MONTICELLO, Ark. – The Arkansas Tech football team was plagued by turnovers in their 35-14 loss on the road at the University of Arkansas at Monticello on Saturday night.
Unfortunately for the Wonder Boys (1-3, 1-3 GAC), the turnovers started early as they had a pair of turnovers on their first two possessions of the game. Both of those eventually led to touchdowns on the other end of the field as the Boll Weevils (3-1, 3-1 GAC) took an early 14-0 first quarter lead.
Despite those early miscues, the Wonder Boys battled back and eventually went on to tie the game at 14-all before halftime. The two touchdowns came on methodical 80-yard drives that were capped off with rushing scores.
The first of those was a five-yard run by
Tyler Day with 9:58 remaining in the second quarter, while the second was a one-yard plunge by
Deon Simmons with 32 seconds left in the half. Earlier in the second scoring drive, Simmons ripped off a 41-yard rush alongside his own sideline.
Helping those two scoring drives knot the score at 14-all was the Wonder Boys' defense forcing the Boll Weevils to attempt field goals on their final two drives of the first half. Both attempts were no good.
After winning the coin toss and deferring to the second half, UAM started with the ball coming out of the break. The Wonder Boys defense rose to the occasion on that initial possession of the second half and forced a three-and-out with the Boll Weevils only advancing the ball to their 18-yardline.
Field position was flipped on the ensuing play, however as the Wonder Boys were pinned inside their own 20-yardline following a 63-yard punt. The Wonder Boys would be forced to go three-and-out on that drive but weren't able to flip the field themselves.
With good field position, UAM traversed 48 yards on six plays and went ahead 21-14.
For all intents and purposes, that score proved to be the game-winner. UAM would score two more touchdowns to bring the game to its eventual final of 35-14.
The Wonder Boys will now prepare for a home game against Southern Nazarene this coming Saturday afternoon. Kick-off is scheduled for 2 p.m.
