GAME INFORMATION
ARKANSAS TECH WONDER BOYS 1-2 (1-2 GAC)	ARKANSAS-MONTICELLO BOLL WEEVILS 2-1 (2-1 GAC)
Saturday, September 24 | 6 p.m. Cotton Boll Stadium | Monticello, Ark. LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO | LISTEN LIVE | ATU NOTES (PDF) | UAM NOTES

KICKING OFF

The Arkansas Tech football team is looking for a bounce-back performance this Saturday on the road at Arkansas-Monticello. The last time out, the Wonder Boys were unable to keep pace with top-10 ranked Ouachita, ultimately losing the game 63-14.

Looking to put that game firmly in the rear-view, the Wonder Boys will likely turn to revenge as their focus this week as they are aiming to avenge a one-possession loss to UAM at home last year.

In that game, UAM scored a pair of late fourth-quarter touchdowns to break what was a 13-all tie through three periods. The Wonder Boys were able to punch in a late score themselves to bring the game within the single possession, but after being unable to come away with an on-side kick, UAM was able to run the clock out.

The game at UAM will also be the first in series of alternating road and home games for the Wonder Boys. That flip-flop schedule will carry the Wonder Boys through October and give them an even distribution of three home games and three road games before playing their final two games on the road.

TECH TIDBITS
SCOUTING THE OFFENSE

Offensively, the Wonder Boys are averaging 27.7 points per game and 350.0 yards of total offense per game. Their ppg average ranks eighth in the GAC, while their total offense is currently 10th.

Junior transfer Taye Gatewood has been the starting quarterback thus far and has thrown for 491 yards on 38-of-68 passing with five touchdowns and one interception.

On the ground, the leading rusher so far has been Devontae Dean. Dean has 171 yards rushing on 24 carries and is averaging 7.1 yards per carry. As a team, the Wonder Boys have six rushing touchdowns with Gatewood and Deon Simmons having two apiece and Jordan Edington and Dean with one each.

In terms of receiving, Tech is led by Joyrion Chase with 12 receptions for 161 yards. Five different receivers have caught touchdown passes this season. Mason Ross, Matthew Rivera, Travis Tobey, Edington and Chase have accounted for the scores.

SCOUTING THE DEFENSE

Defensively, the Wonder Boys have allowed and average of 482.0 yards of total offense per game by their opponents and 39.0 points per game. The total defense ranks 11th in the GAC, while the scoring defense is ninth.

In terms of takeaways, the Wonder Boys have forced five turnovers with three interceptions and two fumble recoveries.

Individually, Matthew Minnix leads the team in tackles with 21. Victor Hill is the team-leader in tackles for lost yardage (4.0) and sacks (3.0). Jordan Furtch is responsible for two of the team's three INTs.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Senior kicker Jesus Zizumbo has 30 made field goals in his career and is nine away from tying the record held by Piotr Styczen (1993-96). Earlier this year, Zizumbo tied a single-game record for longest field goal as he buried a 52-yard try against Southeastern Oklahoma.
 

ABOUT ARKANSAS-MONTICELLO
LAST GAME

The Arkansas-Monticello Boll Weevils fell behind early on the road at Henderson State, but surged back with 20 fourth-quarter points to pull the final margin to 10, 37-27. In that game, UAM out-gained Henderson on the ground and through the air, but the early deficit on the scoreboard was too much to overcome.

THE COACH

The Boll Weevils are coached by Hud Jackson, who is in his 12th year as the head coach at UAM. In his time with the Boll Weevils, Jackson has amassed a 41-72 overall record. In six different seasons, Jackson has led the Boll Weevils to at least five wins. In 2018, UAM won the most games under Jackson with six and appeared in the Corsicana Bowl that same year.

SCOUTING THE OFFENSE

Offensively, the Boll Weevils feature a spread offensive attack. Through their first three games of year, UAM has the fourth-ranked scoring offense in the GAC at 35.7 ppg and the second-best total offense with an average of 473.7 ypg. Through the air, the Boll Weevils are averaging 217.0 ypg to rank sixth in the GAC. On the ground, UAM is averaging 256.70 ypg to rank fourth in the GAC.

The leading rusher thus far has been Jonero Scott with 356 yards gained. The second-leading rusher is quarterback Demilon Brown. Brown has 335 yards and has scored five of UAM's eight rushing TDs.

In the passing game, Brown has completed 46% of his passes (34- of-74) and has thrown for 651 yards and six touchdowns. He has been intercepted four times.

The leading receiver for UAM is LaCedric Smith. He has nine receptions for 216 yards and two touchdowns. Isaiah Cross and Jordan Mansfield are also over the century mark in receiving yards. Cross has 214 yards on eight receptions and one touchdown, while Mansfield has 128 yards on seven receptions and three touchdowns.

SCOUTING THE DEFENSE

Defensively, the Boll Weevils base out of the 4-2-5 scheme and currently rank fourth in scoring defense, allowing 26.7 ppg. Their total defense also ranks fourth in the GAC allowing 398.3 ypg of total offense by their opponents. Through the air, UAM ranks seventh in the GAC with 234.0 ypg On the ground, the Boll Weevils allow an average of 164.3 ypg and rank fourth in the GAC.

Collectively, the Boll Weevils have forced seven turnovers with five interceptions and two fumble recoveries.

Individually, UAM's have five players with double-digit stops and are led by Kaytron Allen with 24. Allen also has the most INTs with two.

THE SERIES

This will be the 78th meeting all-time between Arkansas Tech and Arkansas-Monticello in a series that dates back to 1928. Overall, Tech holds a 45-29-3 advantage in the all-time series and has an 18-16-1 lead in games played in Monticello. Since transitioning to NCAA Division II, the Wonder Boys and Boll Weevils have met 22 times previously and in that time, Tech leads 14-8-0.