ARKANSAS TECH SET FOR THURSDAY'S NON-CONFERENCE TILT
AT CENTRAL MISSOURI

        RUSSELLVILLE, Arkansas – Arkansas Tech is set to conclude its two-game non-conference slate on Thursday when the Wonder Boys travel to Warrensburg, Mo., to face Central Missouri in a 7 p.m. game at Walton Stadium.

Tech, who enters the game 1-0 after collecting a 22-3 win last Thursday at home over Northeastern State to open its 94th season of competition, is excited for the opportunity to face another quality opponent like Central Missouri.

“Our team is excited to be able to have the opportunity go up to Warrensburg and face a quality team like Central Missouri,” Tech Head Football Coach Steve Mullins said. “This game does nothing but help us prepare for the rigors of GSC play and to give our players the chance to play in front of a great crowd and a great atmosphere.”

Thursday’s opponent, like Tech, enters the game sporting a 1-0 mark after opening the 2008 season         last Thursday with a 29-9 victory over Minnesota State-Mankato. In addition to entering the game with identical records, both programs have some similarities.

“CMU plays in a tough conference and are always trying to climb into the Top 3 of its league, much like we have to every season,” Mullins added. “They also have a great fan base and have had a lot of success since Coach (Willie) Fritz has been there.”

Mullins said his squad is in for a challenge on Thursday against a very talented Mules team.

“Our team has a challenge on Thursday, but it’s a challenge we’re looking forward too,” the 12th-year Tech coach said. “They have seven senior and four junior starters on defense, they return seven All-Conference performers from a year ago and have a lot of weapons on offense.”

Among the key players for the Mules on offense is junior quarterback Eric Czerniewski. In last week’s opener against MSU-Mankato, Czerniewski was 21-for-32 passing for 319 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions. In addition to its quarterback, the Mules feature an outstanding tight end in sophomore DeMarco Crosby and a bruising tailback in senior Glenn Milner, who was named a Second-Team All-MIAA selection a year ago after rushing for 1,046 yards and scoring 19 touchdowns.

“I’m impressed with their quarterback, he is a good decision-maker and a good operator in their offense,” the Tech coach said. “Cosby is an outstanding tight end, probably the best we’ll see all season and Milner is a tough and powerful runner.”

Tech’s defense, which limited NSU to 287 yards of total offense and a lone field goal, played well against the RiverHawks and that was pleasing to Mullins and his defensive coaching staff.

“I was pleased with the way our defense stepped up, they were one of the main reasons we won our opener,” Mullins added. “They were able to pitch a shutout in the second half and that performance should give them some confidence heading into Thursday’s game.”

Mullins said this season’s Wonder Boys defense has a lot of speed, which negates its lack of size.  

“We have more speed than we had a year ago, but we’re still undersized,” the Tech coach said.

On defense, the Mules are led by senior linebacker Adrian Singletary, along with senior defensive end John Wood and junior defensive end Layne Kreter. Singletary had 84 tackles, five pass break-ups and nine tackles for a loss in 2007, while Wood and Kreter combined to record 14 sacks a year ago.

“Singletary is a great linebacker,” Mullins added.

Mullins said he is hopeful his offense, which struggled at times in the opener against NSU, comes out and performs better against Central Missouri. In Thursday’s opener against the RiverHawks, the Wonder Boys gained 344 yards of total offense, including passing for 249 yards.

“Some of the credit for our struggles goes to NSU as they are very good on defense,” Mullins said. “I’m hopeful we have less tipped balls this week.”

Against NSU, senior quarterback Cole Barthel (Decatur, Ala.) had three interceptions, including one that led to NSU’s only points in the second quarter.

Thursday’s game marks just the third-ever meeting between the two teams and the first since the Mules picked up a 13-10 win over the Wonder Boys in Russellville in 1982. Tech opened the series with a 21-19 in 1981 in Warrensburg. In addition, Tech is 27-14-2 all-time against teams from the MIAA (Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association).

Tech enters Thursday’s game having won seven straight non-conference game since falling to Midwestern State (27-12) to open the 2003 season.

Following Thursday’s game, Tech will return to action on Thursday, Sept. 11, when they welcome West Alabama to Thone Stadium at Buerkle Field. Kick-off is set for 7 p.m. and the game will be the first of two live television broadcasts this season for the Wonder Boys as part of the “GSC-TV Live” Game of the Week package.

Central Missouri Game Notes

-- Tech Athletics --