ARKANSAS-MONTICELLO 38, ARKANSAS TECH 31
Arkansas-Monticello (1-0, 1-0 GAC) scored 28 fourth quarter points to capture the first conference win in the history of the Great American Conference with a 38-31 victory on Saturday in Monticello. UAM True freshman quarterback Hunter Leppert threw for 345 yards and four touchdowns in his collegiate debut off the bench. His favorite target in the win was senior DJ Stephens, who caught nine passes for 119 yards with two touchdown receptions, including the go-ahead score with 35 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. Arkansas Tech was led by freshman quarterback Preston Conder, who completed23-of-35 passes for 211 yards with two touchdown tosses. ATU (0-1, 0-1 GAC) took advantage of two UAM turnovers in the early part of the first quarter to take a 14-0 lead with 5:44 left in the opening period. The Wonder Boys took a 24-10 lead into the locker room at halftime. The win for UAM also highlights the debut for first-year head coach Hud Jackson.
HARDING 63, SOUTHERN ARKANSAS 14
Harding (1-0, 1-0 GAC) tallied 515 rushing yards to cruise to a 63-14 win over Southern Arkansas (0-1, 0-1 GAC) on Saturday in Magnolia. HU’s Kale Gelles led the way with 20 carries for 171 yards, averaging out to 8.6 yards per rush. HU’s Chaz Rogers also eclipsed the 100-yard mark with 15 carries for 110 yards, including three touchdown rushes. The Bisons scored 28 points in the opening quarter, seven in the second quarter and 14 points in each of the final twoquarters. Two of HU’s touchdowns were scored on interception returns – a 44-yard return by Jasper Bodiford in the first quarter and a 52-yard return by BJ Jones in the second quarter. The Muleriders reached the scoreboard with a pair oftouchdowns in the fourth quarter. Both SAU scores came by way of touchdown passes from Tyler Sykora, who finished the contest 10-of-25 through air for 84 yards. Mark Johnson paced SAU’s rushing attack with 17 carries for 91 yards.
EAST CENTRAL 31, INCARNATE WORD 21
East Central (1-0) scored 14 points in the first quarter and held off athird-quarter rally by Incarnate Word (0-1) to capture a 31-21 win on Saturday in San Antonio. The Tigers reached the scoreboard first on a 25-yard interception return for a touchdown with 7:26 remaining in the opening quarter. ECU quarterback Tyler Vanderzee and receiver George Robbins connected twice for touchdowns to give the Tigers a 21-7 lead with 10:18 left in the third quarter before the Cardinals pulled the score to within eight points with a touchdown toss from Paden Lynch to Jacob Love. The Tigers added a field goal and a touchdown on their next two possessions to seal the non-conference victory.