KICKING OFF
With two weeks left in the season, the Wonder Boys will play their final two games on the road, starting first this Saturday at Southeastern Oklahoma. The following week, they will close out their season at nationally-ranked Harding.
Already having played four road games, the Wonder Boys are 2-2 in those contests and will be in search of matching their win total from the past two seasons by winning their fifth game of the season. A win in each of their final two games would give the Wonder Boys a winning record.
TECH(NICALLY) SPEAKING
LAST GAME
The Wonder Boys are coming off home loss to No. 5-ranked Ouachita Baptist this past Saturday afternoon. Tech fell behind early in the game and was unable to get their offense established enough to mount a comeback.
SCOUTING THE OFFENSE
Offensively after nine games, the Wonder Boys are averaging 21.7 points per game and 328.4 yards of total offense. Their ppg average ranks sixth in the GAC, while their total offense also ranks sixth.
In the passing game, the Wonder Boys used a trio of quarterbacks with Ethan Forrester, Ethan Everson and Hunter Loyd making at least one start. Overall, Everson has played in eight of nine game and has made five starts. In his time on the field, Everson has thrown for 1,140 yards on 90-of-162 passing with seven touchdowns and four interceptions. As a team, their 208.4 passing yards per game rank third in the GAC.
On the ground, the Wonder Boys have had 10 different ball carriers against this season. Deuce Wise has shouldered the largest load with 112 carries and leads the team in net yards with 495. Luke Gall is next on the team in rushing yards with 333. He is second in rushing touchdowns with four. Myles West has come on as of late in the backfield and is up over 200 yards and has two touchdowns.
Jordan Edington, who handles most of the short-yardage downs, has recorded five rushing touchdowns to lead the team. The Wonder Boys' 120.0 rushing yards per game ranks 10th in the GAC.
In terms of receiving, Tech has had pass completions to 12 different targets. Joyrion Chase leads the team in receptions with 34, yards at 392 and has one receiving TD. Caleb Tanis is next with 388 yard on 26 receptions and is tied for the second-most touchdowns with tight end Dayton Keller and wideout Jordan Jackson with two. Jared Long is the team-leader in touchdown receptions with three.
SCOUTING THE DEFENSE
Defensively through nine games, the Wonder Boys allow an average of 292.0 yards of total offense per game by their opponents and 26.3 points per game. The total defense ranks third in the GAC, while their scoring defense is seventh.
Individually, Tech has three players that registered at least 45 tackles overall are led by Jyrin Steward and his 58 stops. Steward also lead the team in tackles for loss with 14.5 and has 2.0 sacks. Israel Whitmore is currently the team leader in sacks with 3.5.
In terms of takeaways, the Wonder Boys have recovered three fumbles and come away with seven interceptions. Three of the picks have been hauled in by CJ Palmer. The Wonder Boys also have two pick-six interceptions this season with Diego Sanchez having a 62-yard one against Northwestern Oklahoma and Steward a 15-yard one against Southwestern Oklahoma. The fumble recoveries have been secured by Jordan Thompson, Tyler Mosley and Whitmore.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Christopher Baldazo has assumed the placekicking duties for the Wonder Boys and in nine games he is 11-for-12 in field goals with a long of 48 yards against Arkansas-Monticello. He is also 14-of-16 in extra point kicks.
In the punting game, Logan Tymeson has been called upon to punt 45 times this season and is averaging 39.7 yards per punt.
In the return game, CJ Palmer leads the team in kickoff return yards with 159 yards on 10 returns. De'Rion Crooms is second with 119 yards on four returns and has the longest of the season of 42 yards.
COACH SHIPP
Kyle Shipp is in his sixth season as head football coach at Arkansas Tech and is in his fifth season of competition after the 2020 season was not played due to COVID-19. After a 3-8 season in his first year on the sidelines of his alma mater in 2019, Shipp would improve his team's win output each of the next two seasons with four wins in 2021 and five wins in 2022. This past season, Shipp matched that win total of five. Overall, Shipp carries a 21-32 record.
KNOW YO FOE
LAST GAME
Southeastern Oklahoma is coming off a 56-14 loss on the road this past weekend at No. 6-ranked Harding. The loss snapped a three-game winning streak for the Savage Storm.
THE COACH
The Savage Storm are coached by a familiar face in Bo Atterberry. A 1998 alum of Southeastern, Atterberry returned to his alma mater for his second stint as head coach ahead of the 2023 season. Atterberry's first stint saw him coach at SE from 2014-2018. In those initial five years, Atterberry's record was 33-23. Overall, he is in his 13th year as a head coach and has a 84-61 career record.
SCOUTING THE OFFENSE
Offensively, the Savage Storm feature a single-back spread offensive attack. Through nine games, Southeastern ranks fifth in the GAC in scoring average at 24.9 ppg and fourth in total offense with an average of 351.0 ypg. On the ground, the Savage Storm are averaging 173.1 yards per game to rank fourth in the GAC. Through the air, they rank fourth with an average of 177.9 yards per game.
The leading rusher thus far has been DJ Brown with 663 yards gained on 141 carries. He also is second on the team in rushing TDs with three. Jonathan Cobb is the second-leading rusher with 263 yards on 70 carries and leads the team in rushing TDs with four.
Under center, the Savage Storm have use Cergio Perez and Luke Hohnberger. Perez has played in eight games while Hohnberger has played in five. Both are completing right around 45% of their passes. Perez has thrown for the most yards and touchdowns of the two with 1,038 yards and six TDs.
The leading pass catcher is Kobe Jennings with 512 yards receiving on 29 receptions. He also leads the team in receiving touchdowns with five. Two other pass-catchers are over 300 yards receiving with Victor Taylor having 326 yards and Gabe Corona with 320. Taylor is second on the team in TDs with three.
SCOUTING THE DEFENSE
Defensively, the Savage Storm base out of the 4-3 scheme and currently rank fifth in scoring defense allowing 23.4 ppg. Their total defense is the sixth-ranked unit in the GAC as they are currently allowing 314.6 ypg of total offense by their opponents.
Collectively, the Savage Storm have forced 15 turnovers with 10 interceptions and five fumble recoveries.
Individually, the Savage Storm have a three tacklers with at least 50 stops and are led by Braedon Winters and his 67 tackles. Dylan Sebock leads the team in tackles for loss with 9.5 and sacks with 4.5. Michael Hookfin leads the team in interceptions with four and forced fumbles with three.
THE SERIES
This will be the 24th meeting all-time between Tech and Southeastern in a series that dates back to 1957. Overall, the series is led by Tech 15-7-1. Since becoming conference rivals as charter members of the Great American Conference in 2011, the Wonder Boys lead the series 8-4. In games played in Durant, Tech holds a slim 5-4 lead in the series.
