ADA, Okla. -- The University of Arkansas at Monticello rallied from an early 20-point deficit to score 21-straight and take a third quarter lead before the East Central University Tigers fought back in the fourth quarter for a 29-27 victory in Great American Conference action Sept. 15 at ECU's Norris Field.

UAM out-gained the Tigers 503 to 177, but six turnovers proved costly.

East Central (1-2, 1-2 GAC) got on the board early after Jonathan Mendez intercepted a Cole Sears pass and returned it 29 yards to the Weevils' 3-yard-line on the second play of the game. Two plays later, after a four-yard loss, Rayjohn Austin-Ramsay found Dilland Gardner for a 7-yard touchdown and 7-0 lead after Bobby Schmidt's PAT with 13:24 to play in the opening quarter.

On the first possession of the second quarter, ECU recovered a muffed punt at the UAM 21 and once again turned a turnover into points. On first-and-goal, Trinity Benson scored on a 2-yard run. Arkansas-Monticello drove down field but stalled at the ECU 24-yard-line on the ensuing possession. ECU responded with its third touchdown on an 87-yard pass from Austin-Ramsay to Reuben Armstrong. The Weevils blocked the extra point, keeping it 20-0 Tigers with 8:05 to play in the opening half.

Arkansas-Monticello dialed up a deep ball of its own two plays later to get on the board 7-0 - a 67-yard pass from Sears to DeAndre Washington. The Weevils' defense and forced a punt to quickly get the ball back. Sears then used his legs and arm to advance UAM downfield, first on a 32-yard run, followed by a 47-yard pass to C.J. Parham to the Tigers' 1. Sears capped the four-play, 80-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run, to pull within six points, 20-14, with 3:16 to play in the second quarter.

ECU looked to stop the Weevils' run with a 47-yard field goal before the half, but Easton Seidl blocked Schmidt's attempt. UAM also tried a late field goal, but Josh Marini missed wide left from 41 yards out to send the game into halftime with ECU in front, 20-14.

UAM fumbled on its first play of the third quarter, but the held the Tigers to a short possession. Midway through the third, Josh Day helped advance the Weevils downfield, picking up 37 yards on seven carries to help eat up six minutes of clock. Sears capped the 14-play, 90-yard drive with a 13-yard touchdown pass to Washington. Josh Marini's extra point gave UAM a 21-20 lead with 2:52 to play in the quarter.

The score held until Jamil Young picked off a Sears pass and returned it 30 yards for a Tigers lead-changing touchdown three minutes into the fourth quarter. The 2-point pass failed, as ECU went up 26-21. Schmidt later extended the lead to 29-21 with a 30-yard field goal.

Sears was 3-of-4 for 49 yards on the next drive to move UAM into the 5. Day, who had 87 yards rushing in the game, finished the 75-yard drive with a pair of runs, the latter a 2-yard touchdown to make it 29-27 ECU. Sears' 2-point pass to Washington fell incomplete with 3:49 to play.

The Weevils' defense held strong and fast again, giving the ball back to its offense with 2:33 to play, but UAM lost its fourth fumble of the game, recovered by ECU's Austin Shelton. The Tigers used four plays to run out the clock.

Sears finished the day with 23 yards rushing and 343 yards on 18-of-35 passing and two TDs, but also threw two interceptions. Washington, the target of both touchdown passes, led the receivers with 142 yards on five catches, including the 67-yard TD in the second quarter. Juwan Davis (4 receptions, 62 yards) and Parham (2 receptions, 56 yards) also helped lead the Weevils' air attack.

The Tigers' offense was all passing for the game, as Austin-Ramsay collected 203 yards, completing 14-of-24 pass attempts. The Weevils held ECU to -36 on the ground.

UAM sacked ECU's quarterback six times, led by Curtis Williams' two and one each from Brandon Young, Brandon Potier and Anthony Walker. Deontae Haynes and C.J. Everett combined for a sack. Williams and Young led the team with eight and six total tackles, respectively.

Arkansas-Monticello (1-2, 1-2 GAC) will return home to Willis "Convoy" Leslie Cotton Boll Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 22 to host Southeastern Oklahoma State in GAC action. Kickoff is at 1 p.m. on Parent and Family Appreciation Day. The game will be broadcast live on KHBM 93.7 and the UAMSports YouTube channel.