After a very well placed bye week in the middle of the 2014 season, the East Central University football team will return to Great American Conference action against Northwestern Oklahoma State, Saturday, Oct. 18 at 3 p.m. in Alva, Okla.

Game Notes

The Broadcast: ECU's radio home for Tiger football is Ada's KXFC, 105.5, FM 'The X-Factor'. Mike Manos returns to broadcast the games for his 18th consecutive season. Manos has worked 183 Tiger games since taking over the play-by-play duties in 1997.

The Coverage: Fans who can't be at the game can find links to live stats, live video and the KXFC radio broadcast on ECUTigers.com.  Go to the football schedule page.  You can also download the KXFC radio app for your smartphone by searching '105.5 the X Factor.'

Coaches Show: Every Monday night fans are encouraged to come to the University Center on ECU's campus for the weekly Coaches Show on 105.5 the X-Factor.  Each week coaches from all 13 sports will be on hand to talk about the latest news from their teams.  Fans will be able to tweet in questions to @ECUTigersCoach or email them to ecu_coaches_show@ecok.edu.
 
Koi Ishto Stadium: At the 2014 ECU Tiger Kickoff Dinner and Auction, ECU President John Hargrave announced that the stadium at Norris Field would be renamed Koi Ishto Stadium in honor of the relationship between ECU and the Chickasaw Nation.  Koi Ishto means big cat in the Chickasaw language.  A formal dedication will be held, Saturday, Nov. 15 on Chickasaw Appreciation Day when the Tigers battle with Southeastern Oklahoma State.

Scouting Northwestern: The Rangers are 1-5 overall and in the GAC after falling to Ouachita Baptist (10-41) last week.  NWOSU is averaging 16.7 points per game and allowing 45.3 points per game this season.  The Rangers are also trailing 1,634 to 2,911 in total yards.  NWOSU favors the pass slightly, with 943 of their 1,634 yards coming on the pass.  Part of the reason for their lower point total in games may be due to the fact that they have only reached the red zone nine times and have converted on just six chances (67%).

The Rangers have spread out their offense, with four quarterbacks seeing action, three rushers with over 100 yards and five receivers with over 100 yards this season.  Ty Hooper has stepped in to be the starting QB for NWOSU, playing in five games.  He is 51-of-113 passing, with five interceptions thrown, 639 yards and six passing TDs.  Dashawn Gordon and Jarion Tudman are his top receivers.  Gordon has 12 catches for 242 yards and three touchdowns, while Tudman adds seven catches, 147 yards and two TDs.  Tudman is also the top rusher for the Rangers, with 299 yards and three rushing TDs.

On the defensive side Alex Hemberger and Joby Saint Fluer are the top producers.  Hemberger has 65 total tackles (34-31), five TFL (24 yards), 1.5 sacks (7 yards) and one pass break up.  Saint Fluer adds 34 (20-14) tackles, 9.0 TFL (39 yards), 6.5 sacks (30 yards), three breakups and one forced fumble.

Against the Rangers: Last year in Ada, the Tigers claimed a 64-14 win over NWOSU.  Junior Spencer Bond had a career day with 418 yards passing and 16 rushing, with five TDs to his credit.  Senior JoJo Snell rushed for 123 yards and two touchdowns.  

On defense, senior JuJu Turituri leads the returners with one sack (13 yards), 1.5 TFL (15 yards) and four total tackles.  Senior Daren Campbell added six tackles and one fumble recovery.  

Reid Miller was the quarterback for the Rangers last season, going 18-of-37 with one interception.  Jarion Tudman leads the offensive returners with 28 rushing yards and two receiving yards.  

On the defensive side for NWOSU, Alex Hemberger is the key returner.  Hemberger tallied nine (2-7) total tackles and intercepted one pass (6 yards).

The Series: While Saturday's game will be the 77th in the all-time series, it will be just the 28th when playing as conference foes and the sixth in the NCAA era for both teams.  The Tigers have been the victors in the last four games, which have all been played in Ada.  The last outing in Alva was a 0-27 loss Sept. 13, 1997.

The last win on the road was Oct. 29, 1994 (W, 16-15) and the series is at 9-5-1 in favor of ECU when playing on the road.

Measuring Massuere: Redshirt sophomore David Massuere has made a spot for himself as the kicker for the Tigers this season.  Massuere is 5-of-6 in field goal attempts, including making the last five.  His longest attempt (and make) this season has been a 45-yard kick.  The Fontana, Calif., native is also 20-of-21 in extra-point attempts (95%).

Against the Best: While playing the No. 7 team in the nation (Henderson State), the Tigers spared no fight.  ECU ended the game on the losing end, but scored more points against the Reddies than any other team that had faced them in 2014.  The Tigers also sacked quarterback Kevin Rodgers four times, two from senior Daniel Holland alone.  Rodgers had been sacked just once in the previous three games played in 2014.

