SWOSU Football Game Notes | vs. Southern Arkansas | 10.10.2026

SWOSU Football returns to Weatherford Saturday afternoon to host Southern Arkansas. The Bulldogs enter the matchup 1-4 after their upset bid fell short in a 38-33 loss at No. 19 Henderson State, while the Muleriders come in at 2-3 following a 30-27 victory over Northwestern Oklahoma State.

Kickoff is set for 2:00 p.m. from Flex-Chem Field at Milam Stadium. Saturday marks the third of six home games for the Bulldogs this season.

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW

1. OFFENSE TAKES A STEP
SWOSU posted season highs of 33 points and 457 yards at Henderson State, outgaining an offense that entered second nationally in yards per game. The Bulldogs led 27-24 entering the fourth quarter and held the Reddies to their lowest yardage total of the season at 455.

2. KEEP THE GROUND GAME GOING
The Bulldogs rushed for 216 yards at Henderson, highlighted by Keith Rockwell's 73-yard touchdown and Red Martel's 37-yard score. Southern Arkansas is allowing 249.8 rushing yards per game, presenting another opportunity for SWOSU's ground attack.

3. THIRD DOWN MATTERS
SWOSU looks to rebound on third down after going 2-of-14 offensively and allowing Henderson to convert 10-of-17 last Saturday. SAU enters converting 47.1% of its opportunities (33-of-70), testing a Bulldog defense that has allowed 36.8% (28-of-76) through five games.

4. WIN UP FRONT
SWOSU leads the GAC with 17 sacks and ranks seventh nationally at 3.4 per game. The Bulldogs also rank fourth in Division II with 9.4 tackles for loss per contest. Southern Arkansas has allowed seven sacks through five games.

5. LAST YEAR'S CLOSE CALL
In last season's matchup, SWOSU outgained SAU 354-156, led 24-9 in first downs and controlled possession for 43:43 but fell 14-12 in Magnolia. A 93-yard kickoff return proved pivotal, and the Bulldogs' tying two-point attempt was stopped following a touchdown with four seconds remaining.

SCOUTING SOUTHERN ARKANSAS

2025: 8-3 (8-3 GAC)
Head Coach: Brad Smiley (5th Season at SAU)
Preseason GAC: 3rd
2026 Record: 2-3 (2-3 GAC)

Southern Arkansas comes to Weatherford after defeating Northwestern Oklahoma State 30-27 last Saturday. The Muleriders are tied for sixth in the GAC and average 328.2 yards of total offense per game, including 184.4 on the ground and 143.8 through the air.

Arkez Gomez leads the rushing attack with 358 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 8.3 yards per carry. Quarterbacks Adam Parker and Drew Davis have combined for 719 passing yards and four touchdowns, while former Bulldog Isaac Norris leads SAU with 110 receiving yards. The Muleriders convert 47.1% of their third downs, fifth in the GAC, but have scored on just eight of 13 red-zone trips.

Defensively, SAU allows 427.4 total yards per game, eighth in the conference, including 249.8 rushing yards, 10th in the GAC. Opponents have converted 34-of-64 third downs (53.1%). Peyton Sellers leads the team with 56 tackles, while Walteze Champ has a team-high 3.5 sacks.

Jay Todd Baker averages 44.7 yards per punt, with six punts of at least 50 yards and a long of 70. Tyler Maull is 2-for-2 on field goals, including a 45-yarder. SAU is even in turnover margin with six takeaways and six giveaways, and its 46.0 penalty yards per game are third-fewest in the GAC.

SERIES SNAPSHOT

All-Time Series: Southern Arkansas leads, 12-2
GAC-era: Southern Arkansas leads, 12-2
GAC-era in Weatherford: SWOSU is 2-4
GAC-era in Magnolia: SWOSU is 0-8
Current streak: Southern Arkansas, W3
Last SWOSU win: 2022, 24-20

Last three:
2025: L, 12-14 (Magnolia)
2024: L, 14-48 (Weatherford)
2023: L, 10-41 (Magnolia)

BULLDOG BITES

ETHERIDGE SETTLES IN: Braxton Etheridge has completed 32-of-48 passes for 407 yards and five touchdowns without an interception in his first two collegiate starts. He followed his three-touchdown debut at Oklahoma Baptist with 241 passing yards at Henderson State.

