Oklahoma Baptist (3-3, 3-3 GAC) picked up its first win in Monticello of its NCAA Division II era, taking down the Boll Weevils (1-5, 1-5 GAC), 34-20, behind five takeaways from the Bison defense. (RV) East Central (5-1, 5-1 GAC) survived the third highest scoring GAC game in conference history, spoiling Arkansas Tech’s (2-4, 2-4 GAC) Homecoming in an offensive explosion from both squads, 58-56.
Ouachita Baptist (4-2, 4-2 GAC) won its fourth game in the last five contests after defeating Southern Nazarene (1-5, 1-5 GAC), 49-14, while Southwestern Oklahoma State (2-4, 2-4 GAC) overcame a fourth-quarter deficit with a pair of takeaways, including a 43-yard pick-six, to defeat Southern Arkansas (2-4, 2-4 GAC), 28-18.
Ouachita Baptist 49, Southern Nazarene 14
Ouachita Baptist scored on all five of its first-half possessions, while adding a defensive touchdown, to take a dominant 42-7 lead into halftime. Southern Nazarene, after scoring on its second possession of the game, saw its next points with 2:07 remaining in the fourth quarter as the Tigers scored 42 unanswered from Cliff Harris Stadium. The Tigers delivered a balanced offensive attack with 258 rushing yards and 231 passing yards while holding the Crimson Storm to their second fewest rushing yards (192) this season.
No. 2 Harding 38, Southeastern Oklahoma State 24
With the help of two defensive touchdowns, Southeastern Oklahoma State inflicted No. 2 Harding with its biggest deficit of the season at 21-7 before HU scored 24 unanswered to help keep the Bisons undefeated, 38-24. Storm defensive back Kole McKnight recorded his second pick-six in as many weeks as part of SE’s pair of defensive scores on consecutive Harding possessions before the rushing attack of the nation’s number two team saw touchdown runs of 41, 83 and 88 yards while holding Southeastern scoreless for the final 39:47 of game time.
Southwestern Oklahoma State 28, Southern Arkansas 18
A 21-point fourth quarter lifted Southwestern Oklahoma State to its first home victory of the season and second win in the last three games. Trailing 10-7 after three quarters, the Bulldogs’ first fourth-quarter possession was an 11-play, 51-yard touchdown drive to give SWOSU its first lead of the contest with 7:08 remaining in regulation, 14-10. Southwestern forced turnovers on SAU’s next two possessions, including a Kelton Moore 43-yard interception returned for a touchdown, to eventually hold off the Muleriders, 28-18.
Oklahoma Baptist 34, Arkansas-Monticello 20
Oklahoma Baptist forced five Arkansas-Monticello turnovers to help the Bison claim its second road victory of the season, including a trio of interceptions on UAM’s first four offensive drives. The Bison used its opportunistic defense to take a 17-6 lead into halftime. Oklahoma Baptist opened the second half with an 11-play, 58-yard touchdown drive for its largest lead of the game up till that point, 24-6. Two more takeaways in the third and fourth quarter quietted any hopes of a Weevil comeback as OKB claimed the 14-point victory, 34-20.
No. 17 Henderson State 34, Northwestern Oklahoma State 7
A dominant defensive effort from Henderson State helped the Reddies remain undefeated despite a pair of first-half turnovers. Northwestern’s first eight drives ended in either a turnover-on-downs or a punt, including four straight three-and-outs, as HSU opened a 20-0 lead before NWOSU got on the board. A Ranger touchdown early in the fourth quarter yielded two more HSU scores as Henderson opened the year 6-0 for the first time since 2021 with the 34-7 victory in Alva, Okla.
(RV) East Central 58, Arkansas Tech 56
In what was the highest scoring GAC game since 2016 and the third highest scoring game in conference history with 114 combined points, (RV) East Central outlasted Arkansas Tech with a game-winning 26-yard field goal with 10 seconds remaining in regulation. The teams combined for 1089 total yards, including 420 passing yards for ECU and 361 rushing yards for ATU. The Tigers scored on all but two of their drives while the Wonder Boys committed two first-half turnovers to give East Central the edge at halftime, 38-20. Tech saw its first lead of the game with 1:34 remaining in regulation before the game winner came from the leg of ECU’s Gabriel Ogura 84 seconds of game time later for the marathon 58-56 victory.
GREAT AMERICAN CONFERENCE FOOTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
OFFENSIVE
Kaden Jones | East Central | WR | Sr. | Chandler, Okla.
East Central senior wide receiver Kaden Jones set a program and GAC single-game record with 289 receiving yards while adding three touchdowns in ECU’s 58-56 road victory against Arkansas Tech. Jones scored on throws of 44, 30 and 74 yards, two of which came in the second quarter to help the Tigers establish a 38-20 halftime lead. The Sooner State product’s 289 receiving yards are the second most such yards in NCAA Division II this season.
DEFENSIVE
George Getanda | Oklahoma Baptist | Safety | So. | Hurst, Texas
Oklahoma Baptist sophomore safety George Getanda forced two of the Bison’s five takeaways to help OKB claim its first win at Monticello in the NCAA Division II era. Getanda totaled seven tackles, all of which were solo, while grabbing an interception and forcing a fumble. With Oklahoma Baptist leading 14-6, the second-year safety picked off UAM quarterback Drew Forkner in the endzone to keep UAM off the board and maintain the lead in route to the 14-point victory.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Gabriel Ogura | East Central | K | So. | Sao Paulo, Brazil
East Central sophomore kicker Gabriel Ogura converted all seven of his point-after tries and three field goals, including a long of 44 yards, to lift the Tigers to a two-point, 58-56 road victory. Ogura’s second field goal extended ECU’s lead to a two-possession game as ATU began its comeback before splitting the uprights for the third time with 10 seconds remaining in regulation with a 26-yard game winner.
WEEKLY AWARDS
GAC Offensive Player of the Week
Sept. 7 Sergio Kennedy, East Central
Sept. 14 Sergio Kennedy, East Central (x2)
Sept. 21 Austin Ledbetter, Henderson State
Sept. 28 Andrew Miller, Harding
Oct. 5 Tre Nichols, Ouachita Baptist
Oct. 12 Kaden Jones, East Central*
*CFB Network Division II National Player of the Week
GAC Defensive Player of the Week
Sept. 7 Jeremiah Jennings, Oklahoma Baptist
Sept. 14 Kahlil Smith, Ouachita Baptist
Sept. 21 Keshaun Jackson, Southwestern Oklahoma State
Sept. 28 Kaleb Walker, Harding
Oct. 5 Kole McKnight, Southeastern Oklahoma State
Oct. 12 George Getanda, Oklahoma Baptist
GAC Special Teams Player of the Week
Sept. 7 Dean Roberts, Harding
Sept. 14 Jeff Regan, Harding
Sept. 21 Nate Stafford, Ouachita Baptist
Sept. 28 Charles Stinson, Arkansas-Monticello
Oct. 5 Brett Leonardt, Southern Nazarene
Oct. 12 Gabriel Ogura, East Central
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