Oklahoma Baptist University redshirt freshman Richard Smith thwarted a potential winning drive for the University of Arkansas at Monticello.
In position to win its third straight football game and establish its longest winning streak since 2021, UAM drove to the Bison 11 before Smith intercepted Tavion Faulk with 38 seconds left, sealing Oklahoma Baptist’s 17-14 victory Saturday in Shawnee, Okla.
Four turnovers did the Boll Weevils (2-4 overall and Great American) in at Crain Family Stadium at the Hurt Complex. They fumbled twice and Faulk was intercepted twice, first on UAM’s opening drive that went 52 yards in 11 plays.
The teams traded touchdowns in the second quarter. Faulk’s 8-yard carry opened the scoring 12 seconds into the period, and Chad Mascoe completed a 35-yard pass to Nick Harris to tie the game at 7.
Oklahoma Baptist (2-4), which did not turn the ball over, tried to convert a first down on fourth-and-2 from the UAM 18, but the pass was incomplete and the Weevils got the ball with 2:17 remaining.
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Faulk converted three first downs on UAM’s final drive, including a 25-yard pass to Chasden Collins down to the Bison 31 and 20-yard strike to Ahmari Cox to the 11. Two plays later, Smith robbed Faulk, and the Bison ran out the final 38 seconds to win.
Faulk completed 20 of 32 passes for 254 yards and a touchdown, that being a 47-yard toss to Collins with 7:39 left in the third to give the Weevils a 14-7 lead.
Carter Lowry converted a 22-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter to pull the Bison within 14-10. UAM lost its next possession on downs at the Bison 39, and Oklahoma Baptist went 61 yards in 12 plays, scoring with 5:23 remaining on Mascoe’s 1-yard keeper.
Mascoe, taking over for regular starter TJ McMahon, went 11 for 25 for 134 yards. He was sacked twice, once by K.J. Wells and again with Ghee Evans and Malaki Pegues sharing the stop.
Evans, the reigning Great American Conference Defensive Player of the Week, had 11 tackles (8 solo).
Collins caught 6 passes for 128 yards. Faulk was the Weevils’ leading carrier, rushing 11 times for 56 yards. Isaiah Broadway had 36 yards on 10 carries in the loss.
Deuce Wise ran 19 times for 104 yards and Nick Harris caught 3 passes for 81 yards for Oklahoma Baptist.
Despite the loss, UAM outgained Oklahoma Baptist 412-335, although the Bison had possession 12 seconds longer (30:06 to 29:54).
UAM returns home to play Ouachita Baptist for its Pink-Out game. Kickoff next Saturday is at 2 p.m.