MONTICELLO — The University of Arkansas at Monticello football team scored with 19 seconds remaining to cut its deficit down to one touchdown and recovered the ensuing onside kickoff attempt, but a flag for an illegal formation nullified the recovery and ultimately resulted in a 24-17 loss to Arkansas Tech on Saturday at home.
Senior quarterback Hunter Leppert found senior receiver Cody Bordelon over the middle for a 14-yard touchdown pass for the game's final score with 19 seconds remaining. That touchdown came following a fourth-down stop at midfield by the Weevil defense two minutes earlier.
On the kickoff following the Bordelon touchdown, UAM's Byron Miller recovered an onside kick by junior kicker Jamie McGee that would have given UAM one more possession and a chance of tying the game. However, the Weevils were flagged for not having enough players on the starting line, which is the 30-yard line in college football.
The penalty was five yards from the previous spot and re-kick, but McGee's attempt that time was a line drive out of bounds, giving the Wonder Boys the ball inside the UAM 45-yard line. Tech took a knee to end the game since the Weevils had no timeouts remaining.
Tech (3-0, 3-0 Great American Conference) started the game's scoring when Logan Genz forced a fumble on UAM's first drive and returned that fumble 67-yards for a touchdown to give the Wonder Boys an early lead.
The Weevils (0-3, 0-3 GAC) answered 14 plays and 58 yards later on a 34-yard field goal by McGee. That 7-3 Tech lead stood through the first quarter.
UAM took its first and only lead of the game at the 8:45 mark of the second quarter on a 73-yard deep touchdown pass down the middle of the field from Leppert to senior Trey Taylor.
McGee's extra point gave UAM a 10-7 advantage, but the Wonder Boys reciprocated with a 13-play, 82-yard drive capped with a seven-yard touchdown run by quarterback Arsenio Favor to regain the lead with 3:41 remaining in the third quarter.
Favor's touchdown run started a stretch of 17 straight points for Tech to give the Wonder Boys a 24-10 advantage with 5:40 remaining in the game.
Prior to Bordelon's touchdown reception with 19 seconds remaining, Leppert connected with sophomore Jalen Tolliver on a comeback route that Tolliver turned into 60 yards after breaking free from the initial defender.
Despite having 24 less offensive plays than Tech, the Weevils were only outgained by 16 yards (305-289). Tech won the rushing battle 229-34, while UAM dominated the air 255-76.
The Weevil defense had a season-high four quarterback sacks and 12 tackles for a loss of a combined 45 yards. Senior Ofisa Kose paced the defense with a game-high 13 tackles. Senior Jabari Mathieu added 11 total tackles and two quarterback sacks.
UAM is on the road for the next two weeks, starting next Saturday, September 26 at Harding in a 6 p.m. kickoff.
