Three first-half touchdowns by Kristian Thompson sparked Arkansas Tech University to a 49-17 victory over Ouachita Baptist University in Great American Conference action at Cliff Harris Stadium in Arkadelphia on Saturday.
Wonder Boys quarterback Jabyes Cross completed 12-of-15 passes for 265 yards and three touchdowns as Arkansas Tech (3-3) earned its first road win of 2016 and its first victory over Ouachita Baptist in Arkadelphia since Oct. 21, 2006.
The 32-point margin of victory was the Wonder Boys’ largest against the Tigers since Nov. 9, 1996, when they defeated Ouachita 59-25.
Tech led 28-10 at halftime, thanks in part to a series of big plays by their sophomore running back from Dardanelle. Thompson scored on a 1-yard touchdown run and touchdown receptions of 40 and 16 yards from Cross. Of the seven times Thompson touched the football before the intermission, he reached the end zone three times.
Arkansas Tech kept its foot on the accelerator in the second half. Bryan Allen recorded a 2-yard touchdown run with 5:07 left in the third quarter to increase the lead to 35-10.
Any doubt as to the outcome was erased less than four minutes later when Tech’s Jandt Weary blocked an OBU field goal attempt and Cuá Rose returned it 71 yards for a touchdown. Eric Perez’s sixth extra point of the day gave the Wonder Boys a 42-10 advantage going to the fourth quarter.
The final score was set by a 32-yard touchdown pass from Cross to Michael Fine with 11:11 remaining and a 38-yard run by Ouachita’s Barry Bennett with 2:09 left.
In addition to his 265 passing yards, Cross rushed eight times for 60 yards and a touchdown. Allen was the Wonder Boys’ leading rusher with 14 carries for 98 yards. Tech’s Braden Stringer made two receptions for 79 yards.
Rose led all players in tackles with 12.
Ouachita Baptist (3-3) suffered just its third home loss in its last 15 games at Cliff Harris Stadium.
The Wonder Boys will host East Central University for a 6 p.m. GAC contest at Thone Stadium at Buerkle Field in Russellville on Saturday, Oct. 15.
