Arkansas Tech Football Helmet
UAM Football Helmet
ARKANSAS TECH
WONDER BOYS
4-2 (4-2 GAC) ARKANSAS-MONTICELLO
BOLL WEEVILS
2-4 (2-4 GAC)
Saturday, October 19 | 4 p.m.
Cotton Boll Stadium | Monticello, Ark.
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KICKING OFF
At 4-2 right at the halfway point of the season, the Arkansas Tech football team is set to hit the road this weekend and play at Arkansas-Monticello in search of their third-straight win. Kick-off for the game is scheduled for 4 p.m. from Cotton Boll Stadium in Monticello.
TECH(NICALLY) SPEAKING
LAST GAME
The Wonder Boys won their second-straight game last week as they beat Southwestern Oklahoma 29-19. In getting that win, the Wonder Boys out-scored SWOSU 21-7 in the second half. The Tech defense was a big part of that as they forced three turnovers and scored 14 points off those turnovers.
SCOUTING THE OFFENSE
Offensively after six games, the Wonder Boys are averaging 27.0 points per game and 351.5 yards of total offense. Their ppg average ranks fifth in the GAC, while their total offense also ranks fifth.
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 all six game and has made four starts. In his time on the field, Everson has thrown for 882 yards on 64-of-115 passing with six touchdowns and three interceptions. Their 219.0 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 75 carries and leads the team in net yards with 360. Luke Gall is next on the team in rushing yards with 318. He also leads in rushing touchdowns with four. Myles West has come on as of late in the backfield and is up over 150 yards and has two touchdowns.
Jordan Edington, who handles most of the short-yardage downs, has recorded three rushing touchdowns. Their 132.5 rushing yards per game ranks seventh in the GAC.
In terms of receiving, Tech has had pass completions to 12 different targets. Caleb Tanis leads the team in receptions with 26, yards at 388 and is tied for the team-lead in touchdowns with two. Joyrion Chase has gone over 200 yards receiving through six games and has a touchdown. Tight End Dayton Keller and wideout Jordan Jackson are tied with Tanis for the lead in receiving touchdowns with two.
SCOUTING THE DEFENSE
Defensively through six games, the Wonder Boys allow an average of 279.5 yards of total offense per game by their opponents and 25.3 points per game. The total defense ranks third in the GAC, while their scoring defense is sixth.
Individually, Tech has eight players that registered at least 20 tackles overall are led by Jyrin Steward and his 49 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 five games he is 9-for-10 in field goals with a long of 47 yards against Oklahoma Baptist. He is also 11-of-13 in extra point kicks.
In the punting game, Logan Tymeson has been called upon to punt 25 times this season and is averaging 41.3 yards per punt.
In the return game, Tyrique Jones leads the team in kickoff return yards with 90 yards on three returns. His long is 40 yards. On punts, he has returned three for 22 yards with a long of 16.
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 21-29 record.
KNOW YO FOE
LAST GAME
The Arkansas-Monticello Boll Weevils enter this weekend's game at Arkansas Tech at 2-4 overall and 2-4 in the GAC. They have lost four-straight games. In their most-recent game, the Boll Weevils were shutout at home against Southeastern Oklahoma, 27-0.
THE COACH
The Boll Weevils are coached by Hud Jackson, who is in his 14th year as the head coach at UAM. In his time with the Boll Weevils, Jackson has amassed a 46-92 overall record. In six different seasons, Jackson has led the Boll Weevils to at least five wins. In 2018, UAM won the most games under Jackson with six and appeared in the Corsicana Bowl that same year.
SCOUTING THE OFFENSE
Offensively, through their first six games of year, UAM has the seventh-ranked scoring offense in the GAC at 17.8 ppg and the sixth-best total offense with an average of 324.7 ypg. Through the air, the Boll Weevils are averaging 194.0 ypg to rank eighth in the GAC. On the ground, UAM is averaging 130.2 ypg to rank eighth in the GAC.
The leading rusher thus far has been Tyler Reed with 307 yards gained and two touchdowns. Quarterback Demilon Brown is second on the team in rushing yards with 277, but leads the team in rushing touchdowns with four.
In the passing game, Brown has completed 60% of his passes (105-of-174) and has thrown for 1,082 yards with five touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
The leading receiver for UAM is Isaiah Cross. He has 21 receptions for 285 yards and one touchdown. Royal Williams is not far behind with 238 yards receiving on 17 receptions. He also leads the team in TDs with two.
SCOUTING THE DEFENSE
Defensively, the Boll Weevils currently rank ninth in scoring defense, allowing 36.0 ppg. Their total defense ranks seventh in the GAC allowing 357.0 ypg of total offense by their opponents. Through the air, UAM ranks third in the GAC with 137.2 ypg On the ground, the Boll Weevils allow an average of 219.8 ypg and rank 10th in the GAC.
Collectively, the Boll Weevils have forced four turnovers with one interception and three fumble recoveries.
Individually, UAM's have six players with at least 20 stops and are led by Ervin Jones with 33. Alfernee Hankins leads the team in TFLs with 6.0 and sacks with 2.5.
THE SERIES
This will be the 80th meeting all-time between Arkansas Tech and Arkansas-Monticello in a series that dates back to 1928. Overall, Tech holds a 46-30-3 advantage in the all-time series and has an 18-17-1 lead in games played in Monticello. Since transitioning to NCAA Division II, the Wonder Boys and Boll Weevils have met 24 times previously and in that time, Tech leads 15-9-0.
