The University of Arkansas at Monticello Boll Weevils returned to Convoy Leslie Cotton Bowl Stadium on Saturday, September 23, facing their second consecutive American Football Coaches Association ranked opponent.
The Weevils fell to the #10 ranked Harding in last weekend's contest 59-19 on the road in Searcy.
The Weevils returned to Monticello after their first loss of the season, having to host the #4 ranked Ouachita Baptist Tigers in the AFCA Poll.
The Tigers are ranked #9 in the D2 Football Top 25.
The Weevils hoped to break a five game losing streak to Oucahita, having last defeated Ouachita at home on October 22, 2016 by a score of 34-26.
Ouachita Baptist won the opening coin toss and elected to receive the football to begin the contest.
Dylan Duhon’s kick would travel 64 yards to the Ouachita one where Carter McElhany would return the ball 15 yards to set up the opening Ouachita drive at their own 16.
Ouachita moved the ball to the Ouachita 27 for a first down, before UAM would stop the Tigers on the next two plays to give the Tigers a 3rd and 10.
Riley Harms connected with Connor Flannigan for 73 yards for the score.
Ouachita added the extra point to give the Tigers a 7-0 lead with 12:18 remaining in the first quarter.
UAM’s Kristian Gammage would receive the Ouachita kickoff at their own six-yard line, bringing the ball back 17 yards to begin the first UAM drive at the Weevil 23.
Demilon Brown would run on the quarterback keeper on the first UAM play of the contest, rushing for 20 yards to the Weevil 43.
After a five-yard gain by Gammage, Brown would connect with Nick Howard for a first down at the Ouachita 45.
Gammage moved the ball down to the 39 with Brown connecting with Isaiah Cross for a four-yard gain to the 35, but the Weevil drive would stall with the Weevils only going one more yard before turning the ball over on downs.
Ouachita moved the ball to the 50-yard line in two plays.
Ouachita would move the ball down to the 12, facing a 4th and 3 when Harms connected with Chris Hightower for the second Tiger score of the quarter.
Ouachita added the extra point to extend their lead to 14-0 with 2:51 left in the first quarter.
UAM’s next drive would result in a punt with Zachary Grisotti punting the ball 36 yards with the ball going out of bounds at the Weevil 42.
Ouachita moved the ball down to the 21 on their first play followed by a run to the 16.
Kendel Givens got the next carry to gain the 16 yards for the touchdown with nine seconds remaining in the quarter.
After the extra point, Ouachita led 21-0.
UAM’s Gammage would return the kickoff back 15 yards to the UAM 20 to end the quarter.
UAM’s drive would result in a punt with Ouachita’s drive ending in a missed field goal.
UAM would get on the board on their second drive of the second quarter.
After an incomplete pass, Brown connected with Cross for a 21-yard gain to the Weevil 41 followed by a 16-yard pass to LaCedric Smith to the Ouachita 43.
After moving the ball down to the Ouachita 15, the Weevils would lose yardage on a false start penalty to the 20.
Following an incomplete pass, Brown would be forced out of the pocket on a 4th and 15, carrying the ball 20 yards for the first Weevil touchdown with 5:01 remaining in the half.
Dylan Duhon added the extra point to cut the Tiger lead to 21-7.
Duhon kicked the ball off after the score to the Ouachita four where Carter McElhany would return the ball 96 yards to answer the UAM score.
After the extra-point, the Tigers had extended their lead back to 21 points, 28-7.
UAM started their next drive at their own 20.
Thomas Hayden carried the ball for seven yards followed by a completed pass from Brown to Cross for a nine-yard gain.
Brown would complete his next pass to LaCedric Smith for nine yards. Brown would gain 24 yards on the next play on a run to the Ouachita 31.
Brown would move the ball to the 20 before moving the ball to the Ouachita three with Arlie Lee getting the carry for the touchdown on the next two plays.
The extra point attempt was not successful as UAM cut the lead to 28-13.
Ouachita added the final score of the half as time expired with Gabe Goodman kicking a 27-yard field goal to give Ouachita a 31-13 lead at the half.
UAM was able to cut into the Ouachita lead in the third quarter.
Beginning their drive from their own 22, Brown would gain five yards on his first carry of the drive.
Brown completed his next pass to Lee for a 14-yard gain out to the Weevil 41.
Brown moved the ball into Ouachita territory after an 11-yard run to the Ouachita 48.
A holding call against Ouachita on an incomplete pass would give the Weevils 10 yards to the 38 and a first down.
On the next play from scrimmage, Thomas Hayden looked as if he would be dropped for a five-yard loss, but would lateral the ball to Cross who would take the ball 16 yards to the Ouachita 27.
On the next play of the Drive, Brown would take the ball in from 27 yards out for the Weevil touchdown.
The extra point was no good as the Weevils cut the Ouachita lead to 31-19 with 2:04 remaining in the quarter.
Ouachita added a score on the first drive of the fourth quarter to increase their lead to 38-19 with 14:20 left in the contest.
The Weevils would come back on their next drive to answer the Ouachita score.
Starting their drive at their own 19, the drive would take four plays being capped off by a 34-yard touchdown pass b=from Brown to Gammage.
The two-point conversion was not successful with the Weevils trailing 38-25 with 12:44 remaining in the contest.
Ouachita added the final score of the game on their next drive to set up the final score of 45-25.
Demilon Brown was 22 of 38 for 247 yards passing with a touchdown and rushed for 154 yards and two touchdowns.
Arlie Lee added a rushing touchdown.
Nick Howard led the Weevils in receiving with 62 yards with Kristian Gammage adding 41 yards and a touchdown.
The Weevils record fell to 2-2, dropping their second consecutive contest.
The Weevils will remain in Monticello this week with the annual Homecoming Game to be held on Saturday, September 30.
The Weevils will host the East Central Tigers who will enter the contest with a 1-3 record.
East Central defeated the Weevil last season in Oklahoma by the score of 16-0.
Kickoff for East Central at UAM is scheduled for 2 pm with the Homecoming activities and the crowning of the 2023 UAM Homecoming Queen to be held before the kickoff of the contest.
