RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. — Following two straight comfortable wins to open up its season, the Arkansas Tech football team will load up the buses for its first in-state roadtrip of the season this weekend.

The Wonder Boys (2-0, 2-0 Great American Conference) head to the southern portion of the state to take on Arkansas-Monticello (0-2, 0-2 GAC) at 6 p.m. Saturday at Convoy Leslie Cotton Boll Stadium.

Tech enters the game firing on all cylinders as one of just four undefeated teams left in the GAC. The Wonder Boys lead the conference in scoring offense, rushing offense, first downs, third-down conversions, red zone offense, total defense, passing defense, interceptions and red zone defense, and are second in nearly as many categories.

"Everything has been clicking very well, offensively, defensively, and in the kicking game," coach Raymond Monica said. "When you're up by as many points as we have been at halftime, guys are playing well."

The Tech offense has posted at least 50 points in both of its games, averaging 56.0 points per contest, which is just a half point behind the top mark in the country. Total offense (558.5 yards per game), rushing offense (344.0 yards per game), third-down conversion percentage (54.8 percent), first downs (30.0 per game), red zone scoring (100 percent) and total defense (178.0 yards per game) are all top-10 marks across all of Division II.

Individually, quarterback Arsenio Hall, the reigning GAC Offensive Player of the Week, is second in the country in rushing touchdowns and fifth in points responsible for. In his first two weeks at the helm, the senior is 33-of-49 passing for 423 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. He has just 59 rushing yards on 17 carries, but scored touchdowns on five of those totes, including three in the first half during last week's 50-7 vicotry over Oklahoma Baptist.

Brayden Stringer (182 yards), Bryan Allen (175) and Kristian Thompson (150) lead the rushing attack for the Wonder Boys, with all three appearing in the top eight of the GAC in rushing yards per game. Jermaine Murdock is the team's leading receiver, with 10 catches for 138 yards. He's one of six receivers with multiple catches so far, with Jabyes Cross turning in six grabs for 80 yards and two touchdowns, and Michael Perry adding seven catches for 43 yards.

The first-team offense has yet to turn the ball over, and the team as a whole has lost the ball only twice. That is in comparison to the defense's five takeaways, including four interceptions, which leads the conference.

The Tech defense has been equally impressive, allowing just 11.5 first downs per game. They are even more impressive when the first-team unit is on the field, as they haven't allowed a point before halftime and just three total first downs in the first half over two games. Oklahoma Baptist ran just one play inside Wonder Boy territory, and that snap from the Tech 49 resulted in an interception.

Lopsided scores have left the individual defensive statistics a little short, but the disruptiveness of the unit is still evident. Logan Genz, who broke the Tech career record for tackles in the opener against Southern Nazarene, is third in the league with 1.5 sacks, and Brandyn Bolling and Nick Akins are tied for sixth with 1.0 each. Akins is fourth with 3.0 tackles for loss, while Alonzo Joyner and Cua' Rose each have two pass breakups to help the league's top pass defense, allowing just 101.0 yards per game through the air.

The Wonder Boys go up against a Boll Weevil squad that has shown the ability to score some points despite starting the year off with a pair of losses.
"This week, we have a tough Monticello team that's doing a great job throwing the football and getting the ball downfield," Monica said. "You can tell they're much improved running the football, and they have a lot of good athletes running around on defense, so we know we have to protect the ball and be ready to play on both sides of the ball."

UAM is averaging 289.5 yards through the air, fifth-best in the GAC. The Weevils are also fifth in first downs, netting 20.5 per game, and fourth in third-down conversions at 50 percent. Quarterback Hunter Leppert has completed 38-of-83 passes for 559 yards and six touchdowns, with three interceptions. The offense has been potent at times, sticking with Southwestern Oklahoma for nearly three quarters, and jumping out to a 17-0 lead last time they were home against Northwestern Oklahoma.

Defensively, the Weevils have shown some troubles, allowing 51.0 points and 473.0 yards per game, although they've only allowed 118.0 rushing yards per game and 3.0 yards per carry. NWOSU completed 73.3 percent of its passes for 379 yards and five scores, while SWOSU threw for 331 yards on just 23 completions and three touchdowns. Ofisa Kose is averaging 8.5 tackles per game, with 2.0 tackles for loss and a forced fumble to go with it to lead the defense.

The Wonder Boys lead the all-time series with the Weevils 43-25-3, winning 13 of the last 17 meetings. The two sides have traded the last four contests, and five of the past seven have been decided by seven points or fewer.

"It's a road game against an in-state rival, and they're always extremely important," Monica said. "It's one of those trips where we go on the day of the game, so it's a little bit of a different routine for a three-hour trip, but it comes down to their mindset at gametime, whether they're ready to go when you kick off."
The contest can be heard live on 102.3 FM (KCJC) in Russellville, with live audio, video and statistics available at www.arkansastechsports.com.