Northwestern Oklahoma State quarterback Jacob Jones became the first NWOSU quarterback with a 300-plus yard game since 2023 while Southwestern Oklahoma State held Harding without a first-quarter touchdown for the first time in a regular season game since Oct. 18, 2025, both in losing efforts.
(RV) EAST CENTRAL 42, ARKANSAS-MONTICELLO 37
East Central played catch-up all game, not taking the lead for good until 7:35 remaining in the fourth quarter. Trailing 31-28, ECU scored 14 straight to ice it before UAM scored with 70 seconds left until an unsuccessful onside kick put the game away. Leading 35-31, the Tigers forced and recovered a UAM fumble on the Boll Weevil’s side of the field to extend the lead to double-digits with just under two minutes remaining.
(RV) ARKANSAS TECH 34, NORTHWESTERN OKLAHOMA STATE 29
After leading 20-8 at halftime, the Rangers used all of two plays in the second half to get it back to a one-possession game, 20-15. Both teams traded touchdowns the rest of the way before NWOSU had an opportunity to mount a game-winning drive with 5:11 on the clock. Trailing 34-29, Northwestern got all the way down to ATU’s 27 yard line before Brandon Wheeler recorded his second sack of the contest to force a 4th and 14 before ATU took possession on the turnover on downs only to run the clock out on the back of running back Myles West.
No. 2 HARDING 37, SOUTHWESTERN OKLAHOMA STATE 14
Southwestern Oklahoma State held the Bisons out of the endzone for the entire first quarter as two Dean Roberts field goals met by a 60-yard touchdown from Dyson Knox to DeAndre Beasley had SWOSU up after one quarter, 7-6. After a 10-point second quarter from Harding, the Bulldogs cut the deficit to two, 16-14, late in the third quarter before a 98-yard kickoff return touchdown completely shifted momentum as the Bisons closed on a 21-0 run.
SOUTHERN ARKANSAS 27, SOUTHERN NAZARENE 21
Amid two lengthy weather delays, the Muleriders overcame a 14-13 halftime deficit, winning the third quarter, 14-0, before taking the six-point victory after a late SNU touchdown. Taking a 20-14 lead with 1:11 left in the third quarter, Southern Arkansas took an interception back 31 yards to the Southern Nazarene 34-yard line before SAU running back Arkez Gomez scored on the first play of the ensuing drive with a 34-yard scamper to paydirt to extend the lead to 27-14. After a missed Crimson Storm field-goal early in the fourth, SNU saw the ball just one more time thanks to an SAU seven-minute drive.
(RV) OUACHITA BAPTIST 23, SOUTHEASTERN OKLAHOMA STATE 17
Ouachita Baptist took to the road and scored the first 16 points of the game for its first win of the season while outlasting a late Southeastern rally. Leading 23-3 with 11:59 left in the third quarter, the Savage Storm fought back with 14 straight points to cut the deficit to six, 23-17, with 2:43 left in regulation. After forcing a three-and-out, SE took the ball down to OBU’s 39-yard line with 30 seconds left before Ouachita Baptist linebacker Kahlil Smith picked off SE quarterback Levay Duncan to ice the game.
(RV) HENDERSON STATE 66, OKLAHOMA BAPTIST 9
Henderson State tallied 606 yards of total offense, including 430 yards on the ground, to race away with the Reddies’ home opener. Five HSU players recorded a rushing touchdown, including leading rusher Chris Gannaway with 105 yards and a score while wide receiver Taylin Paskel added two scores and 105 yards through the air, finishing the game with 190 all-purpose yards.
GREAT AMERICAN CONFERENCE FOOTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
OFFENSIVE
Sergio Kennedy | East Central | QB | Jr. | Manfield, Texas
East Central junior quarterback Sergio Kennedy completed 67 percent (18-of-27) of his passes while totaling 311 yards and four touchdowns in a come-from-behind victory against Arkansas-Monticello, 42-37. After trailing 31-28 with 9:48 remaining in regulation, Kennedy led the Tigers to back-to-back touchdown drives, capped off with a four-yard touchdown pass with 1:52 on the clock to go ahead, 42-31, before a late Monticello score brought the final tally to 42-37.
DEFENSIVE
Kahlil Smith | Ouachita Baptist | LB | Jr. | Frisco, Texas
Ouachita Baptist junior linebacker Kahlil Smith recorded two sacks, both of which came in the first half where OBU allowed just three points, and forced two turnovers to withstand a late Southeastern Oklahoma State rally and claim the 23-17 road victory. Smith’s first forced turnover came on a strip sack in Tiger’s territory halfway through the second quarter. Late in the contest, with Southeastern driving to potentially take the lead, Smith picked off quarterback Levay Duncan to ice the game for Ouachita’s first win of the year.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Jeff Regan | Harding | KR | Fr. | Rogers, Ark.
Harding freshman kick returner Jeff Regan delivered the game’s biggest momentum shift in Thursday’s road victory at Southwestern Oklahoma State, 37-14. After the Bulldogs scored to cut the Bisons lead to two, 16-14, Regan immediately returned the ensuing kickoff back 98 yards for a touchdown to extend the HU lead, 23-14. Regan added to his big day with another score on a 40-yard touchdown run for the final points of the contest. The Natural State product finished his first collegiate road game with 231 all-purpose yards and two scores.
WEEKLY AWARDS
GAC Offensive Player of the Week
Sept. 7 Sergio Kennedy, East Central
Sept. 14 Sergio Kennedy, East Central (x2)
GAC Defensive Player of the Week
Sept. 7 Jeremiah Jennings, Oklahoma Baptist
Sept. 14 Kahlil Smith, Ouachita Baptist
GAC Special Teams Player of the Week
Sept. 7 Dean Roberts, Harding
Sept. 14 Jeff Regan, Harding
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