ADA, Okla. — Arsenio Favor completed 22 of 49 passes for 260 yards, Kristian Thompson rushed for 74, while Cua' Rose turned in an 11-tackle performance, but the No. 23/24 Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys football team (5-2, 5-2 Great American Conference) was unable to complete its rally in a late fourth-quarter drive, falling 20-19 to East Central (5-2, 5-2 Great American Conference) on Saturday at Norris Field.

The Wonder Boys struck first when Thompson broke a 44-yard touchdown run with 8:22 to play in the game's opening quarter. Tech's extra point effect was unsuccessful, and Tech grabbed an early 6-0 lead. Minutes later, ECU claimed the lead with a long strike of its own, as Rocky Moore connected with Nathan Pickett on a 58-yard touchdown pass, putting ECU ahead 7-6.

The Wonder Boys reclaimed the lead in the waning minutes of the opening quarter as Favor capped a 10-play, 72-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown run that saw Tech take a 13-7 lead.

The second quarter saw ECU seize the momentum, as the Tigers cut into the Wonder Boys lead with a 41-yard field goal by David Massuere with 2:03 to play in the half. The ECU defense forced Tech into a three-and-out on the ensuing possession, and the Tigers got the ball back on their own 16-yard line with 58 seconds to play in the half.

ECU used a big strike on the opening play of the drive to push into Tech territory, and eight plays later the Tigers found their way into the end zone on an eight-yard pass from Moore to Randall Case to give ECU a 17-13 lead at half.

The defenses traded stops in the opening minutes of the second half, and the Wonder Boys got back on the scoreboard first as Eric Perez connected on a 29-yard field goal with 3:51 to play in the quarter, bringing Tech back within 17-16. However, the Tigers turned around with three of their own as Masseure hit a 20-yard chip shot with five seconds remaining in the third.

ECU took its 20-16 lead into the fourth quarter, and the Wonder Boys were once again able to pull to within one as Eric Perez booted a 45-yard field goal with 8:54 to play.

The two defenses traded three-and-outs before ECU drove deep into Wonder Boys territory, but the Tigers were unable to find the end zone as ECU drove to the Tech one-yard line, and fumbled on an attempted quarterback sneak. The Wonder Boys recovered the fumble at their own one-yard line, giving the Wonder Boys one more chance to put points on the board.

With 2:56 to play, Tech began its march downfield. The Wonder Boys converted three fourth downs in their own territory before Favor completed a pair of big passes, first connecting with Michael Perry on a 16-yard route and then Henry Wesley on a 45-yard route that gave the Wonder Boys a first down at the ECU 15-yard line with less than 60 seconds to play.

Two plays later, the Tech rally was cut short as ECU intercepted a pass with 35 seconds to play, giving the Tigers the ball, and ECU was able to run the clock out for the win.

The Wonder Boys return to action on Saturday, Oct. 24, hosting Southeastern Oklahoma. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m.