BEASLEY AMONG THE BEST: DeAndre Beasley ranks third in the GAC with 378 receiving yards, just 20 behind the league leader. His 25 catches lead SWOSU, and he caught a team-high five passes at Henderson State.

DOCTOR DELIVERS: Michael Doctor caught two passes for 76 yards at Henderson State, including a 43-yard touchdown that gave SWOSU its first lead. Both receptions gained at least 30 yards.

AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL: SWOSU leads the GAC in passing defense at 149.4 yards allowed per game and ranks third in pass-efficiency defense. Opposing quarterbacks have completed just 50.9% of their attempts.

JACKSON FILLS THE STAT SHEET: Keshaun Jackson leads the Bulldogs with 47 tackles. His resume also includes eight tackles for loss, four sacks, an interception and two fumble recoveries. He is tied for second in the GAC in tackles for loss.

HARGRAVES GETS HOME: Keith Hargraves ranks third in the GAC with 4.5 sacks and is tied for fourth with 7.5 tackles for loss. Hargraves and Keshaun Jackson have combined for half of SWOSU's 17 sacks.

SEKYERE SWINGS MOMENTUM: Madox Sekyere forced and recovered a fumble late in the first half at Henderson State. SWOSU turned the takeaway into a field goal, completing a 10-point surge that cut a 14-3 deficit to 14-13 before halftime. Sekyere has a team-high four quarterback hurries and is second on the team with 30 tackles and third in both sacks (2.5) and tackles for loss (4.0).

TAKE IT AWAY: SWOSU has forced a GAC-leading 10 fumbles and recovered six, second-most in the conference. Four interceptions bring the Bulldogs' takeaway total to 10 through five games.

NIEDO MAKES AN IMPACT: Jaylen Niedo has two blocked kicks this season, along with an interception and 1.5 sacks. His production gives the Bulldogs a playmaker across both defense and special teams.

CLARKE FLIPS THE FIELD: Christian Clarke has seven punts of at least 50 yards and nine inside the 20 this season. Both lead the GAC. He averages 40.1 yards per punt, with a long of 61.

MCBEE CONNECTS: Ethan McBee made both field-goal attempts at Henderson State, connecting from 33 and 20 yards. He is 4-for-6 on field goals and a perfect 14-for-14 on extra points this season.

KEEPING IT CLEAN: SWOSU committed just two penalties for 15 yards at Henderson State, while the Reddies were flagged 10 times for 63 yards. The Bulldogs average 47.0 penalty yards per game, fourth-fewest in the GAC.

FINISHING DRIVES: The Bulldogs scored on all three red-zone trips at Henderson State, producing one touchdown and two field goals. SAU has allowed opponents to score on 15-of-16 red-zone possessions, including 13 touchdowns.

PROTECTION HOLDS: Henderson State entered last week with just one sack allowed, but SWOSU recorded three while surrendering none. The Bulldogs have allowed six sacks all season, fourth-fewest in the GAC.

FAMILIAR TARGET: Former Bulldog Isaac Norris now leads Southern Arkansas with 110 receiving yards. Norris caught SWOSU's touchdown with four seconds remaining in last year's meeting and enters this matchup with nine catches and one score for the Muleriders.

LAST TIME VS. SOUTHERN ARKANSAS

SWOSU controlled much of last year's matchup in Magnolia but fell 14-12 to Southern Arkansas. The Bulldogs outgained SAU 354-156, held a 24-9 advantage in first downs and possessed the ball for 43:43.

After allowing a touchdown on the opening drive, SWOSU held the Mulerider offense scoreless the rest of the way and recovered two fumbles. Ethan McBee's two field goals cut the deficit to 7-6 before SAU answered with a 93-yard kickoff return touchdown.

MJ Rivers then led a 16-play, 80-yard drive, finding Isaac Norris for a four-yard touchdown with four seconds remaining. The tying two-point conversion was stopped short.

Rivers finished 20-of-30 for 220 yards and a touchdown, while Red Martel rushed for 77 yards on 18 carries. SWOSU's defense limited SAU to 46 rushing yards and one third-down conversion in eight attempts.