The University of Arkansas at Monticello Boll Weevils football season took another hit on Saturday with the Weevils hosting the twice beaten Henderson State Reddies.
Coming into Saturday’s contest Henderson State’s only two losses came to then nationally ranked #10 Harding University, the Bison are now ranked #4 in the the Division II AFCA Poll, and to Southern Arkansas that is also getting top 25 consideration at the national level thus far in the season.
The Weevils, on the other hand, came into Saturday’s contest having lost five consecutive games after starting the season 2-0.
Henderson State would win the opening coin toss and would defer to the second half.
Greg Hooks would take the Henderson kick at the UAM 27 yard line for no return to start the first possession of the contest at the 27.
UAM would get two first downs on the possession, the first coming on a Trey Carter run for seven yards and the second being a pass to Isaiah Cross for a five-yard gain.
The Weevils would be forced to punt on the drive.
Henderson would get one touchdown in the first quarter on an 18-yard pass from Andrew Edwards to Elijah George.
After the extra point, the Reddies led 7-0.
Henderson would begin to run away with the contest in the second quarter.
Henderson’s first touchdown of the second quarter would be the result of a 74 yard reception by Cayden Davis to give the Reddied a 14-0 lead after the extra point.
With 8:16 remaining in the half, Henderson extended the lead to 21-0 on a two-yard run by Edwards and an extra point.
The final score of the half came with :39 seconds on the clock on a 13-yard pass to Fredrick O’Donald from Edwards.
After the extra point, the Reddies took a 28-0 lead into the half.
After a scoreless third quarter, the Weevils would get on the board on their first possession of the fourth quarter.
After a 10-yard gain by Glen Cage for a first down to end the third quarter, Buddy Ryan would connect with Jordan Mansfield on a 42-yard touchdown pass and catch for the Weevil score.
Zachary Grisotti added the extra point to cut the lead to 28-7.
After a Henderson score extended the Reddies lead to 35-7, the Weevils would be forced to punt on the next possession.
Henderson State would begin their next possession on their own 45 and would advance the ball down to the UAM 10.
On the next play, Henderson would fumble the ball at the UAM one forced by Alfernee Hankins and recovered by Bycen LeBlanc who returned the football 99 yards for a Weevils touchdown, setting a UAM record for the longest fumble return in school history.
Henderson would go on to score one more touchdown in the contest for a 42-14 win.
With the loss, UAM falls to 2-6 on the season.
The Weevils will travel to Shawnee, Oklahoma on Saturday, October 28, to face the 5-3 Oklahoma Baptist University Bison.
Saturday’s contest is set to begin at 2 pm.
