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THIS WEEK IN GAC FOOTBALL (WEEK 8 PREVIEW)

By: Eric Moyer, GAC Communications

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RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. - The eighth week of 2013 Great American Conference football season features five homecoming games. Harding hosts No 5/6 Henderson State; Ouachita Baptist travels to Arkansas Tech, Northwestern Oklahoma State welcomes in Southeastern Oklahoma State; Arkansas-Monticello takes on Southern Nazarene and Southwestern Oklahoma State faces East Central.

GAC REWIND WITH MICHAEL WESTBROOK 


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GAC WEEK EIGHT STORYLINES // GAC NOTEBOOK // GAC SCOREBOARD
 Game  Venue/Location  Time/Date  Series/Last Meeting
 (5/6) Henderson State (7-0, 6-0 GAC)  First Security Stadium (5,000)  2:00 PM  Henderson State leads 30-17-1
 (RV/--) HARDING (5-1, 5-1 GAC)  Searcy, Ark.  Oct. 26  HSU, 38-10 (October 13, 2012)

The GAC’s two 2012 NCAA Division II Playoff participants meet in Searcy for Harding’s homecoming with the two riding the league’s longest win streaks. The Reddies have won their seven games this year by almost 40 points per game. The Bisons have rattled off five consecutive victories following a season-opening loss. The Bisons boast the nation’s top rushing attack at 403.3 yards per game while the Reddies lead Division II in passing yards per game, 435.6. Both rank in the top seven in total offense and scoring offense. Since losing to the Reddies last year, the Bisons have averaged 61.8 points per game in five home games. || HSU Game Notes || HU Game Notes || Live Stats ||

 Game  Venue/Location  Time/Date  Series/Last Meeting
 (RV/--) Ouachita Baptist (5-1, 5-1 GAC)  Thone Stadium (6,500)  3:00 PM  Arkansas Tech leads 41-28-7 
 ARKANSAS TECH (3-4, 3-3 GAC)  Russellville, Ark.  Oct. 26  OBU, 31-24 (September 22, 2012)

Arkansas Tech welcomes in Ouachita Baptist for homecoming and looks to even its record while the Tigers seek to return to their winning ways as they suffered their first loss of 2013 last week to Harding. OBU’s quarterback Benson Jordan threw for a season-high 422 yards in the loss to the Bisons. Chris Rycraw scored two more times to increase his total to 10, tied for the GAC lead with SAU’s Mark Johnson and HSU’s Keaton Stigger. The Tigers have won both contests with the Wonder Boys since the creation of the GAC. Prior to those two victories, Arkansas Tech had claimed 12 of the previous 13 contests. || OBU Game Notes || ATU Game Notes || Live Stats ||

 Game  Venue/Location  Time/Date  Series/Last Meeting
 Southeastern Oklahoma State (2-5, 2-4 GAC)  Ranger Field (6,000)  3:00 PM  Southeastern Oklahoma State leads 42-27-2
 NORTHWESTERN OKLAHOMA STATE (0-7, 0-7 GAC)  Alva, Okla.  Oct 26  SE, 31-6 (October 13, 2012)

Two teams in need of a win meet in Alva for the Rangers’ homecoming game. Southeastern has claimed four straight in the series and leads 42-27-2 in a series that dates back to 1909. The Rangers last claimed victory in the rivalry in 1996. Northwestern has won 17 of its last 18 homecoming games - that lone loss came last year at the expense of Southeastern. The Savage Storm racked up 292 rushing yards and scored 24 unanswered points in the first half to claim a 31-6 victory. With 2,001 yards, Southeastern quarterback Nick Sioson trails only HSU’s Kevin Rodgers and SAU’s Tyler Sykora on the GAC passing yards leaderboard. || SE Game Notes || NWOSU Game Notes || Live Stats ||

 Game  Venue/Location  Time/Date  Series/Last Meeting
 Southern Nazarene (0-7, 0-7 GAC)  Cotton Boll Stadium (4,500)  3:00 PM  First Meeting
 ARKANSAS-MONTICELLO (4-3, 3-3 GAC)  Monticello, Ark.  Oct. 26  N/A

Homecoming weekend also hits Monticello, Ark., as the Boll Weevils look to extend their home winning streak to five when they went welcome in Southern Nazarene for their first-ever meeting. UAM’s freshman kicker Jamie McGee continues to lead the country in field goals made (14) and field goals made per game (2.0). Only two kickers have attempted at least 10 field goals and converted at a better clip than McGee’s 87.5 percent. He needs one more made field goal to tie the school’s single-game record. In their 41-27 victory against Lindenwood-Belleville, UAM’s Cody Trimble and Jamal Nixon hooked up for nine receptions, 120 yards and three touchdowns. || SNU Game Notes || UAM Game Notes || Live Stats ||
 Game  Venue/Location  Time/Date  Series/Last Meeting
 East Central (3-3, 3-3 GAC)  Fast Lane Stadium (9,000)  6:00 PM  East Central leads 47-41-2
 SOUTHWESTERN OKLAHOMA STATE (4-3, 4-3 GAC)  Weatherford, Okla.  Oct. 26  SWOSU 13-10 (September 15, 2012)

The fifth homecoming contest of the weekend takes place in Weatherford as the Tigers and Bulldogs will meet for the 91st time. ECU has won consecutive games by a combined 110-28 margin while the Bulldogs snapped a two-game slide in a 37-27 win at Southeastern. Each game featured a tremendous individual effort from a pass catcher. East Central’s Caleb Holley earned GAC Offensive Player of the Week honors after he set the ECU single-game record for receiving yards, 224, in its win vs Northwestern Oklahoma State. SWOSU tight end Ryan Corbin matched his personal best with 10 receptions and set career highs in receiving yards, 164, and touchdowns, three. || ECU Game Notes || SWOSU Game Notes || Live Stats ||