ADA, Oklahoma — The University of Arkansas at Monticello football team scored 15 unanswered points in the fourth quarter, but came up short in a Great American Conference road battle with East Central on Saturday night, falling by a final score of 21-18 at Norris Field.

Down by three scores midway through the fourth quarter, the Weevils (1-8) forced an ECU punt with 8:48 remaining, and followed up with an 11-play, 80-yard scoring drive capped by a one-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Hunter Leppert to senior receiver Cody Bordelon. Leppert found senior Trey Taylor on a two-point conversion attempt to pull the Weevils to within 10 points at 21-11 with 5:27 remaining.

The UAM defense forced another ECU punt on the ensuing drive, and the offense found the end zone two plays later on a 62-yard catch and run for a touchdown by Bordelon with 2:21 remaining in regulation.

The Weevil defensive unit came through once more on the ensuing possession by forcing an ECU three-and-out. UAM took over at its own 27-yard line and drove all the way down to the ECU 34-yard line before a game-tying field goal attempt by junior kicker Jamie McGee from 51 yards out came up short with six seconds remaining in the game.

East Central (6-3) opened each half with scoring drives, and UAM was forced to attempt a pair of field goals inside the ECU one-yard line, proving to be the difference in Saturday's game.

After a failed fourth-down conversion attempt by UAM on the opening drive of the contest, the Tigers answered with a four-play, 67-yard scoring drive, capped by a 17-yard touchdown rush to take the early lead.

McGee put the Weevils on the board for the first time just as the second quarter started with a 24-yard field goal to cap a 10-play, 92-yard drive. It was McGee's 31st field goal of his UAM career, moving him to six behind the all-time school record.

Neither team scored again throughout the remainder of the second quarter.

ECU opened the second half with a five-play, 64-yard scoring drive, capped by a six-yard touchdown pass to go up 14-3. UAM later responded by getting a first-and-goal inside the ECU five-yard line, but the Tiger defense forced a UAM field goal attempt. McGee's 23-yard attempt missed to the left.

The Tigers responded by posting their longest drive of the game - a 13-play, 80-yard possession that resulted in a 10-yard touchdown to put ECU up 21-3 with 13:58 remaining in the fourth quarter.

The Weevil defense forced two key turnovers in Saturday's game, both in their own end zone to negate an ECU score. The first was by junior Andre Adams at the 13:54 mark of the second quarter. The second was by junior Byron Miller as time was expiring in the first half to keep ECU's lead at 7-3 at the break.

UAM outgained East Central 457-415 in total offense, including a 394-221 edge in passing offense.

The Weevils have their final home game of the season next Saturday, November 7 against Southeastern Oklahoma State. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. at Willis "Convoy" Leslie Cotton Boll Stadium. Senior Day festivities will begin at 2:30 p.m.