Thursday, September 15, 2022
Scouting ArkansasPine Bluff Ben Hutchens Assistant Sports Editor Mike Gundy doesn’t care who the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions have played, their offense is impressive. “They are averaging about 67 points a game, so sometimes that’s hard to do when you’re playing air,” Gundy said. The Golden Lions scored 48 points in their season-opener and hung 76 in their week two matchup. The scores average to 62 points per game, but Gundy can be forgiven for his miscalculation, football scores don’t normally go that high. But like any statistic, context is needed. UAPB is a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference. The Golden Lions played Lane College, an NCAA Division II opponent, in week one. Week two didn’t get much harder, when the Golden Lions played the North American University Stallions, an NAIA opponent in its third season of football in program history. The Golden Lions, picked fifth
in the SWAC West division, are led by senior quarterback Skyler Perry. Perry completed 16-of-27 passes for 222 yards and a touchdown in week one. Offensively, the Golden Lions did their damage on the ground. They ran for 254 yards as a team and were led by sophomore Kayvon Britten who put up 237 yards. “They’ve got some skilled guys that run around and make plays,” Gundy said. “So, we need to be held accountable for ourselves and individuals and then our three columns or three units, and then line up and go play hard and that’s what I told him last night.” Gundy wasn’t shy talking about how the matchup favors his team “on paper”. It’s what he told his team. “So, I told the team that overall on paper, whatever paper means, didn’t mean a lot last week, but on paper, people are going to say you’re a more athletic and a more talented team, and I’m OK with that,” Gundy said. “So, but I’m stressing the importance of focus, stressing the importance of us improving in all three phases, and then also understanding that we always respect whoever we play.” sports.ed@ocolly.com
Goal Queen
Mackenzie Janish Grace Yochum (No. 11) developed from a shy freshman into a vocal leader and one of OSU’s best. Her 38 career goals rank first in program history.
Yochum’s inspiring rise to program’s record holder
Adam Engel Co-Editor-in-Chief Grace Yochum didn’t think she would play Division I soccer. She stood on a field in Houston preparing for a club soccer match at a showcase full of college coaches, hoping one might find her good enough. On one sideline, Colin Carmichael folded his lawn chair and departed… Thirty minutes into the
match. He’d seen enough from his potential recruit. Negative thoughts flooded Yochum’s mind. “Obviously, I’m not gonna play college soccer,” she said of her mindset that day. Yochum wasn’t supposed to still be playing for a scholarship. In her sophomore year of high school, Yochum committed to Mississippi State. Months later, she was back to nothing. A retracted scholarship after a coaching change left her looking for a new school. MSU’s new coach wasn’t interested. OSU was interested but need to see some more, making this match a tryout. “After seeing them walk away I
was like, ‘Well, that’s it for me,” she said. Wrong. “Literally watched her play for like 30 minutes and was sold,” Carmichael, OSU’s coach, said. “Like yeah, this kid is the real deal. Talked to Grace after the tournament. Got all the financials worked out and she became a Cowgirl. We were really excited that it worked out that way.” In the years that followed Yochum progressed from unwanted to an indispensable Cowgirl star. Last week, the fifth-year senior midfielder became OSU’s career leading goal scorer at 36 with a header against Stephen F. Austin. She added two this past Sunday.
Jake Schultz Q&A Ben Hutchens Assistant Sports Editor Last march, redshirt junior Jake Schultz played defensive end on the OSU football team. Now, Schultz plays offense as a cowboy back. Tuesday, Schultz talked about how the transition is going for him.
Editor’s note: Conversation has been edited for length and clarity. Q: How far have you come in making the switch from playing defensive end to cowboy back? “In my opinion, I’ve always been a pretty good athlete but now this is a different side of the ball so I’m blocking instead of tackling. I think it’s worked out well for me.” Q: How did making the switch go about? Did coaches go to you or did you go to them? “They came to me. They thought I’d be a good fit. They lost some guys at the cowboy back position…they needed some bodies to fill in.” Q: Was there much of a thought
about it for you or were you pretty on board? “I was not on board with it right away, I was pretty hesitant. They actually asked me a couple times and I said no, no, no but then in the spring coach (Offensive coordinator Kasey) Dunn really pushed hard and said give it a shot, so I did.” Q: What was Dunn’s convincing argument that finally made you make the switch? “A scholarship.” Q: Did you look at the (deep) defensive end depth chart when you made the switch? “Coming in I didn’t realize that’s who I would be behind. I was just wait-
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ing it out, waiting, waiting and waiting. So I think this opportunity to switch over positions has worked out.” Q: What’s the part of defense you most miss? “I miss getting in on a sack celebration. Getting a sack or a tackle or a big hit, I love that energy.” Q: What’s the equivalent to that for a cowboy back? “Running someone over or scoring a touchdown.”
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