Southern Arkansas defeated the Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys 55-21 in the regular season finale for both teams at Wilkins Stadium in Magnolia on Saturday afternoon.
Southern Arkansas defeated the Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys 55-21 in the regular season finale for both teams at Wilkins Stadium in Magnolia on Saturday afternoon.
The Muleriders (8-2 overall, 6-2 Great American Conference) rolled up 492 yards of total offense in the first half while building a 42-6 halftime lead.
SAU finished with a school-record 727 yards of total offense. Quarterback Tyler Sykora completed 29-of-39 passes for 424 yards and five touchdowns. His top target was Chris Terry, who caught five passes for 144 yards and a school-record four touchdown receptions.
Southern Arkansas entered the week No. 10 in the NCAA Division II Super Region 3 rankings.
The Muleriders would have to move up four spots in those rankings to earn a bid in the NCAA Division II Playoffs, which begin next week at on-campus sites around the United States. Selections for the NCAA Division II Playoffs will be announced on Sunday.
Arkansas Tech completed its 98th football season with an overall record of 5-6 and a GAC mark of 3-5.
Wonder Boys quarterback Tanner Marsh completed 25-of-44 passes for 275 yards and three touchdowns in his final collegiate game.
A senior from Carrollton, Texas, Marsh had 3,316 yards of total offense in 2012, the second-highest total ever by an Arkansas Tech football player in a single season.
Only Nick Graziano, who had a school-record 4,768 yards of total offense in 2009, has ever amassed a higher total in a season for the Wonder Boys.
Marsh’s 2,874 passing yards in 2012 rank No. 3 by an individual in a single season in Arkansas Tech football history. His 19 touchdowns passes are tied for fifth-most in a single season for the Wonder Boys.
Place kicker Trevor Pinkston made 13 field goals this season, second-most by an individual in a single season for the Wonder Boys. Paul Peletz made a school-record 15 field goals in 1999.
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