RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. - Three teams remain undefeated in the Great American Conference after week three: No. 2 Harding, (RV) Henderson State and East Central. Saturday was the Bisons' third win by at least 23 points while both Henderson and ECU remained unblemished with 35-24 finals.
Previously-unbeaten Arkansas Tech (2-1, 2-1 GAC) fell at home to Ouachita Baptist (2-1, 2-1 GAC), which has rattled off back-to-back road wins. Oklahoma Baptist is 2-1 for the first time since 2023 while Southeastern Oklahoma State (2-1, 2-1 GAC) survived a trip to Weatherford, Okla., to stay above .500.
(RV) HENDERSON STATE 35, ARKANSAS-MONTICELLO 24
Quarterback Austin Ledbetter earned GAC Offensive Player of the Week honors after putting on a near-flawless performance to lead the Reddies to the 11-point victory. Arkansas-Monticello delivered a three-play, 88-yard touchdown drive on its first offensive possession to take the early 7-0 lead before HSU scored 14 unanswered. The Weevils cut HSU's lead to four early in the fourth quarter, 28-24, which Ledbetter and the Reddie offense answered immediately to go back ahead, 35-24. Monticello took the ball into Henderson territory two more times, but the red-and-gray defense stood tall with an interception at its own 11-yard line and a turnover on downs at the HSU 27.
OKLAHOMA BAPTIST 55, NORTHWESTERN OKLAHOMA STATE 37
Oklahoma Baptist scored its most points since 2021, putting up 55 on the road against Northwestern Oklahoma State in a weather-shortened contest. With 7:22 remaining in the second quarter, Northwestern cut it to a one-point game, 21-20, before the Bison scored 17 of the next 20 points in route to its 15-point victory. Quarterback Brady Bricker completed 83.3 percent (30-36) of his passes for 317 yards and a touchdown while running back Devan Daniels averaged an eye-popping 12.9 yards per carry to go with his 116 yards and two scores. Justin Pascone also totaled two scores on the ground.
EAST CENTRAL 35, SOUTHERN NAZARENE 24
Southern Nazarene had its eyes set on the upset, taking the game into the fourth quarter tied, 21-21. After ECU scored early in the fourth, SNU worked the ball all the way down to the Tiger nine yard line but were held to just a field-goal to make it 28-24. Getting the ball back with 7:09 on the clock and the four-point advantage, East Central put together a 13-play, 74-yard touchdown drive that took over five and a half minutes off the clock as ECU left Bethany with the 35-24 victory.
SOUTHEASTERN OKLAHOMA STATE 27, SOUTHWESTERN OKLAHOMA STATE 21
After trailing at halftime, 17-0, the Bulldogs responded with a 5-play, 75-yard drive and a 4-play, 60-yard drive to cut the lead to three after the third quarter, 17-14. A fumble recovery from GAC Defensive Player of the Week Keshaun Jackson deep in Savage Storm territory on the first play of the fourth quarter yielded the go-ahead score for SWOSU two plays later, 21-17. After a blocked punt-turned-safety cut the SWOSU lead to two, 21-19, SE had a field-goal blocked on the ensuing drive with 2:18 left in regulation. With the lead still intact, SWOSU gave the ball back to Southeastern with 1:35 on the clock as the Storm went 80 yards in 86 seconds to improve to 2-1.
No. 2 HARDING 52, SOUTHERN ARKANSAS 21
For the second week in a row, No. 2 Harding started out slow in the first quarter before altering momentum late in the first half. Leading 10-7, defensive captain Jordan Mays forced a fumble on the Bisons 35 yard line, which the HU offense turned into seven points right before the half, 17-7. From there, Harding scored 35 of the next 42 points before a late Mulerider touchdown brought the final tally to 52-21.
OUACHITA BAPTIST 34, ARKANSAS TECH 17
Ouachita Baptist allowed just one first down in the first quarter before taking a 13-3 lead into halftime. Arkansas Tech found a bit of life halfway through the fourth quarter following a nine-play, 75-yard touchdown drive to make it 27-10 before Ouachita returned the ensuing kickoff back for a touchdown to put any hopes of a comeback to rest. A late score from the Wonder Boys delivered the game's final score, 34-17. The Tiger defense held ATU to 3-of-12 on third and fourth downs.
GREAT AMERICAN CONFERENCE FOOTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
OFFENSIVE
Austin Ledbetter | Henderson State | QB | 5th | Bryant, Ark.
Henderson State fifth-year quarterback Austin Ledbetter accounted for over 400 yards of total offense, throwing for 399 yards with an 85.1 completion percentage (22-of-26) and four scores through the air. Ledbetter currently leads the GAC in completion percentage (73.4), yards (804) and passing touchdowns (7). After falling behind to UAM, 7-0, Ledbetter completed his next 13 passes as HSU scored the next 21 points.
DEFENSIVE
Keshaun Jackson | Southwestern Oklahoma State | LB | Jr. | Glenn Heights, Texas
Southwestern Oklahoma State junior linebacker Keshaun Jackson was responsible for two takeaways and 15 total tackles, including two sacks and three and a half tackles for loss, in the Bulldogs' comeback bid against Southeastern Oklahoma State. Trailing 17-14 at the start of the fourth quarter, Jackson recovered a fumble deep in Savage Storm territory, leading to SWOSU's first lead of the contest, 21-17.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Nate Stafford | Ouachita Baptist | WR/RS | Sr. | Allen, Texas
Ouachita Baptist senior return specialist Nate Stafford put the final finishing touches of the Tiger's road victory at Arkansas Tech. With the Wonder Boys showing its first sign of life early in the fourth quarter with a touchdown to cut into OBU's lead, 27-10, Stafford took the ensuing kickoff back 95 yards for the resounding 34-10 advantage. The kickoff return touchdown was Stafford's first such score of his career.
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
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
GAC Special Teams Player of the Week
Sept. 7 Dean Roberts, Harding
Sept. 14 Jeff Regan, Harding
Sept. 21 Nate Stafford, Ouachita Baptist