Story by
The Ada News, Okla.
Akers' big day not enough as ECU falls to Southern Arkansas
- Story byThe Ada News, Okla.
- Akers' big day not enough as ECU falls to Southern Arkansas
MAGNOLIA, Ark. — East Central wide receiver Tyler Akers was the Tigers' most productive player Saturday afternoon against Southern Arkansas.
Akers returned a kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown late in the second quarter, keeping the Tigers within striking distance at 24-17 heading into halftime.
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But the Muleriders shut out East Central in the second half and kicked the Tigers 45-17 loss in a ghastly Great American Conference Halloween matchup inside Wilkins Stadium.
ECU dropped to 6-3 on the season and has now lost back-to-back games after winning six of its first seven. Southern Arkansas improved to 3-6.
The Muleriders had just delivered a big play of their own when running back Torey Lambert burst through the line virtually untouched and raced down the far sideline for a 60-yard touchdown. He narrowly avoided a diving tackle attempt by ECU's Logan Taylor at the 9-yard line on his way to the end zone.
Akers hauled in the ensuing kickoff at the 8, raced to his left, easily eluded a tackle attempt by SAU kicker Luka Nava and sprinted to the end zone to pull the Tigers within a single score.
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Akers finished with three kickoff returns for 146 yards, including a 38-yard return earlier in the second quarter.
East Central never found its offensive rhythm, finishing with a season-low 164 yards of total offense — 96 rushing and 68 passing. Meanwhile, the Muleriders gained a whopping 425 yards.
The Tigers managed just 50 total yards in the scoreless second half, including a mere 10 through the air.
Southern Arkansas also kept explosive quarterback Sergio Kennedy in check. The ECU signal-caller completed 13 of 20 passes for 68 yards and was sacked three times.
After rushing for more than 100 yards in each of ECU's first four games, tailback Quincy Thompson has now gone five consecutive games without reaching the century mark. Thompson finished with 64 yards on 11 carries against the Muleriders.
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His 24-yard scoring run at the 9:04 mark of the first quarter had briefly tied the game at 7-7.
SAU quarterback Ryan Shackleton scored on a 2-yard run late in the third quarter to extend the Muleriders' lead to 31-17.
Southern Arkansas capped a back-breaking 10-play, 80-yard drive with a 9-yard touchdown run by Katrevion Thomas with 9:04 remaining, pushing the advantage to 38-17.
Running back Arkez Gomez closed out the scoring when he broke loose for a 65-yard touchdown on a first-and-20 handoff with 4:15 remaining. Gomez led a Mulerider ground attack that produced 271 yards, finishing with 101 yards on eight carries.
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Linebacker Caden Pickens led the East Central defense with a game-high 16 tackles, including one sack. No other ECU player recorded more than six tackles.
The Tigers return home Saturday to host Henderson State University. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. inside Koi Ishto Stadium.
