Off to a much stronger start than in either of its previous three games, the University of Arkansas at Monticello football team would not let victory escape them again.
Tavion Faulk threw 21 for 35 for 390 yards and 3 touchdowns, and Jaylen Sulton scored the go-ahead touchdown with 61 seconds remaining to give the Boll Weevils their first win of the season, 31-24 over previously unbeaten Arkansas Tech University in Russellville.
UAM (1-3 overall and Great American) led for the first time this season in taking a 13-0 lead over the Wonder Boys (3-1). The home team stormed back to take a 24-16 lead with 9:32 left in the game before Faulk came back with an 18-yard touchdown pass to Chasden Collins (and 2-point rush by Sulton) at the 7:16 mark and Sulton’s winning carry.
T.J. Fields caught 8 passes for 104 yards, including a 4-yard touchdown toss from Faulk for the game’s first score. The Weevils forced a punt and struck again the next play with Faulk’s 85-yard strike to freshman Drew Dronet.
Freshman Bryson Roland carried 14 times for 109 yards to lead Arkansas Tech. His 10-yard rush with 13:21 left before halftime put the Wonder Boys on the board, finishing off their longest scoring drive (8 plays, 69 yards).
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The Wonder Boys scored on 4 of 6 drives to eventually take the lead. Logan Tymeson scored a 21-yard field goal to close the gap to 13-10, and early in the third quarter, and Jack Dawson threw his only touchdown pass of the game to Jared Long from 27 yards out.
A 16-play, 87-yard drive ended in a 24-yard Cade Stinson field goal to pull UAM within 17-16 with 9:51 left. An unnecessary roughness call against UAM and 44-yard kickoff return by Derius Franklin set up Roland’s 34-yard carry on Arkansas Tech’s next play from scrimmage.
Faulk threw a 33-yard pass to A.K. Hazley down to the Arkansas Tech 18, setting up the touchdown pass to Collins. The Wonder Boys were held to one first-down conversion in their own territory before being forced to punt with 5:01 left.
UAM converted four first downs in 11 plays, keeping the 81-yard drive alive on a 21-yard Faulk carry on fourth-and-1 from the Arkansas Tech 35. Sulton scored 4 plays later.
Carldell Sirmons returned the ensuing kickoff 43 yards to the UAM 35. Dawson completed a 7-yard pass, but went incomplete on the next four plays – one of which ended with offsetting penalties – allowing UAM to run out the final 28 seconds.
Hazley pulled down 3 catches for 72 yards, and Sulton rushed 13 times for 43 yards for UAM. The Weevils had their best offensive game of the young season, outgaining the Wonder Boys 500-338 in total yards.
Arkansas Tech rushed 28 times for 213 yards, a stark contrast to UAM’s 42 carries for 93 yards.
Dawson completed 9 of 19 passes for 125 yards. Long caught 6 passes for 119 yards.
UAM now enters its homecoming week with Southern Nazarene University to visit next Saturday. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m.