Tech vs. UAM Game Notes - Tom Petty Edition

RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. - Entering the sixth week of the season, the nationally 24th-ranked Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys football team finds itself doing something it has not had to do all year - rebound after a loss. 

After last week's setback, the Wonder Boys (4-1, 4-1 Great American Conference) will attempt to get back on the winning path this Saturday, as the Wonder Boys travel to Arkansas-Monticello (2-3, 2-3) for a 3 p.m. matchup at Willis "Convoy" Leslie Cotton Boll Stadium in Monticello.

The game begins a two-game road swing for the Wonder Boys, who will also travel to Southwestern Oklahoma on Saturday, Oct. 14 before returning home to face Northwestern Oklahoma in a homecoming showdown on Oct. 21.

If the statistical accomplishment of each team to this point are any indication, the scoreboard operator in Monticello may get quite a workout this Saturday. Arkansas Tech's offense has put up a league-best 39.0 points per contest, while the Boll Weevils have put up a 34.4 points per game as well. 

UAM uses a balanced attack, averaging 446.0 yards per game, with 200.2 of those yards coming on the ground and 245.8 coming through the air. Cole Sears ranks second in the GAC in yards per game, having completed 82 of 151 passes for 1,160 yards and 12 touchdowns against just four interceptions. His favorite target has been senior wideout Jalen Tolliver, who ranks as the only receiver in the GAC to average over 100 receiving yards per game and has hauled in a league-best seven touchdown passes.

Tolliver is coming off a monster performance in UAM's 56-46 loss at Harding this past weekend, where he hauled in 12 passes for 245 yards and five touchdowns. 

While UAM has had a solid pass defense, the matchup of the Wonder Boys' rushing attack against the UAM defense could pose an opportunity for Arkansas Tech. UAM surrenders 216.0 yards per game on the ground, 10th in the Great American Conference, and the Wonder Boys' 224.8 rushing yards per contest trails only Harding's triple-option attack. 

Tech's rush game has been a total team effort, as no Wonder Boys player ranks in the top 10 in the GAC in rushing. The tandem of Bryan Allen and Braden Stringer have combined to rush for nearly 600 yards and seven touchdowns, while quarterback Ty Reasnor has found the end zone three additional times on the ground. Reasnor's steady leadership under center has created opportunities for the run game while providing a solid passing attack. The senior has completed 87 of 133 passes for 10 touchdowns and 1,049 yards. 

Saturday's game will be broadcast live locally on 102.3-FM (KCJC) with live audio, video, and statistics available at arkansastechsports.com.