Bison Edge Wonder Boys 19-15

A fast start by Oklahoma Baptist University proved too much for Arkansas Tech University to overcome in Great American Conference football action on Saturday, but not by much.

The Bison (1-1) scored the first 12 points of the game and held on for a 19-15 victory over the Wonder Boys (1-1) at Crain Family Stadium in Shawnee, Okla.

Trey Tully made a field goal, Oklahoma Baptist registered a team safety and Isaiah Mallory scored on a 1-yard touchdown run to stake the Bison to 12-0 lead with 2:43 left in the first quarter.

Arkansas Tech got on the scoreboard behind a 23-yard touchdown pass from Ty Reasnor to Henry Wesley on the final play of the first quarter. Eric Perez added the extra point to pull the Wonder Boys within 12-7.

Oklahoma Baptist responded immediately, marching 75 yards in 13 plays for another Mallory touchdown run. This one came from five yards out at the 12:31 mark of the second quarter, and after Tully made the extra point the Bison led 19-7.

A 32-yard field goal by Eric Perez and a 48-yard field goal by Matthew Shade allowed the Wonder Boys to cut Oklahoma Baptist’s advantage to 19-13 by the end of the third quarter.

Arkansas Tech came close to tying the score and possibly taking the lead on two occasions in the final period, but a pair of red zone turnovers — one on a lost fumble at the Bison 6-yard line and one on an interception in the end zone — turned away both scoring threats.

The Bison took a safety rather than risk having a punt blocked or returned with 46 seconds left to set what proved to be the final score.

After the ensuing free kick, the Wonder Boys drove to the Oklahoma Baptist 37-yard line in the closing moments. A last-second throw toward the end zone by Reasnor fell incomplete. Officials threw a penalty flag on the play, but later waived off defensive pass interference when it was determined the pass was uncatchable.

The Bison finished with a 345-329 edge in total offensive yardage. Oklahoma Baptist made 14 tackles for a loss.

Arkansas Tech will host the University of Arkansas-Monticello for a 6 p.m. GAC contest at Thone Stadium at Buerkle Field in Russellville on Saturday, Sept. 17.