RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. - First-year head coach Kyle Shipp will lead the 2019 version of the Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys football team onto the field Thursday night in Monticello, as Tech faces a familiar foe - the Boll Weevils of the University of Arkansas-Monticello. 

Kickoff from Convoy Leslie-Cotton Boll Stadium is set for 6 p.m. Live audio, video, and statistics will be available at www.arkansastechsports.com, with local radio coverage on 102.3-FM (KCJC) in Russellville. 

SERIES HISTORY

• The Wonder Boys hold an all-time 45-27-3 advantage in the series with the Boll Weevils. UAM has won the last two meetings. Tech's last win in Monticello came on September 19, 2015, a 24-17 win. 

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW

• QB BATTLE - Three players will vie for time under center. Returners Carter Burcham (92-195, 1208 yds, 5 TD, 10 INT) saw time in nine games as a true freshman, while senior Manny Harris (77-152, 773 yds, 3 TD, 5 INT) also saw time in six games. Transfer Mason Cunningham saw action in three games at Liberty last year, completing four of seven passes for 31 yards.
• NEW FACES - The Wonder Boys replace a host of players from last year's team, but the biggest change comes in the offensive backfield, where the Wonder Boys look to replace Bryan Allen, who completed his career as the Wonder Boys' all-time leading rusher with 3,622 career yards. Junior transfer Caleb Batie racked up 151 yards on the ground against Lindenwood last year while playing for Missouri Southern, and Wallace Foote returns to the Wonder Boys for his sophomore season after some time away from the program. As a freshman in 2013, Foote rushed for 109 yards on 40 carries. 
• DOUBLE YOUR PLEASURE - Dio Williams and Gio Williams are the Wonder Boys' leading returning tacklers from the 2018 season. Dio finished the year with 44 stops (28 solo, 16 assisted) while Gio added 47 tackles (17 solo, 30 assisted), one sack, and two forced fumbles. 
• ON SPECIAL TEAMS - Tyler Dunlop and Carson Ayers both return after seeing substantial action at punter last year. Dunlop saw the bulk of the work, averaging over 40 yards per punt, with 13 punts inside the 20. 
• A FAMILIAR MATCHUP - There will be no lack of familiarity between the two teams as Tech head coach Kyle Shipp spent the last five years on the staff of UAM head coach Hud Jackson as the Weevils' offensive coordinator. 

For the latest information on Wonder Boys football, make sure to check out arkansastechsports.com. You can also find the team on twitter at @ATUFOOTBALL.