Arkansas Tech’s A.J. Whitmore was named Great American Conference special teams player of the week by the league office on Monday, Oct. 24.
Whitmore had an 85-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to help the Wonder Boys defeat the Southeastern Oklahoma State Savage Storm 28-16 on Saturday night.
A senior from Nashville, Whitmore is the first Arkansas Tech player since Danny Spencer in 1987 to have two kickoff returns for a touchdown in the same season. Whitmore had a 93-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against Delta State on Sept. 17.
Not only did Whitmore return a kickoff for a touchdown, he made a play that probably stopped Southeastern Oklahoma State from doing the same thing.
SOSU’s Keelen Green had a full head of steam on a kickoff return late in the second quarter, but Whitmore was able to stop him short of midfield and halt what was a promising play for the Savage Storm. SOSU ultimately punted on that possession.
The win allowed the Wonder Boys (2-6 overall, 1-2 GAC) to earn their first Great American Conference football win, achieve a Homecoming victory for the fifth consecutive year and stop a five-game losing streak.
Arkansas Tech will host East Central University (Okla.) for a 2 p.m. GAC game at Thone Stadium at Buerkle Field in Russellville on Saturday, Oct. 29.
Click here to learn more about Wonder Boys football.
]]>
