SHAWNEE, Okla. – The Arkansas Tech football team scored 14 points in the fourth quarter in their season-opening game at Oklahoma Baptist, but ultimately fell short by a score of 23-21.
The Wonder Boys (0-1, 0-1 GAC) fell behind early after Oklahoma Baptist was able to score a touchdown on the game's first possession. The Wonder Boys' defense found its footing after that initial drive and forced punts on Oklahoma Baptist's next two possessions.
With the Tech offense not yet in the rhythm that they would end the game in, the defense kept the game within reach as they forced the Bison (1-0, 1-0 GAC) to kick two field goals. The second of those field goals was clutch as the defense was forced to defend just 10 yards after the Bison returned an interception down to the ATU-10 yardline.
After holding Oklahoma Baptist to that field goal, the Wonder Boys got their offense rolling with a methodical 15-play, 93-yard drive that ended with a two-yard plunge by
Jordan Edington.
Taye Gatewood got the nod at QB for that series and was 5-of-7 passing for 47 yards while also rushing for 33 yards on four carries.
The last of those rushes by Gatewood got the ball down to the Oklahoma Baptist 8-yardline. From there, the Wonder Boys went with their heavy package and fed the ball to Edington three-straight times before he broke the plane of the endzone.
The Wonder Boys defense then forced a quick three-and-out to allow the offense one final possession in the first half as they got the ball back with 43 seconds left on the clock. That drive would not gain any momentum, but the Wonder Boys were set to receive the ball after winning the coin toss and deferring to the second half.
Unfortunately, that first drive in the second half was stymied by a pair of sacks, forcing the Wonder Boys to quickly go three-and-out. The Bison were able to capitalize off that strong defensive stand and scored a touchdown on their ensuing possession to push their lead back out to 13 points.
The Wonder Boys and Bison then traded punts on each of their next two possessions to push the game to the fourth quarter.
After getting the ball back on a punt early in the fourth quarter, the Wonder Boys started their comeback effort in earnest and put together another scoring drive to once more get within a touchdown. That drive featured a pair of big plays with junior transfer
Caleb Tanis making a 40-yard reception that put the ball into Oklahoma Baptist territory. Five plays after that
Corbin Humphrey broke off a 14-yard rush that brought the ball down to the one-yardline. Humphrey was rewarded for the previous rush and punched it in for a one-yard touchdown.
The Wonder Boys defense then forced another punt by the Bison, giving the ball back to Tech with just over eight minutes left to play. The Wonder Boys were unable to gain a first down on that drive and Oklahoma Baptist regained possession with 6:46 left on the clock.
The Bison then went conservative and used the clock as their ally eating up four and a half minutes before settling for a 43-yard field goal attempt. The attempt was good and made it a two-score game.
Getting the ball back with 2:14 left, the Wonder Boys put together a quick five-play scoring drive that ended with a 23-yard touchdown catch by
Joyrion Chase. After a successful point-after by
Austin Hosier, the Wonder Boys were down 23-21 with just over a minute left and needed to recover the ensuing on-side kick attempt to have a chance to get the ball back.
Unfortunately, the Bison recovered the on-side kick attempt and was able to kneel-out the remaining time.
The Wonder Boys will now return home for their 2023 home-opener against Southern Nazarene on September 9. Kick-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. from Thone Stadium at Simmons Bank Field.
