Box Score MAGNOLIA, Ark. - The SAU Muleriders rattled off 21 points in the first quarter putting the Boll Weevils in trouble from start to finish today in their final road game of the season.

The UAM (4-6, 2-3 GAC) offense went three-and-out on their first three possessions, while Southern Arkansas (3-6, 3-3 GAC) found the end zone on their first three drives.

Mark Johnson scored the Muleriders first two touchdowns on two runs and Tyler Sykora connected with Brooks White on the third off an 11-yard pass.

The Weevils' first first-down of the game came as the first quarter came to an end as Kyle Manning hit D.J. Stephens and Jamal Nixon. However, the drive stalled at the start of the second, handing the ball back to SAU 1:34 into the quarter. They drove the ball 66 yards down the field for their fourth touchdown of the game, this time off a 19-yard pass to Damion Atkins.

The UAM Defense forced SAU to punt for the first time of the day on their next possession. UAM took over from their own 30 yard line, beginning their lone scoring drive of the half. Damon Wicker drove the offense 70 yards down the field in 12 plays. The drive was capped by a short pass to D.J. Stephens into the Muleriders' end zone to put UAM on the board, 28-7 to set the halftime score.

Southern Arkansas pushed their advantage out to 35-7 on the eighth drive of the half thanks to two large rushes from Mark Johnson. He had a 22-yarder on second-and-nine and scored on the next play with a 19-yard rush.

UAM added their second score of the day on the next drive, Wicker completed another four-yard pass to Stephens to put the score at 35-14 with 4:29 remaining in the quarter, but SAU wasn't done in the frame. The Muleriders added a 20-yard field goal before the end of the quarter to increase their lead to 24, 38-14.

In the fourth quarter UAM pulled out all the stops, to mixed results. After opening the quarter with a nine yard touchdown pass to Stephens, the two point conversion attempt was intercepted and returned all the way to the other end zone to give SAU the two points, 40-20.

SAU scored again on their next possession to go up 47-20, but UAM answered right back with a six-play 80-yard drive capped by a quick one yard rush from about an inch away for Wicker. Reagan Wise's kick sailed wide left to put the score at 47-26.

SAU scored the game's final touchdown with 2:43 remaining off a nine-yard rush from Teddy Burns and this time the UAM special teams got the two-point conversion back after Eric Crocker blocked the extra point attempt and returned the ball back the length of the field to set the final score at 53-28. 

The Weevils finished the game with 457 yards of total offense to 522 for the Muleriders. Wicker had 109 yards on the ground (94 net) and 336 in the air with three passing and one rushing touchdown. D.J. Stephens caught all three in the air for 81 yards off seven receptions. Wicker had three interceptions on the day.

UAM will close out the 2011 season next Saturday as they host the Southwestern Oklahoma State Bulldogs on Senior Day at Convoy Leslie Cotton Boll Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.