SHAWNEE, Okla. – The Arkansas Tech football team picked up a big win on the road at Oklahoma Baptist on Saturday night, winning by a score of 34-13.
The win brings the Wonder Boys' overall record to an even .500 at 3-3 as the season has reached the halfway point.
Saturday night's win under the lights in Shawnee got off to a quick start for the Wonder Boys as their defense forced a punt of Oklahoma Baptist on the Bison's initial drive after receiving the opening kick-off. After that punt, the Wonder Boys began their first drive of the game from their own 19-yardline following an acrobatic nine-yard return by
Tyrus Fort that nearly broke free.
On that initial drive, the Wonder Boys set the tone on what their game plan was going to be as they rushed the ball seven-straight times en route to scoring a touchdown on a six-yard swing pass play out from
Jack Grissom out to
Mason Ross.
Two plays earlier,
Devontae Dean ripped off a 51-yard rush that brought the ball all the way down to the Oklahoma Baptist eight-yardline.
The Wonder Boys then forced the Bison to go three-and-out. Following a modest 34-yard punt, the Wonder Boys started their next drive from their own 32-yardline.
A trio of pass completions by Grissom and a 10-yard rush by
Deon Simmons quickly got the ball into OKB territory for the Wonder Boys, but their drive was abruptly ended on a tough-luck interception. On the very next play, however, the Wonder Boys got the ball right back as
Trayon Jones picked off the OKB pass attempt.
Following that takeaway, the Wonder Boys were quickly knocking on the doorsteps of the endzone thanks to consecutive big plays. The first was a 21-yard rush by Simmons that started the drive and got the ball in plus territory for the Wonder Boys. The second was a 34-yard pass completion from Grissom out to
Brandon Hunter that brough the ball down to the OKB 3-yardline.
Two plays later, the Wonder Boys punched it in on a one-yard plunge by
Jordan Edington.
The Bison's next possession carried over to the second quarter, but did not last long as it was another three-and-out forced by the Tech defense.
On Tech's ensuing possession, they were facing a possible three-and-out themselves, but a 22-yard connection between Grissom and tight end
Travis Tobey extended the drive and got the Wonder Boys back in Oklahoma Baptist territory.
Three plays later, Tech converted another third-and-long, this time with a 12-yard checkdown completion to Simmons. One play later,
Joyrion Chase got behind the Bison defense and was wide open for a 28-yard touchdown reception, giving the Wonder Boys a 21-0 lead with 10:41 left in the second quarter.
It appeared as the momentum was going to remain firmly in favor of the Wonder Boys as they forced a third-straight three-and-out and had possession starting in Oklahoma Baptist territory. However, on the first play on that drive, the Wonder Boys were looking to take a shot downfield, but the pass was broken up and the carom resulted in an interception.
That turnover injected a jolt of energy for the Oklahoma Baptist offense as they went back on the field and engineered a 94-yard scoring drive to put their first points on the board.
Tech's offense suddenly stalled and a low snap on a punt attempt forced the Wonder Boys to turn the ball over on downs following an incomplete forward pass.
With their best starting field position of the night, the Bison needed just three plays before finding the endzone once again and suddenly pulling to within a touchdown, but the Wonder Boys blocked the extra point attempt making it an eight-point lead for Tech, 21-13.
The Wonder Boys were forced to punt once more on their next drive, but the defense came up with a monster stop on their end to turn over the Bison on downs at their own 33-yardline with under 30 seconds to play in the first half.
Already in
Jesus Zizumbo range, the Wonder Boys worked the ball down to the Oklahoma Baptist 19-yardline. Following an incomplete pass and under five seconds left in the half, Zizumbo came on for a 36-yard try. His kick was right down the middle and the Wonder Boys carried a 24-13 lead into the locker room.
After winning the coin toss and deferring to the second half, the Wonder Boys had the first possession of the third quarter.
That possession saw the Wonder Boys get back in rhythm on offense as they settled back in control of the action. After just over four minutes of possession, the drive stalled at the Oklahoma Baptist 28-yardline, setting up a 45-yard field goal opportunity for Zizumbo. With plenty of leg, Zizumbo once more split the uprights and added three points to Tech's lead, 27-13.
The Bison and Wonder Boys traded punts over the remaining possessions of the third quarter. The last of those punts gave the ball back to the Wonder Boys to start the fourth quarter.
This is where the Wonder Boys put the game away.
On that drive, the Wonder Boys ate up almost seven minutes of clock and paid it off with a five-yard rushing score by Edington.
Oklahoma Baptist made a push on their ensuing possession to cut into the Tech lead and got the ball inside the Tech 10-yardline at one point, but ended up turning the ball over on downs with 4:18 left to play.
The Wonder Boys would then close out the game on the ground, running off the remaining time on the clock. The biggest play on that final drive was a 36-yard run by
Tyler Day.
Tech will now carry a two-game winning streak into their homecoming game against Southern Arkansas. Kick-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Saturday, October 15. Homecoming ceremonies, including the crowning of the King and Queen, will take place at 1:30 p.m.
