RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. — Kelton Smith rushed for two scores and 88 yards, Logan Genz had a 13-tackle effort, Wesley McKinney had a 11-tackle effort, and the Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys defense held the Arkansas-Monticello Boll Weevils to just 169 yards of total offense as the Wonder Boys (3-2, 3-1 Great American Conference) gritted out an 18-13 win over the Boll Weevils (1-4, 1-4 GAC) on Saturday evening at Thone Stadium at Buerkle Field.

"I'm very proud of the defense, the way they played," said head coach Raymond Monica. "The UAM offense was doing some good things and I still believe that they're doing a really good job over there. They get better and better each year."
 
Defense ruled the day in the opening quarter, as the two teams were able to prevent any extended offensive drives.

Tech held UAM to just nine yards of offense in the opening quarter, including minus-five yards of rush offense.

The rush defense in the opening quarter served as a sign of things to come, as the Wonder Boys allowed just 27 yards on the ground for the entire contest.

The Boll Weevils pushed deep into Arkansas Tech territory early in the quarter, but an untimely penalty pushed UAM back to the 24-yard line, and a sack set up a 48-yard field goal attempt by Jamie McGee. The kick missed wide left, and the game remained scoreless.

The two teams traded punts on hteir next possessions, but the Wonder Boys' special teams came through in a big way. A 48-yard punt by Reagan Wise was brought back 52 yards by Michael Perry, letting Tech start its drive with a first-and-goal on the UAM three-yard line. Two plays later, Smith rushed for his first score of the game, and after a missed extra point the Wonder Boys led 6-0.

However, UAM wasted no time getting on the board after that, as the Boll Weevils put together an eight-play, 71-yard drive, capped off by a Rod Smith three-yard touchdown run and an extra point to push UAM ahead 7-6 with 2:49 to go in the half.

The Boll Weevils' 7-6 lead held into the half, but the Wonder Boys would pull ahead on the opening drive of the third quarter, as Randy Velazquez booted a 31-yard field goal with 9:41 to go to give Tech a 9-7 lead. Tech later capitalized on a miscue by UAM's special teams, as on fourth-and-eight from the UAM 32, the snap sailed over the head of punter Reagan Wise into the end zone, resulting in a safety that gave the Wonder Boys an 11-7 lead.

Once again, the Wonder Boys started a drive with excellent field position, beginning on the UAM 49-yard line. The Wonder Boys controlled the clock by keeping the ball on the ground, using a seven-play, 49-yard drive capped by Smith's second short touchdown run of the contest to extend the lead to 18-7.

The fourth quarter saw the momentum shift to the Boll Weevils, as UAM used an eight-yard touchdown pass from Hunter Leppert to Jalen Tolliver to pull to within 18-13. The Weevils went for two to try and narrow the margin to three points, but the conversion failed and the Wonder Boys led by five with 10:01 to play.

The two teams traded punts, when a big special teams play by UAM put the Wonder Boys' lead in jeopardy.

A blocked punt gave the Boll Weevils the football on the Wonder Boys' 29-yard line, and UAM was able to move the ball to the Tech 12-yard line. With three minutes to play, UAM elected to go for the field goal, but Jamie McGee's 29-yard attempt sailed wide left and the Wonder Boys took over.

UAM managed no further offense, as the Wonder Boys held on for the hard-fought win.

The Wonder Boys posted 274 yards on offense, but according to Monica, the offense executed the strategy they took into the contest. "The whole thing is we felt like we had to run the ball and run the clock," said Monica. "We had to keep the ball away from them. That was the big thing."
 
In addition to allowing just 169 yards, the Wonder Boys' defense established residence in the Boll Weevils' backfield, registering 11 quarterback hurries, 11 tackles for losses totaling 49 yards, and four sacks for loss of 33 yards.
 
"I think our defensive line does a good job of rushing the passer up front," said Monica. "Against different teams we have different matchups, and that was a matchup we liked coming into the game."
 
The Wonder Boys go back on the road next weekend, heading south to Magnolia, Ark. to face off against the Southern Arkansas Muleriders. Kickoff from Wilkins Stadium is set for 6 p.m.