Jacob Midyett’s interception with 48 seconds remaining secured a 16-14 Arkansas Tech University season-opening victory over the Bacone College Warriors in non-conference football at Thone Stadium at Buerkle Field on Saturday night.
Bacone quarterback Kyle Kuban had led a last-chance drive from the Warriors’ 24-yard line to near field goal range in the waning moments, but he was shaken up at the end of an 11-yard run to the Arkansas Tech 32-yard line.
Kuban was replaced by Ryan Morrow, who threw an incomplete pass on first down and had his second pass attempt intercepted by Midyett. The sophomore from Junction City’s first career interception gave the Wonder Boys their eighth season-opening win in the last nine years.
Arkansas Tech quarterback Tanner Marsh completed 28-of-37 passes for 319 yards in his Wonder Boys’ debut. The transfer from West Texas A&M became the first Arkansas Tech quarterback to pass for 300 or more yards in a game since Nick Graziano threw for 432 yards against North Alabama in the second round of the 2009 NCAA Division II Playoffs.
The bad news for the Tech offense was the Wonder Boys only scored one touchdown in five trips to the red zone (inside the opponents’ 20-yard line).
The good news for the Tech offense was that place kicker Trevor Pinkston was 3-for-3 on field goal tries. He connected from 23 yards in the first quarter, 34 yards in the second quarter and from 25 yards for the go-ahead points with 13:08 left in the fourth quarter.
Arkansas Tech’s lone touchdown of the night came on a 2-yard plunge by Ketrich Harmon with 20 seconds left in the second quarter.
The Wonder Boys went to halftime ahead 13-7, but Bacone took the opening kickoff of the second half and went on a 10-play, 67-yard scoring drive. Kuban’s 2-yard touchdown run and Jaime Moore’s extra point put the Warriors in front 14-13.
Pinkston’s field goal early in the fourth quarter and Midyett’s interception late in the final period allowed Arkansas Tech to improve its all-time record against Bacone to 4-0. Saturday marked the first meeting between the two programs since 1945.
Jonathan Keener led the Wonder Boys’ receiving corps with four catches for 100 yards. Logan Genz made a team-high 10 tackles for Arkansas Tech.
Kuban passed for 117 yards and rushed for 88 yards for the Warriors, who fell to 1-1 on the season.
The Wonder Boys will host the University of Missouri for Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) in further non-conference action on Thursday, Sept. 6. Kickoff at Thone Stadium at Buerkle Field is set for 7 p.m.
Click here to learn more about Arkansas Tech football.
]]>
