVE FOUNDATION: The Bulldogs rank third in the GAC in total defense at 314.1 yards per game and defensive passing efficiency at 111.95. Opponents have completed 50.6% of their passes.

JACKSON AND HARGRAVES: Keshaun Jackson ranks third in the GAC in tackles for loss per game at 1.71, while Keith Hargraves is fifth at 1.14. They also rank third and fifth, respectively, in sacks per game.

LAST TIME VS. ARKANSAS-MONTICELLO

SWOSU piled up 470 yards and forced four turnovers in a 49-7 road victory at Arkansas-Monticello on November 1, 2025. The Bulldogs led 14-0 at halftime, opened the second half with an 18-play, 75-yard touchdown drive and added 28 fourth-quarter points.

MJ Rivers completed 24-of-31 passes for 282 yards and two touchdowns. Baylor Nash caught five passes for 71 yards and a score, while Braxton Etheridge rushed for two touchdowns.

SWOSU held a 28-11 advantage in first downs, controlled possession for 37:14 and scored touchdowns on all four red-zone trips. The defense limited UAM to 274 total yards and collected three interceptions and a fumble recovery. Felipe Tristan capped the scoring with a 13-yard interception return for a touchdown.