Arkansas Tech University quarterback Arsenio Favor threw four touchdown passes to spark the Wonder Boys to a 53-21 Great American Conference victory over Northwestern Oklahoma State University at Ranger Field in Alva, Okla., on Saturday.
With the win, Arkansas Tech (7-2) remains one game behind Henderson State University (8-1) for first place in the GAC standings with two weeks remaining in the regular season.
The victory also allowed the Wonder Boys to reach the seven-win plateau in a season for just the ninth time in the last 44 seasons.
Two Arkansas Tech running backs — Brayden Stringer and Bryan Allen — went over the 100-yard mark in rushing on Saturday. Stringer carried 14 times for 155 yards, while Allen rushed 21 times for 148 yards and two touchdowns.
Three Tech players scored their first collegiate touchdowns on Saturday. Wide receiver J.V. Davis caught touchdown passes of 12 and 49 yards for his first two career touchdowns, while Terrez Hampton found the end zone for the first time on a 24-yard touchdown pass.
The third was Juan Ardley, a senior running back appearing in his second game of the season. He burst through the line for a 21-yard touchdown run at the 1:27 mark of the fourth quarter to complete the scoring.
Arkansas Tech finished with 372 rushing yards on Saturday, putting its team season total at 2,666. It is the fourth-highest single-season rushing total in Wonder Boys’ history.
Favor completed 11-of-16 passes for 163 yards. Cuá Rose made nine tackles and Trevon Gooden had eight tackles for the Tech defense. Nick Akins added seven tackles, three of which were for a loss.
Arkansas Tech led 32-7 at halftime by as many as 32 points early in the second half.
Back-to-back touchdown passes from Reid Miller to Horatio Smith pulled Northwestern Oklahoma State (3-6) within 39-21 at the 6:27 mark of the third quarter, but Davis’ second touchdown reception of the day and Ardley’s touchdown scamper allowed the Wonder Boys to pull away for a comfortable margin.
Miller completed 33-of-57 passes for 339 yards and three touchdowns for the Rangers. He was sacked six times.
Northwestern Oklahoma State committed three turnovers, compared to zero for Arkansas Tech.
The Wonder Boys will return home to Thone Stadium at Buerkle Field in Russellville to host Southwestern Oklahoma State University (6-3) in GAC action on Saturday, Nov. 7.
Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. Party at the Plaza, the pre-game tailgating celebration outside the stadium on Centennial Plaza, will begin at noon.
