Week 9 Game Notes

RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Arkansas Tech football team will play its final home contest of the 2014 season this Saturday, November 1, when the Wonder Boys play host to East Central. Kickoff from Thone Stadium at Buerkle Field is set for 3 p.m.

The game will be a part of Homecoming 2014 festivities at Arkansas Tech, and will also be the final home game for 15 Arkansas Tech seniors.

The Wonder Boys (3-5, 3-4 Great American Conference) will bring the Great American Conference's third-ranked defense, allowing just 334.4 yards per game into the contest against the fourth-ranked offense of East Central (5-2, 5-2 GAC).

The Tigers have matched their win total of one season ago, with losses coming only to Ouachita Baptist and Henderson State. The 30-point plateau has been a good omen for the Tigers, as each time ECU has eclipsed that point the Tigers have claimed victory.

The Wonder Boys' defense will have to slow an offense that has averaged nearly 38 points per game this season. The one-two punch of JoJo Snell at tailback and Spencer Bond at quarterback has led to the Tigers' success. Snell and Bond have combined to average over 130 yards on the ground per game (Snell 85.8, Bond 51.7) while Bond has passed for over 1,600 yards this season with 14 touchdowns against only seven interceptions.

The junior signal-caller has spread the ball out effectively through the passing game, but his two favorite targets are Juwan Dotson and David Moore. Dotson has hauled in four touchdown passes this season while Moore has grabbed eight.

The Wonder Boys have been led defensively by the linebacker corps of Wesley McKinney and Logan Genz. Genz ranks among the nation's tackle leaders and hit the 100-tackle mark in last weekend's game at Ouachita. McKinney ranks second on the team with 64 tackles and is one of five Wonder Boys with at least two interceptions. The Wonder Boys also boast the league's best red zone defense.

Offensively, Arkansas Tech will look to boost its offensive output against an East Central team that has surrendered nearly 30 points per game. To do that, the Wonder Boys will have to contend with a defensive front led by senior Daniel Holland, who leads the Great American Conference in sacks with nine. As a team, ECU ranks second in the GAC with 22 sacks.

The game will be broadcast live on 100.9-FM (KWKK) in Russellville, and online at www.arkansastechsports.com.