In Great American Conference football – aside from the open date to start the season – no team takes a week off.
The University of Arkansas at Monticello Boll Weevils have not had any extra rest time to recover from an 0-3 start, their worst in 10 years. And Coach Hud Jackson hasn’t had any extra time to find much-needed answers for getting back into the thick of the conference race.
“One of the most exhausting things is to try to find the right words after a game or a start to the season to keep the kids motivated,” Jackson said. “We do that. I tell you all the time, we end up practicing on Sunday nights after games and we have productive practices. This week, we had rain and we had to go inside. We had productive practices. Keeping the focus and mindset of once we’re able to turn the corner to get a win – because you know how it is, winning fixes a lot – that’s the mindset we’re trying to have.”
A lack of consistency on the field has played a role in Jackson’s frustrations. The Weevils have had stretches of outplaying opponents for at least one quarter, whether they were already facing an insurmountable deficit or were still within reach of winning.
“We’ve got to play 60 minutes,” Jackson said. “We’ve got to play not perfect football but we have to play above-average football for at least 75 percent of that and play good-enough football to hold on for that last quarter.”
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Following an 0-2 homestand, UAM has to hit the road – a short one, this time – in hopes of ending a 5-game skid since last November. Arkansas Tech University (3-0 overall and Great American), enjoying its best start since 2017 under first-year Coach Roy Thompson, will host the Weevils for a 6 p.m. kickoff Saturday at Simmons Bank Field at Thone Stadium in Russellville.
Thompson won the American Football Coaches Association Division II National Assistant Coach of the Year in 2024 as Ouachita Baptist University defensive coordinator, and his Wonder Boys are holding opponents to 11 points and 306 yards per game. He’s found three gems in his defensive backfield, including sophomore Diego Sanchez. The defensive back from Houston will be the fourth Great American Player of the Week the Weevils have faced in three weeks after he returned an interception 61 yards and made 2 tackles for losses in a 28-23 win over Ouachita.
Sanchez, along with Crossett defensive back Tyrique Jones and California linebacker Julien Lopez, each have 2 interceptions on the year for the Wonder Boys, who dropped 4 of their last 5 to finish 5-6 last season under Kyle Shipp.
Henderson State University quarterback Andrew Edwards, who passed, rushed and threw for a total of four touchdowns against UAM, has succeeded freshman wideout Maddox Davis as offensive player of the week. Running back Cade Searcy held the honor two weeks ago when he led East Central University past UAM.
The Weevils won last year’s meeting with Tech, 24-13, but trails the all-time series 47-31-3. Getting out to a quicker start Saturday than in the past three weeks, Jackson said, will be important to have a chance to win.
“We’re not built that we can spot teams points and try to overcome that,” Jackson said. “We’ve got to start faster.”
Jackson is relying on a pair of emerging bright spots of his own, including East Mississippi Community College transfer Ahmari Cox (63.7 receiving yards per game, sixth-best in the GAC) and Nicholls State University transfer Jaquan Fank (2 solo sacks, tied for third-most).
“Both of those guys were here in January and went through offseason and spring to get used to what we do and how we do it,” Jackson said. “But with that being said, even with those guys, we’ve got others who need to step up and be more productive when those opportunities come.”
Tech’s roster includes three players with Pine Bluff connections – former UAPB wide receiver Lorenzo Bowers, and Pine Bluff High School graduates Ronald Russell (defensive lineman) and Julius Stribling (defensive lineman).
Great American Conference standings
NOTE: Each game counts toward standings; number in parentheses indicate ranking in American Football Coaches Association Division II poll.
Team;Record
Arkansas Tech;3-0
(2) Harding;3-0
(24) Henderson State;3-0
East Central;2-1
Southern Arkansas;2-1
Oklahoma Baptist;1-2
Ouachita Baptist;1-2
Southeastern Okla. State;1-2
Southern Nazarene;1-2
Southwestern Okla. State;1-2
UA-Monticello;0-3
Northwestern Okla. State;0-3
Saturday’s games
Southeastern Okla. State at Southern Nazarene, 3 p.m.
Southern Arkansas at Henderson State, 6 p.m.
East Central at Northwestern Okla. State, 6 p.m.
Oklahoma Baptist at Southwestern Okla. State, 6 p.m.
UAM at Arkansas Tech, 6 p.m.
Ouachita Baptist at Harding, 7 p.m.