WONDER BOYS SET TO CLOSE 2007 SEASON SATURDAY AT HARDING

        RUSSELLVILLE, Arkansas – Arkansas Tech Football will close out its 93rd season of football Saturday when it travels to Searcy, Ark., to face Harding (4-4 overall, 3-3 GSC) in a Gulf South Conference match-up. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. at First Security Stadium on the Harding campus.

Saturday’s season finale also will mark the final game in Green and Gold for the Wonder Boys 17-member senior class. The seniors this season are: linebacker Arthur Douglas (Shreveport, La.), defensive tackle Clayton Elliott (Dickinson, Texas), running back Marcus Godfrey (Junction City, Ark.), receiver Chris Gunter (Beebe, Ark.), linebacker Zach Hall (Irving, Texas), defensive tackle Hollis Hoskins (Batesville, Miss.), offensive guard Chad Langdon (Louise, Miss.), offensive guard Shane McCaa (Waynesboro, Miss.), receiver Justin McCutcheon (Harrison, Ark.), defensive tackle Milan McDaniel (Morrilton, Ark.), defensive end Andrew Murphy (Booneville, Miss.), linebacker Zach Noel (Paragould, Ark.), defensive tackle Travion Scott (Crossett, Ark.), center B.J. Tilley (Lucedale, Miss.), running back R.J. Vanhook (Prescott, Ark.) and Jonathan Webster (Batesville, Miss.).

Tech, who is sporting a 5-4 overall record and a 3-4 mark in the GSC, enters Saturday’s game seeking to finish the year with its fourth consecutive winning season, the longest such streak for the Wonder Boys since 1969-72 and also its 60th winning season in the program’s history. In addition to seeking its fourth consecutive winning season, the Wonder Boys are also looking to rebound from its disappointing 56-49 loss at home on Senior Day last Saturday to Southern Arkansas.

“For the past several weeks, we’ve talked about finishing the season with a winning record and that is our goal,” Tech Head Football Coach and Athletic Director Steve Mullins said. “Being able to finish with a winning record is something to brag and hold our heads up about and leaves a better taste in the mouth heading into the offseason.”

The Wonder Boys offense enters Saturday’s season finale riding a hot streak as Tech has gained a combined 1,023 yards of offense (511.5 yards/game) and scored 87 points (43.5 points/game) over its last two contests. In last Saturday’s loss to SAU, Tech’s offense gained a season-high 559 yards of total offense, its highest total since gaining 581 yards in last season’s 55-35 win over Ouachita Baptist. In addition, junior quarterback Justin Ray (Benton, Ark.) has tossed eight touchdown passes in the last two games, including throwing five touchdown passes against Ouachita Baptist on Oct. 20.

“Once we lost Cole to his season-ending knee injury, we had to readjust our offense and change our attack to match Justin’s ability, and lately, our offense has played tremendous,” Mullins said. “I’m proud of the coaches and players for having faith once we had to adjust our offensive attack.”

While its offense has been clicking on all cylinders over the past two games, so too, has Ray under center. Over his last two games, Ray has amassed 785 yards of total offense (392.5 yards/game), including being 41-for-82 passing for 554 yards and rushing for 231 yards. In his last outing, Ray’s play was spectacular as he gained 479 yards of total offense, the second-highest total offense mark by a GSC player this season and the 10th best mark in GSC history. Against the Muleriders, Ray was 22-for-49 passing for 320 yards and three touchdowns and carried the ball 14 times for 159 yards. Ray enters Saturday’s season finale averaging 120.4 yards in total offense and is 64-for-127 passing for 739 yards and has tossed eight touchdowns and thrown four interceptions and has carried the ball 73 times for 345 yards and has scored three times.

In addition to Ray, junior receiver Tracey Stiger (Russellville, Ark.) has also been hot as of late as he has combined to catch 16 passes for 270 yards and has scored five touchdowns over the last two games, including catching eight balls for 138 yards and scoring twice last week against SAU. Stiger enters Saturday’s season finale having caught 56 passes for 595 yards and has scored eight touchdowns and is averaging 141.2 all-purpose yards per game, which is fifth in the latest GSC statistics. In addition, Stiger is eight catches shy of breaking the school’s single-season pass reception mark of 63, which is held by former Wonder Boys, LaRon Marbley (1996) and Steve Daniels (1996).

“Tracey has put together a tremendous season and is factor for us, not only offensively, but also on special teams,” the 11th-year Tech coach added.

Meanwhile, Tech’s opponent, Harding, enters Saturday’s as one of the top offensive units in the GSC as they boost the top passing offense and third-highest scoring team in the league. The Bisons, who recently promoted interim head coach Ronnie Huckbea as the program’s fifth-ever head coach, enter the weekend averaging 410.5 yards per game, which is third-best in the league and are averaging 290.9 passing yards and are scoring 30.9 points per game. Harding has scored 30 or more points five times this season and is 4-1 when reach that scoring plateau and have had four games with more than 400 yards of total offense.

          “Our defense has a great challenge in front of it on Saturday as Harding is outstanding offensively,” Mullins said. “I’m hopeful they have put last week’s performance behind them.”

          Leading the way for Harding is junior quarterback David Knighton. Knighton leads the league in both passing (288.1 yards/game) and total offense (301 yards/game) and is third in passing efficiency (135.0). On the season, Knighton is 217-for-346 passing for 2,305 yards with 22 touchdowns and eight interceptions and has had four 300-yard passing games this season. In addition to Knighton, Harding also boosts a solid running back duo in junior Alan Webster (468 yards and two touchdowns) and senior Calvin Roberts, who has gained 261 yards and scored three touchdowns. Among Knighton’s top receiving targets are senior halfback Ardell Briggs, who has caught 45 passes for 459 yards and is averaging 107.1 all-purpose yards, and sophomores Zac Ross and Kurt Adams. Ross, a transfer from Oklahoma State, has caught 33 passes for 329 yards and is averaging 147 all-purpose yards per game, which is third in the league, while Adams has caught 26 passes for 379 yards and has scored five touchdowns.

“The first thing that stands out about Knighton is how strong he is,” said Mullins. “He creates big plays and never panics. He always has his eyes focused downfield.

“He was a one-man show against Henderson State last week.”

In last season’s game against Harding, Tech was able to put pressure on Knighton as he was sacked five times in the Wonder Boys 26-3 win in Russellville.

“We will miss some sacks this weekend, but our goal is to try and contain him,” Mullins added. “We need to also be able to wrap up tackles as well.”

          Saturday’s game marks the 46th meeting all-time in the series between the two schools that dates to 1928. Tech leads the all-time series, 28-17-0 and the Wonder Boys have won five of the last seven games in the series, but hasn’t won in Searcy since picking up a 10-9 victory in 2003. Tech leads the series 17-4 in Russellville, while Harding leads 12-11 in Searcy and also holds a 1-0 edge on neutral field.

          Harding Game Notes

-- Tech Athletics --