East Central University’s Lexus Jackson intercepted an Arkansas Tech University pass with 28 seconds remaining to preserve a 20-19 Tigers’ victory over the nationally 24th-ranked Wonder Boys in Great American Conference play at Norris Field in Ada, Okla., on Saturday afternoon.
Arkansas Tech (5-2) had put together a final drive for the ages before the interception. After recovering an ECU fumble at the Wonder Boys’ 1-yard line with 2:56 remaining, Arkansas Tech marched 84 yards in 15 plays.
Along the way, the Wonder Boys converted three fourth downs and hit a 45-yard pass from Arsenio Favor to Henry Wesley.
Two plays after the long completion to Wesley, Favor’s 49th and final pass of the day was intercepted by Jackson at the 6-yard line to effectively end the game.
Favor completed 22-of-49 passes for 260 yards. Tech’s Michael Perry made seven receptions for 49 yards.
ECU quarterback Rocky Moore completed 23-of-47 passes for 370 yards and two touchdowns. Dezmon Jackson made five catches for 125 yards for the Tigers (5-2).
Arkansas Tech jumped out to a 6-0 lead on a 44-yard touchdown run by Kristian Thompson at the 8:22 mark of the first quarter. It is the longest career run for the freshman from Dardanelle thus far. The point after touchdown kick failed.
East Central responded on its next possession, marching 76 yards in five plays to claim its first lead of the day. Moore hit Nathan Pickett for a 58-yard touchdown pass with 6:17 to go in the first quarter, and David Massuere’s extra point put the Tigers in front 7-6.
Favor notched a 1-yard touchdown run and Eric Perez added the extra point to give the Wonder Boys a 13-7 edge with 3:01 remaining in the first quarter, but a pair of scores by ECU late in the half allowed it to take the halftime lead.
Massuere was true on a 41-yard field goal try with 2:02 left in the second quarter to pull the Tigers within 13-10, and they moved ahead on an 8-yard touchdown pass from Moore to Randall Case with six seconds to go in the half.
ECU needed just 52 seconds to move 84 yards in nine plays on its go-ahead touchdown drive.
The only points in the second half was on field goals. Perez made 29 and 45 yard field goals for Arkansas Tech, while Massuere notched a 20-yard field goal for ECU.
The Wonder Boys will host Southeastern Oklahoma State University for a 2 p.m. GAC contest at Thone Stadium at Buerkle Field in Russellville on Saturday, Oct. 24. Party at the Plaza, the pre-game tailgating celebration outside the stadium on Centennial Plaza, will begin at noon.
