Team with the Bye Week: Southwestern Oklahoma

Arkansas Tech (3-6, 3-5) at th at 2pm CT
Southeastern Oklahoma recap
Arkansas Tech recap: Arkansas Tech looked like they might strike early against ECU when they started their second drive within the red zone, however, the Wonder Boys came away with no points. While the offense did a good job of limiting turnovers to just one interception, they struggled to get anything going with only 161 total yards and one trip to the red zone that was due to an ECU penalty tacking on more yards at the end of the ATU punt return. The ATU defense held strong all game long, keeping ECU from extending their lead. The Wonder Boys defense also did a great job in the red zone holding ECU to only two red zone scores, even though the Tigers had five trips.

Thoughts: Toss up, lean Southeastern Oklahoma


th at 2pm CT in El Dorado, AR
Henderson State recap
Southern Arkansas recap
Thoughts: Henderson State


th at 3pm CT
Ouachita Baptist recap
Arkansas-Monticello recap
Thoughts: Ouachita Baptist


th at 3pm CT
Harding recap
East Central recap
Thoughts: Lean Harding


Game to Watch
This week I thought I would take a slight detour from the usual suspects for the Game to Watch and focus on two of the teams that have not received much love, but have played well lately.
th at 2pm CT
Defenserd Down Conversion Offense: 23.2% 3rd Down Conversion Defense: 43.3%
Sacks Against: 31 Sacks By: 15
Offense rd Down Conversion Offense: 26.5% 3rd Down Conversion Defense: 44.4%
Sacks Against: 13 Sacks By: 14
Turnover Margin
-19 -10
Background:
SNU just completed its transition from NAIA to NCAA Division II, NWOSU is in its final year of transition. Since both teams starting playing GAC teams in 2012, NWOSU has won both games. While SNU is winless this season, three of the last five games have been decided by only one score. NWOSU is coming off of a bye week and should be well rested.

Visiting Team Offense v. Home Team Defense
Visiting Team Offense: The last two weeks SNU has put up over 300 yards of total offense. In both games SNU has just fallen short. In the UAM game the offense was driving late in the game but turned the ball over. In the SWOSU game the offense made a last minute touchdown that tied the game and sent it into overtime.

Home Team Defense:
Home Team Offense v. Visiting Team Defense
Home Team Offense:
Visiting Team Defense: th within the GAC.

Coaches Quotes:
I was unable to get a quote from Southern Nazerene Head Coach Mike Cochran in time for the blog post.

Northwestern Oklahoma Interim Head Coach Kevin Turco on playing Southern Nazerene:
Keys Summary:
  1. Turnovers
  2. Scoring opportunities
  3. Big plays


Thoughts:: Toss up, lean Northwestern Oklahoma


Post Season Picture:
Implications of a 3-way tie in the GAC: GAC policy calls for the Live United Bowl bid to go to the highest finishing team not in the D-II playoffs. In the event of a 3-way tie, head-to-head between the two teams not selected for the D-II playoffs will be the tie-break.

Here is what GAC policy means in practical terms:

Post-season Picture:
My friend and colleague Matt Witwicki, the NSIC blogger, has done a good job of laying out the wider region playoff picture. Bottom line, the GAC is going to need some significant outside help to get two teams into the playoffs. My focus here is just on what has to happen within the GAC for the top three teams to see post-season action and the likely outcomes.

Ouachita:
  1. Win out: playoffs.
  2. Win against UAM, but lose to HSU: Live United Bowl due to head-to-head with HU.
  3. Lose both remaining games: hope for a Heart of Texas Bowl bid.


Henderson:
  1. Win out: playoffs due to FCS win over Nicholls State.
  2. Lose any remaining game: hope for a Heart of Texas Bowl bid.


Harding:
  1. Win out and OBU wins out: Live United Bowl.
  2. Win out and OBU beats UAM but loses to HSU: hope for a Heart of Texas Bowl bid.
  3. Win out and OBU loses both remaining games: playoffs due to head-to-head with HSU.
  4. Lose any remaining game and HSU loses a remaining game: Live United Bowl due to head-to-head with HSU.
  5. Lose any remaining game and HSU wins out: hope for a Heart of Texas Bowl bid.



: 5-0
Season Record to date: 41-7

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