Boll Weevils Earn Rare Road Win at ATU

Jeremy Hampton scored two touchdowns and Jimel London intercepted two passes to lead the University of Arkansas-Monticello to a 34-16 Great American Conference win over Arkansas Tech University at Thone Stadium at Buerkle Field in Russellville on Saturday night.

The Boll Weevils (2-4) stopped a three-game losing streak and earned their first road win over the Wonder Boys (2-4) since 2001. It marked the second time since 1991 that UAM left Russellville with a victory.

Josh Marini’s 35-yard field goal and a 68-yard interception return for a touchdown by London staked UAM to a 10-0 lead with 14:19 left in the second quarter.

Bryan Allen responded for the Wonder Boys with a 41-yard touchdown run at the 9:57 mark of the second period, but that spark was extinguished by a cascade of 24 unanswered points from the Boll Weevils.

Cole Sears threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Hampton, Sears scored on a 2-yard touchdown run, Hampton scampered over the goal line from 34 yards away and Marini made a 34-yard field goal to extend UAM’s edge to 34-7 with 14:12 to go in the fourth quarter.

Arkansas Tech made it interesting on a 6-yard touchdown run by Manny Harris at the 13:21 mark of the final period and a safety that resulted from a bad snap on a UAM punt attempt less than two minutes later, but that was as close as the Wonder Boys could get.

ATU committed four turnovers in the game, compared to zero for the Weevils.

Allen finished with 22 carries for 127 yards, giving him 3,271 career rushing yards with five regular season games remaining in his senior season. He is No. 3 on the Wonder Boys’ career rushing list. Allen needs 140 yards to surpass Eddie Meador (3,410 rushing yards from 1955-58) for second place and 333 yards to break the school record held by Larry Brown (3,603 rushing yards from 1968-71).

Terrez Hampton made five receptions for 102 yards for Tech on Saturday, while KJ Reid notched 16 tackles and a quarterback sack.

UAM’s Sears completed 20-of-33 passes for 220 yards. The Boll Weevils possessed the football for 39 minutes, 13 seconds. ATU had possession for 20:47.

The Wonder Boys will visit Northwestern Oklahoma State University in GAC action at Ranger Field in Alva, Okla., on Saturday, Oct. 13. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. Radio station KCJC 102.3 FM and www.arkansastechsports.com will provide live coverage.