Sports

South Arkansas shines in GAC awards

Published

6 months ago

November 22, 2024

RUSSELLVILLE – On Thursday, the Great American Conference announced the 2024 all-conference teams, year-end superlative awards and academic honor roll . The coaches voted Southern Arkansas quarterback Judd Barton the Offensive Player of the Year, Ouachita Baptist safety Josiah Johnson the Defensive Player of the Year and Tiger offensive lineman Isaiah Simpson the Freshman of the Year. Ouachita’s Todd Knight won Coach of the Year.

Additionally, a total of 15 student-athletes also received the Elite Scholar Athlete award, presented by Conway Regional Health System, in Ouachita Baptist’s Riley Harms, Melvin Kumwenda and Eli Livingston; Henderson State’s Daymon Burns and Ryan Vollmer, Southern Arkansas’ Bennett Castleberry and Cole Williams, Southern Nazarene’s Kendall Robertson and Brock Singleton, Arkansas Tech’s Damien Jordan, Arkansas-Monticello’s Ndubuisi Nwankwo, Northwestern Oklahoma State’s Beck Moss, Oklahoma Baptist’s Vinson Miller, Southeastern Oklahoma State’s Asa Robertson and Southwestern Oklahoma State’s Isaac Foster. All 15 have maintained perfect 4.00 grade-point averages.

In his first year as the Mulerider starting quarterback, Barton threw for 2,350 yards and 16 touchdowns. He ran for 577 yards and 13 touchdowns. His 2,927 yards of total offense and 30 touchdowns responsible for led the conference. Johnson intercepted two passes, forced a fumble, blocked a kick and recorded 3.0 tackles-for-loss. Simpson stepped into the left guard position and helped the Tigers rank third in rushing offense and second in fewest sacks allowed. Knight claimed his seventh Coach of the Year accolade after leading the Tigers to a 10-1 record and their sixth NCAA Division II playoff appearance.

Harding led the GAC with 10 First-Team All-GAC selections. Fullback Blake Delacruz, running back Braden Jay and right tackle Jake Dugger represented the offense. Delacruz ran for 605 yards and scored 14 total touchdowns. Jay led the GAC with 900 rushing yards, 1,284 all-purpose yards and 17 total touchdowns. He averaged 17.4 yards per touch and scored a touchdown once every 4.35 touches. Dugger anchored an offensive line that averaged more than 421 rush yards per game, 85 yards per game more than any Division I or Division II school.

The Bisons’ top-ranked defense placed six on the First Team. They lead the nation in total defense, scoring defense, first downs allowed and defensive pass efficiency. Clark Griffin led the team in tackles, Gage Price paced in sacks and tackles-for-loss and Ty Dugger intercepted four passes and returned two for touchdowns. Cayden Pierce ranked second on the team in stops, Dre Hall registered 4.5 sacks, cornerback Jeremiah Jordan anchored a defensive backfield that led the nation in passing yards allowed and Kendale Allen averaged 24.5 yards per kick return.

In addition to Johnson, five Tigers earned First Team honors. Connor Flannigan made the First Team at both wide receiver and return specialist. He caught 37 passes for 413 yards and two touchdowns. His 19.1 yards per punt return average ranks fifth in Division II. Left tackle Dylan Horton placed on the team alongside linebacker Jax Miller, defensive tackle Rovell Carter and punter Tom Weston. Miller’s 88 tackles rank fourth in the GAC. He added 8.5 tackles for loss. Carter’s 12.0 tackles for loss placed fourth in the league while his 5.5 sacks ranked fifth. Weston led the GAC and ranked 12th nationally in punting average.

Led by Barton, five from the potent Mulerider offense garnered First-Team honors. Running backs Kadyn Roach and Jariq Scales made the First Team as well as center Thomas Bowman and left guard Colton Grier. Jariq Scales ranked second to Jay in all-purpose yards with 1,258 yards and 12 total touchdowns. Roach added 951 all-purpose yards and nine touchdowns. The offense ranked seventh in the country and fifth in scoring. On the defensive side, defensive end Dawson Scott and cornerback Melvin Smith, Jr. made the First Team. Scott’s 10.5 sacks led the GAC and ranked fourth in the country. Smith, Jr. ranked second with five interceptions.

Four from Henderson State – left tackle Brandon Bishop, tight end Cayden Davis, wide receiver Timieone Jackson and linebacker Gary Lewis – earned First-Team accolades. Davis caught 22 passes for 430 yards and six touchdowns. His 19.6 yards per catch and six receiving touchdowns pace the GAC. Jackson’s 55 receptions lead the conference while his 466 yards rank fifth. Lewis amassed 13.5 tackles for loss in just eight games.

Arkansas Tech wide receiver Joryian Chase and East Central kicker Brandon Perez filled out the First Team. Chase ranked second in the conference in receptions. His 515 receiving yards rank third. Perez made all 29 of his kicks – 10-for-10 on field goals, with a long of 54, and 19-for-19 on extra points.

