Trailing early on the road has been a common theme for the University of Arkansas at Monticello football team, but it’s nothing from which the Boll Weevils hadn’t surged back.
A 21-7 lead for East Central University ballooned after mistakes stifled the Weevils on their last first-half drive, and the Tigers handed the Weevils their third straight loss, 42-17, on Saturday at Koi Ishto Stadium in Ada, Okla.
UAM (2-3 overall and Great American) has lost three in a row for the second straight year after a 2-0 start and lost four straight meetings with the Tigers (1-4). The Weevils have not led during the first half in either of its games on the road, coming from 28-10 down to beat Southwestern Oklahoma State 39-28 on Sept. 14 (trailed 14-10 at halftime) and trailing 35-7 last week at halftime of a 49-14 loss at Ouachita Baptist.
The Weevils got on the scoreboard Saturday after trailing 21-0 in the second quarter. Demilon Brown completed a 20-yard pass to Royal Williams with 3:26 left before halftime, and the Weevils forced the Tigers to punt with 1:30 remaining. Driving from his own 38, Brown completed six of 10 passes to get UAM in East Central territory, but a 17-yard sack coupled with a 15-yard unsportsmanlike call set the Weevils back on the series, and UAM made it only to the Tigers 20 as time expired.
UAM punted on the opening drive of the second half, and East Central responded on its next possession when Sergio Kennedy completed an 18-yard touchdown pass to Cade Searcy. Ben Farrell intercepted Brown on UAM’s next offensive snap and returned it for a touchdown, as the Tigers pulled away.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Kennedy completed 20 of 31 passes for 210 yards and two touchdowns and ran 40 yards for another score early in the second quarter. Searcy carried six times for 112 yards and a score, and Jaquarion Turner had 20 carries for 67 yards and a TD.
Deqavius Bowens had a touchdown reception and caught five passes for 27 yards in the win. East Central had 429 total yards to UAM’s 377, holding the Weevils to 78 rushing yards.
Brown threw 23 for 21 for 244 yards and two second-half interceptions. Tyler Reed carried 15 times for 55 yards, and Williams caught seven passes for 129 yards in the loss.
UAM will host Southeastern Oklahoma State at 2 p.m. next Saturday for homecoming.
VOLLEYBALL
Harding 3, UAM 1
In Monticello, Harding beat UAM 25-16, 25-11, 20-25, 25-13. The Cotton Blossoms (4-11, 0-5 in Great American) have lost eight straight matches.
Harding (12-5, 5-0) closed the match with a .471 hitting average in the final set and hit .265 for the match. UAM was held to a .089 clip.
Holiday Ellis recorded a match-high 16 kills, Mia Smalls racked up 32 assists and Licia Echevarria totaled 18 digs for the Blossoms. Olivia Wiedower set 42 assists, Skyler McKinnon struck 15 kills and Carter Fouche had 17 digs for Harding.
The Blossoms will make a Sooner State swing this week with a Thursday match at Northwestern Oklahoma State and Friday contest at Southwestern Oklahoma State.