MONTICELLO, Ark. – The University of Arkansas at Monticello football team lost No. 23 Henderson State University on Saturday at Cotton Boll Stadium in Monticello, Arkansas. The Weevils battled the Reddies down to the wire scoring a touchdown with 2:13 left to play, but were unable to recover the onside kick, losing the contest, 27-20.
 
The Weevils also honored the careers of 18 seniors that have been an integral part of the Weevils football program. Deontae Haynes, Maurshaud Melancon, Terry Bozeman, Kerenzo Credit, Christian Jefferson, Brandon Young, Tyler Staples, Josh Marini, Gabe Brace, Chase Crosby, Tavion Bass, LaTravis Daniel, Keaton Phillips, Frank Jackson, Sylwester Augustyn, Lajuan Ransom, Steven King, and Dustin Timm, all were honored in a pregame ceremony.
 
In the first quarter, the Reddies tallied the first score to complete 6-play 75-yard drive. On third and long in their own territory, Richard Stammetti hit Doug Johnson for a 51-yard touchdown, and the PAT was good to put HSU ahead, 7-0.
 
To conclude the first, UAM nearly got on the board following a Henderson State turnover. Once again on third and long, the Reddies attempted a pass that was deflected and picked off by Jonathan Scott. The Weevils followed by marching down the field 41 yards, however, on fourth and goal, Josh Marini missed a 24-yarder wide right. The Reddies took their 7-0 lead into the second quarter.
 
After starting the drive at the end of the first, HSU took its first play of the second into the endzone. Stammetti would toss a shovel pass to L'liott Curry for a 79-yards pass and catch for a touchdown. Following a blocked PAT, HSU led, 13-0.
 
That drive would actually be HSUs last one of the half that was not a three-and-out as the Weevils would surge for points of their own.
 
With just three minutes remaining in the half, the Weevils marched down field for a five-play, 57-yard scoring drive. To close it out, Demilon Brown hit C.J. Parham for a 38-yard touchdown. The extra-point was good and the Weevils cut the deficit to six.
 
Following another three-and-out for HSU, the Weevils ended the half on a momentum swing. UAM marched down the field to give Marini a chance from 43 yards with 2.7 seconds left on the clock. He would drill the field goal, and Arkansas at Monticello would go into the break trailing, 13-10.
 
It was clear to start the third that the Weevils were set on taking control of the game. After some back-and-forth drives on both sides went scoreless, UAM tied the contest up. Following a shanked punt from HSU, Devontae Dean helped put UAM in field goal range. Marini would nail a 30-yarder to knot the game up.
 
However, the Reddies would later respond with a score its own at the end of the third. They started the drive with 1:15 on the clock, and just two plays later, Stammetti hooked up with Curry once again for a touchdown. The PAT was good and HSU took a 20-13 lead.
 
To start the quarter, UAM almost got within four, but to conclude an 8-play 57-yard drive, UAM missed a 35-yard field goal.
 
More of a stalemate would later occur until the final three minutes of the game.
 
The Reddies tallied another touchdown with 2:25 to go, leading 27-13. But, UAM showed its fight with a quick scoring drive. Once again, Brown would team up with Parham: this time for a 65-yard catch. A few plays later, Brown hooked up with (you guessed it) Parham for an 8-yard touchdown. Marini hit the extra point to cut the lead to seven.
 
Unfortunately, the Weevils could not recover the onside kick or make a stop on defense to get the ball back, and Henderson State would end the game on a 5-play 27-yard drive, winning 27-20.
 
Some key offensive performers for the Weevils were Brown, Parham and Dean. Brown was 11-for-16 with 216 yards, 2 TD's and an INT. Parham recorded four catches for 122 yards and 2 TD's and Dean managed 29 carries for 84 yards.
 
On defense, Young had a solid day on the end with two total tackles, a sack and three quarterback hurries.
 
With the loss, UAM falls to 5-4 on the year, but had a heck of a season at home tallying a 4-1 record; its best mark at Cotton Boll Stadium since 2000.
 
UP NEXT
The Weevils will travel to No. 5 Ouachita Baptist next Saturday. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.