Trick Plays: In the Tigers game against No. 7 HSU, ECU came out with a lot of tricks up its sleeves.  The Tigers used a fake field-goal attempt to earn a rushing TD by junior Spencer Bond, blocked a punt that was taken in the end zone and recovered by senior Deon Criss at the six and recovered on-side kick attempt that bounced off an opponent's shoe and right into the hands of junior Nathan Pickett.

Dangerous David: Sophomore David Moore has stepped up and proven that he is someone that you need to keep covered defensively.  Moore connected with junior Spencer Bond for three receiving touchdowns against Ouachita Baptist, tripling his TD performance from his freshman season.

Holland's Defensive Highlights: Senior Daniel Holland is having a good year on defense for the Tigers.  The Miami, Fla., native is currently ranked No. 14 in the nation in forced fumbles per game (0.40), No. 6 in sacks per game (1.20) and No. 30 in TFL per game (1.6) .  Holland has recorded 17 (11-6) tackles, 6.0 sacks (44 yards), 8.0 TFL (46 yards), two quarterback hurries, forced two fumbles, and recovered one this season.

Bond Gaining Recognition: After a standout performance against Southern Arkansas, junior Spencer Bond was named the GAC Offensive Player of the Week for Sept. 15 and The Oklahoman State College Football Player of the Week.

Bond accounted for all six of the Tigers' touchdowns as he helped rally ECU back from a 0-20 deficit to defeat Southern Arkansas. The Madill, Okla., native threw for 339 yards with two scores and rushed for 134 yards and four touchdowns, including an 80-yard score. The 134 rush yards represented the fifth-highest total for a GAC quarterback. He placed two punts inside the 20-yard line.

Earning Attention: For the first time since 2004,  the Tigers earned a vote in the AFCA Division II Coaches Top-25 Poll for Sept. 15.  ECU earned one vote in the poll for Week 2.  ECU was one of four teams from the GAC in the poll in some fashion, with Henderson State being ranked No. 7, Harding ranked No. 20 and Ouachita Baptist also receiving votes (2).

Holland GAC Defender of the Week: Senior Daniel Holland came out of the gates ready to battle in his final season in an orange and black uniform and has claimed Great American Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors for his efforts.

In the opening game of the season against Arkansas-Monticello, Holland helped the Tigers (1-0) earn a 38-34 come-from-behind victory.  The Miami, Fla., native tallied four (3-2) total tackles, a quarterback hurry, forced one fumble and added 3.5 tackles-for-loss and 3.0 sacks for 23 yards.   His TFL, sacks and sack yardage were all career highs and helped the defense hold UAM to just 22 yards rushing for the game.  The low yardage ranked ECU No. 4 in the nation for rushing defense after the opening weekend of NCAA DII action.  Holland was also ranked No. 6 in the nation in TFL (3.5) and No. 4 in Sacks (3.0)

All-American Play: In the final minute of the game at Arkansas-Monticello, senior Qumain Black came up with an All-American play to secure the Tigers' 38-34 win.  Black reached up for a pass at the same time as Boll Weevil Ivory Washington in the end zone, with Black coming away with the ball for the touchback.

Go JoJo Go: Senior JoJo Snell came out of the gates running, recording a career-high 157 rushing yards and 224 all-purpose yards against UAM.  It was the first time Snell tallied over 200 yards in a game.  The Moss Point, Miss., native also garnered two touchdowns.

Preseason Attention: Several members of the Tigers roster have been gaining attention during the preseason from different organizations.  Senior Qumain Black was a USA College Football Preseason All-America First Team Defense selection as well as a NewsOK.com Preseason All-Star selection.  

Senior JuJu Turituri also claimed USA College Football Preseason honors as a second team defensive pick and a NewsOK.com selection.

Junior Travis Hening (offense) and senior Kellan Taeatafa-De La Rosa (defense) were named to the USA College Football All-America Third Teams.  Hening was also selected to the NewsOK.com team, with junior Spencer Bond on offense.

From the Playing Field to Coaching: The majority of the ECU coaching staff consists of familiar names for Tiger football fans.  Eight of the current coaches were members of the ECU football program as collegiate athletes.  Rashad Jackson, Chad Roark, Austin Crisler, Fred Gaines, Dustin Lasell, Tyler McGrew, George Robbins and Reuben Tiller have all worn an orange and black uniform before moving to a leadership role.

Up Next: The Tigers will return to Norris Field after a month away, Saturday, Oct. 25 for the 2014 Homecoming game against Southwestern Oklahoma State at 4 p.m.  The 2014 Homecoming theme is 'A Haunting in Tigerland-Fear the Tiger.'