The GAC Academic Honor Roll featured a total of 198 student-athletes to have achieved a cumulative grade-point average of 3.50, or higher, combined with at least one year of one-year of full-time college residency.

Sports

SouthArk Announces New Men’s Basketball Coach

Published

1 day ago

May 22, 2025

Grant Merrill

EL DORADO — South Arkansas College has named Eric Collins of Augusta, Maine, as the next head coach of its men’s basketball team. Collins, a U.S. Army veteran and experienced coach, will become the third head coach in the program’s history, succeeding Cam Robinson, who held the position for three seasons.

Collins currently serves as the associate head coach at the University of Maine-Augusta, a member of the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA). He brings more than five years of coaching experience at both the high school and collegiate levels in the Northeast.

A Maine native, Collins describes his coaching philosophy as rooted in four pillars: passion, leadership, culture, and accountability.

“I coach to build men—not just players,” Collins said. “My mission is to lead through relationships, set a shared standard of excellence, and create a culture where young men grow—as athletes, students, and people. My family and I are pumped to become part of the SouthArk and El Dorado communities.”

SouthArk Athletic Director Jenny Sanders expressed excitement over Collins’ hiring, noting his energy and commitment to student development.

“Coach Eric Collins brings immense passion and excitement to the campus and to the basketball court,” Sanders said. “I am excited to see the lasting impact he will have on the young men he coaches, on our campus, and within our community.”

Collins, along with his wife Brandi and their children, will officially relocate to El Dorado ahead of his full-time start date on July 1. In the meantime, he is actively recruiting to fill out the Star Force roster for the upcoming season.

Sports

Legendary Arkansas Coach Passes Away Saturday

Published

3 weeks ago

May 4, 2025

Staff Reports

Harold Horton

FAYETTEVILLE – Harold Horton, a revered figure in Arkansas football history, passed away on Saturday at the age of 86. His family confirmed his passing through social media.

Born in DeWitt, Arkansas, Horton played as a defensive back for the University of Arkansas Razorbacks from 1959 to 1961 under legendary coach Frank Broyles. During his playing career, the Razorbacks secured or shared the Southwest Conference (SWC) championship each season and won the 1960 Gator Bowl.

After a brief stint coaching high school football, Horton returned to the University of Arkansas in 1968 as an assistant coach. Over the next 13 years, he served under Broyles and later Lou Holtz, helping to shape some of the Razorbacks’ most formidable defensive units.

In 1982, Horton became head coach at the University of Central Arkansas, where he compiled a remarkable 74–12–5 record over eight seasons. Under his leadership, UCA won back-to-back NAIA Division I national championships in 1984 and 1985 and captured seven consecutive Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference titles from 1983 to 1989.

University of Central Arkansas (UCA) Head Coach Nathan Brown paid tribute to Horton, stating, “Prayers for the Coach Harold Horton family today. Coach Horton was one of the great coaches in UCA Football history. Him and his staffs brought championships and pride to the Bear program. Thanks for always supporting and rooting for me and the Bears over the years.”

Following his coaching career, Horton returned to the University of Arkansas in 1990 to work in football operations. He later served as president of the Razorback Foundation from 2001 to 2012, playing a key role in fundraising and athletic development initiatives. His devotion to the Razorbacks spanned nearly four decades.

Horton’s legacy lives on through his family, including his son, Tim Horton, a former Razorbacks wide receiver who went on to a successful college coaching career of his own.

Sports

Hogs Shut Out Texas In Series Opener

Published

3 weeks ago

May 2, 2025

Staff Reports

FAYETTEVILLE – Behind a dominant outing from Zach Root, No. 11 Arkansas (38-9, 15-7 SEC) rolled to a 9-0 shutout win over No. 1 Texas (38-6, 19-3 SEC) in Thursday night’s series opener at Baum-Walker Stadium.

Root struck out a career-high 11 batters and allowed just two hits and two walks over a career-long eight innings. Veteran reliever Will McEntire closed out the combined two-hit shutout with a scoreless ninth, adding three strikeouts.

With the win, Arkansas improved to 28-3 at home this season and secured its eighth straight year with at least 28 home victories. The Razorbacks have now reached that milestone every full season since 2017.

The offense gave Root plenty of support early. Carson Boles launched a two-run homer in the second inning to put the Hogs on top, 2-0. Cam Kozeal extended the lead to 5-0 in the third with a two-out, three-run shot to right center.

Arkansas broke the game open in the fourth with four more runs. Justin Thomas Jr. drove in one with a single, followed by a two-run double from Wehiwa Aloy and an RBI single from Kuhio Aloy, giving the Razorbacks a 9-0 cushion.

Kozeal finished with three RBIs and is now slashing .362/.409/.656 with 11 home runs and 52 RBIs this season. Wehiwa Aloy raised his team-best slash line to .369/.454/.723.

