ADA, Okla. – The Arkansas Tech football team wrapped up its road slate of games for the 2023 season with a hard-fought 18-16 win over East Central on a rain-drenched Saturday afternoon in Ada, Okla.
To secure the win, the Wonder Boys had to fight off a furious fourth-quarter rally by ECU.
Heading into the final period, the Wonder Boys were firmly in control and led 18-3. With only a first-quarter field goal on the board despite 260 yards of offense through the first three quarters, ECU began to put together a sustained drive that ended the third quarter and bled over to the fourth.
On the 12
th play of that drive, the Tigers found the endzone for their first touchdown of the game to pull within nine points, 18-9, with 12:50 left in regulation. On the ensuing extra-point attempt, the snap from center was high of the holder and ultimately resulted in a failed attempt, keeping the separation between Tech and ECU at nine points.
A similar miscue on special teams hurt East Central earlier in the game and resulted in a safety for the Wonder Boys as a deep snap on a would-be punt attempt sailed over the head of the Tigers' punter and eventually rolled into the endzone where it was recovered by ECU for the safety.
At the time, the safety made the score 9-3 in favor of Tech with 7:27 left in the second quarter.
Now with the ball back and just under 13 minutes left in the fourth quarter, the Wonder Boys possessed the ball looking to use up as much time as possible leading by two scores.
On that drive, the Wonder Boys were able to use up a good chunk of the game clock, but saw the drive stall at the ECU 32-yardline where they were facing 4
th-and-2. Electing to go for it and extend the drive, the Wonder Boys were held mere inches short of converting, turning the ball over on downs with 7:14 left to play.
With a renewed sense of excitement following the defensive stand, the Tigers' offense took the field once again, but were quickly facing 4th-and-24 from their own 21-yardline after a big sack by
Blake Brown. On the ensuing fourth-down play, the Tigers only got 14 of the 24 yards needed, but a facemask penalty called in the backfield against Tech gave ECU an automatic first down and the ball at their 46-yardline.
Four plays later, the Wonder Boys forced ECU into another fourth-down chance. This time, the Tigers converted on a big pass play that brough the ball down to the Tech 22-yardline.
Now with under five minutes on the game clock and out of timeouts, the Tigers were needing to find the endzone sooner than later. Six plays later, ECU did score a touchdown and later made good on the extra-point attempt to draw the score within two points, 18-16. In doing so, however, the Tigers only left 2:07 on the clock, making a forthcoming onside kick attempt their last chance to possess the ball again.
With the hands teams on for both teams, the ball took a high bounce and was tapped out of bounds by Tech's
Caleb Tanis at the 50-yardline, giving the Wonder Boys the ball back with the aforementioned 2:07 left on the clock.
The Wonder Boys were then able to kneel the ball out and did so successfully on the first two. On the third and final would-be kneel down, the snap was mishandled and fumbled, but fortunately, the Wonder Boys were able to recover and definitively end the game.
Statistically, the Wonder Boys were very balanced in their approach with 141 yards rushing and 140 passing.
Deuce Wise was the top rusher with 74 yards on 14 carries. From the quarterback position, Gatewood added 46 net yards rushing.
Through the air, Gatewood was 15-of-26 for the 140 yards with two TDs and no interceptions. On the receiving end of Gatewood's two passing scores were Tanis and
Matthew Rivera.
The Wonder Boys will now return home for their final two games of the regular season. First up will be the November 4 game against Southeastern Oklahoma. Billed as the 2023 Homecoming game for the Wonder Boys, kick-off will take place at 4 p.m. from Simmons Bank Field at Thone Stadium.
