RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Arkansas Tech football team picked up a big 24-10 win at home against Arkansas-Monticello on a brisk early fall Saturday afternoon out at Simmons Bank Field at Thone Stadium.
The win simultaneously extended a positive streak and ended a negative one for the Tech football program. The positive streak came in the way of the Wonder Boys pushing their winning streak to three games, tying for the longest under head coach
Kyle Shipp. The negative streak that came to a screeching halt was the win over UAM was the first for the Wonder Boys against a DII opponent from Arkansas since the 2017 season when they beat then-ranked No. 23 Henderson State, 26-3.
As bizarre and unbelievable of a streak as it was, further context would point out that since the 2017 season and coming into play this weekend, DII schools from Arkansas other than Arkansas Tech had a combined overall record of 219-103. Additionally, the Wonder Boys had nine games during the stretch where they lost by seven or fewer points.
With eyes on snapping that streak on Saturday, the Wonder Boys had to overcome some early offensive struggles as their three possessions in the first quarter ended in a lost fumble and consecutive punts.
Fortunately, while the offense was getting established, the Wonder Boys' defense was holding up their end of the bargain and kept the Boll Weevils off the scoreboard in the first quarter as well. In fact, the Tech defense forced UAM to punt twice, attempt a field goal and turn the ball over on downs in the opening period.
The last of those got the ball back to the Tech offense at their own 4-yardline with 10:10 to play in the first half. With their back near their own endzone, the Wonder Boys eventually pushed the ball into Boll Weevil territory and then, from 47 yards out,
Taye Gatewood connected with
Jordan Jackson in stride for a touchdown.
UAM's next possession tested the Tech defense as they moved the ball all the way down to the Tech 1-yardline. The Wonder Boys' defense would bend but not break and forced UAM to attempt their second field goal of the game. This time, the Boll Weevils made good on the attempt from 23 yards out to make it a 7-3 game.
Getting the ball back with 2:35 left in the opening half and set to receive the second-half kickoff, the Wonder Boys had plans on a sustained drive that ended with points right before halftime.
And that's exactly what they got.
Following a 39-yard kickoff return by
Mason Ross that brought the ball to the Tech 49-yardline, the Wonder Boys would use eight plays to set up a 33-yard field goal attempt by last week's hero
Austin Hosier. With three seconds left on the clock, Hosier drilled the field goal attempt and gave Tech a 10-3 lead at the break.
Coming out of halftime, the Wonder Boys received the initial kickoff and on that ensuing drive found the endzone on a one-yard plunge by
Jordan Edington. That drive ate up the first six minutes of game time in the third quarter and consumed 75 yards on nine plays.
On UAM's first play on their ensuing drive, the Wonder Boys' defense got the ball right back as
Kylan Crite intercepted his first pass as a Wonder Boy, hauling in the pick at the UAM 43-yardline.
The Wonder Boys would turn that takeaway into points as they scored another rushing touchdown to go up 24-3. This time, it was
Deuce Wise with the rushing TD, doing so from two yards out.
The Tech defense continued to hold the Boll Weevils down forcing them to punt on each of their next two possessions, but UAM would get a shot of life in the fourth quarter after intercepting a pass at the 10:15 mark.
On that ensuing drive, UAM was able to score their lone touchdown of the game, capping a 7-play, 50-yard drive.
The Boll Weevils would get the ball back one final time with 4:23 left in regulation and got the ball down to the Tech 11-yardline, but once more the defense stood tall and forced a turnover on downs, effectively ending the game.
With 1:27 on the clock and UAM out of timeouts, the Wonder Boys would only need to kneel down twice before officially securing the win.
The Wonder Boys will now prepare for a stout road test next weekend as they will travel to Arkadelphia to take on nationally-ranked Ouachita Baptist. Kickoff for the game is scheduled for 1 p.m. from Cliff Harris Stadium.