The Razorbacks will look to clinch the series Friday night. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. on the SEC Network with Karl Ravech and Kyle Peterson on the call.

Sports

Arkansas Softball Takes On LSU This Weekend

Published

3 weeks ago

April 30, 2025

Staff Reports

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – No. 6/8 Arkansas wraps up its regular season with a top-10 showdown against No. 10 LSU this Thursday through Saturday at Bogle Park. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, with Saturday’s finale beginning at 1 p.m. All games will stream on SEC Network+.

Arkansas (36-10, 12-9 SEC) is riding high after securing its highest-ranked series win in program history last weekend at No. 1/2 Texas A&M. The Razorbacks claimed the first two games, marking their fifth straight SEC series victory and fourth series win over a Top 10 opponent this season.

The Hogs have notched a program-best 21 run-rule wins and have outscored opponents 356-128. Defensively, they lead the nation with a .985 fielding percentage and have committed just 17 errors in 46 games.

This weekend is packed with promotions: a replica jersey giveaway and Autism Awareness Night on Thursday, a Red Out and postgame base run on Friday, and Senior Day and a trading card giveaway on Saturday.

In the polls, Arkansas reached a program-high No. 2 in the Softball America rankings and remains in the Top 10 across all major national polls.

LSU (39-11, 11-10 SEC) enters the series after a road series win over No. 8 Florida. The Tigers are batting .341 as a team, led by freshman Tori Edwards (.423, 18 HR, 68 RBI). In the circle, LSU holds a 2.72 ERA, led by Sydney Berzon (17-5, 2.29 ERA).

Freshman standout Ella McDowell is hitting .397 with 56 hits and 47 RBI, leading Arkansas in SEC play with a .420 average. She has earned SEC Freshman of the Week honors three times and was recently named D1 Softball National Player of the Week.

First baseman Bri Ellis is putting up historic numbers, batting .491 with 24 home runs and a 1.863 OPS — the best in the nation and potentially the highest single-season OPS since 2016.

In the circle, junior lefty Robyn Herron leads the Razorbacks with a 15-4 record, 2.25 ERA, and 127 strikeouts. Opponents are hitting just .178 against her.

Outfielder Reagan Johnson continues to climb the Razorbacks’ record books, now the program’s all-time batting average leader (.376). She has recorded multiple 70+ hit seasons and ranks top five in career stolen bases.

As a team, Arkansas has advanced runners in 58% of opportunities this season and is 169-46 under Coach Courtney Deifel when playing error-free.

Sports

Hogs Seek First Series Win At Florida Since 2012

Published

4 weeks ago

April 25, 2025

Staff Reports

(PHOTO: University of Arkansas Sports Information)

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Fifth-ranked Arkansas (36-7, 13-5 SEC) travels to Condron Family Ballpark for a key three-game SEC series against Florida (28-15, 6-12 SEC) from April 25-27. The Razorbacks are chasing their first series win in Gainesville since 2012.

Game 1 is set for 5:30 p.m. CT Friday on SEC Network+, with Sean Kelley and Nick Belmonte on the call. The series continues Saturday at 2 p.m. on SEC Network and concludes Sunday at noon on SEC Network+.

Arkansas enters the weekend in second place in the SEC standings but is looking to bounce back after dropping back-to-back series for the first time this season. A third straight SEC series loss would be the program’s first since 2016.

The Razorbacks have won two of three SEC road series this year, including a sweep at then-No. 14 Vanderbilt. Arkansas snapped a 15-year drought without a series win at Vanderbilt in March and now hopes to do the same at Florida.

The pitching matchups are set:
Friday – Arkansas LHP Zach Root (5-2, 4.19 ERA) vs. Florida RHP Liam Peterson (6-2, 3.74 ERA)
Saturday – Arkansas RHP Gage Wood (0-0, 6.14 ERA) vs. Florida RHP Aidan King (4-1, 3.63 ERA)
Sunday – Arkansas LHP Landon Beidelschies (4-0, 4.06 ERA), Florida starter TBD

Fans can also listen to the Razorback Sports Network with Phil Elson on the call, available via the Razorback app and affiliate stations.

Historically, Arkansas holds a narrow 38-36 edge in the all-time series, but trails 13-20 in games played in Gainesville. Under head coach Dave Van Horn, the Razorbacks are 10-14 on the road against Florida. The Hogs have won two of their last three series against the Gators, both in Fayetteville, but dropped the 2022 series in Gainesville.

Arkansas has recorded 18 or more SEC wins in seven straight seasons and finished with 20 or more wins five times, including four under Van Horn. They are the first team since LSU (1994–97) to post four 20-win SEC campaigns in five years.

With a strong record and postseason positioning on the line, the Razorbacks hope to end a 13-year Gainesville slump and stay among the conference elite.