Arkansas Tech University head football coach Raymond Monica had a simple message for the Wonder Boys moments after their four-game winning streak to begin the season came to an end last Saturday.
“One game does not define a season,” said Monica in reflecting on Tech’s 35-31 loss to Ouachita Baptist University. “That’s the thing I told them. We’re going to learn from it and get better this coming week.”
The nationally 24th-ranked Wonder Boys (4-1 overall, 4-1 Great American Conference) will look to bounce back when they visit the University of Arkansas-Monticello Boll Weevils (2-3, 2-3) for a 3 p.m. GAC contest at Convoy Leslie Cotton Boll Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 7.
Radio station KCJC 102.3 FM and www.arkansastechsports.com will have live coverage.
Arkansas Tech approaches the midpoint of the 2017 season tied with Ouachita Baptist for second place in the GAC standings, one game behind front-running Southeastern Oklahoma State University (5-0, 5-0). The Savage Storm, which will face the Wonder Boys in Russellville on Nov. 4, is nationally ranked (No. 23) for the first time since 2007 and off to its best start to a football season since 1988.
“There’s a lot of football to be played, and a lot of people have to play each other,” said Monica. “The thing I like is we have 11 conference games and there’s a true conference championship for the team that goes through it with the best record. I like the set up we have, and I’m looking forward to the rest of the season.”
Three of Arkansas Tech’s next four games are on the road, beginning with Saturday’s trip to UA-Monticello.
The Wonder Boys have won their last three meetings with the Boll Weevils, including a 24-17 victory at Convoy Leslie Cotton Boll Stadium in 2015. It was Tech’s first road win over UAM since 2010.
Arkansas Tech leads the GAC in scoring offense (39 points per game), scoring defense (16 points allowed per game) and quarterback sacks (14) through the first five weeks of the 2017 season.
Applying pressure on the passer could come in handy this week. UAM quarterback Cole Sears ranks second in the GAC in passing (232 yards per game) and touchdown passes (12) this year.
Sears’ top target is wide receiver Jalen Tolliver. He leads the conference in receptions (6.6 per game) and receiving yards (114.6 per game). Tolliver caught 12 passes for 245 yards and five touchdowns in the Boll Weevils’ 56-46 loss at Harding University last Saturday.
“They do a good job spreading everything out,” said Monica. “(Sears) does a good job running the football, too. On the flip side, how well can we move the ball and keep it away from their offense?”
The Wonder Boys rank second in the GAC in rushing offense (224.8 yards per game). Tech established new season highs in rushing yards (286) and total offense (522 yards) against Ouachita Baptist last Saturday.
Arkansas Tech is 45-25-3 all-time against UA-Monticello, including a 4-2 record against the Boll Weevils since the GAC was formed in 2011.
