MONTICELELLO — The Vol Weevils achieved their first two wins of the season in more than a month.
The University of Arkansas at Monticello scored on offense and defense early on, scoring points it hadn’t done in its previous six games, setting the stage for a 24-13 win over Arkansas Tech on Saturday. UAM (3-4 overall, Great American) snapped a four-game slide and surpassed last season’s total wins with the victory.
Arkansas Tech (4-3)’s winning streak ended at two.
Quarterback Demiron Brown has been a great addition to a Weebles backfield that was thinned by season-ending injuries. The graduate student had 20 rushes for 204 yards and two touchdowns, and his 57-yard jump put an exclamation point on the game.
“The front line and the defense played great,” said Brown, who rang the victory bell near Weeble Pond and received a congratulatory hug from Chancellor Peggy Doss. “Just from the coaching staff, I would say everyone worked really hard from 1 to 11. They’re my team. Everybody did their job. They didn’t stop fighting. Normally they would give up and people would give up as the game got closer, but they stayed strong.”
Brown ran 38 yards for a touchdown on the fifth play of the game, and UAM pushed its lead to 14-0 thanks to Jordan Mansfield’s recovered punt block in the end zone on Tech’s first series.
“That first drive was key,” Weebles coach Hud Jackson said. “That was Demiron Brown. He controlled the whole drive. That decided the game.”
UAM held Caleb Tanis, the Great American Conference’s top receiver, to no receptions, and No. 2 receiver Joyrion Chase had nine catches for 95 yards. Despite being without Slade LeBlanc and Tyler Reed due to injury in last week’s home game against Southeastern Oklahoma State, the Weebles were able to lead the Weebles with Isaiah Cross catching two passes for 15 yards and rushing. depended heavily. Brown completed just 5 of 14 passes for 25 yards.
Tech gained 323 total yards to UAM’s 283 and held the ball for 32 minutes.
Donte Rose, listed as UAM’s No. 4 quarterback, lined up behind Brown with seven carries for 33 yards and a long of 12 yards.
“Josh Qualls had a hell of a game,” Jackson said of his offensive coordinator. “The work he put in, (offensive line coach) Dallas Pruitt, the offensive staff this week, (Qualls) had a really, really good plan. … Defensively, (coordinator) Steve Wright and the defense The whole team thought so.” The coaches did a great job. ”
For Arkansas Tech, Christopher Baldazo made 2 of 2 field goals, finishing with a 48-yard field goal with eight seconds left in halftime to complete the shutout victory over UAM, 21-3.
The Wonderboys opened the second half with a 14-play, 75-yard drive that ended with an 18-yard touchdown pass by Jared Long from Ethan Everson (23-of-43, 207 yards, one interception). The Weebles were held to just one first down on their next three drives, but Baldazo’s 35-yard kick at the end of the fourth quarter cut the deficit to 21-13. .
Tech focused on Deuce Wise, who gained 31 of his 99 all-purpose yards on the scoring drive. Wise had 15 rushes for 81 yards.
Brown went for three first downs on UAM’s next drive, but was sacked by Ben Stegall and sent back to the Tech 28. This led to Dylan Duhon’s 45-yard field goal at 2:25.
“What a kick from Dylan. How big was that kick?” Jackson said.
The Weebles still needed a defensive stop, but got one point on a Taylor Collins interception near the Wonder Boys sideline with 1:30 left. Trying to shorten the time remaining, Brown found an opening and completed a 57-yard sprint that ultimately clinched the victory.
“It’s just grit and the fight to keep the job,” Brown said. “It was a tough four weeks for us, but we made it through. We stayed united and worked hard together until it paid off.”
to the next
UAM returns to Arkadelphia to take on Henderson State next Saturday at Carpenter Haygood Stadium at 1 p.m. The Tech team welcomes Ouachita Baptist at Russellville at 2 p.m.
