ARKADELPHIA – Arkansas Tech pulled out a 28-23 win over Ouachita Friday night at Cliff Harris Stadium to stay unbeaten while the Tigers fell to 1-2.
After trading opening scores, including a one-yard touchdown pass from backup quarterback
Jordan Walker to tight end
Garrison Jackson, Ouachita seized the lead in the second quarter on a 70-yard touchdown pass from
Nate TenBarge to Nate Stafford. ATU answered just before halftime when Jack Dawson hit Jared Long on a 14-yard strike to knot the game at 14.
The Wonder Boys (3-0) held control early in the third, driving inside the Ouachita red zone and cashing in with Dominic Feliciano's one-yard plunge. Ouachita responded with a 25-yard field goal by
Dax Jaggers, cutting the deficit to 21-17 heading into the fourth.
In the fourth, Tech put together a short drive capped by another Feliciano touchdown run, this time from two yards out, to extend the lead to 28-17. Ouachita responded by marching down and scoring on a five-yard run by TenBarge. The Tigers got the ball back late in the fourth, but an unsuccessful fourth down conversion attempt allowed Tech to run out the clock.
Ouachita ended up with the edge in total offense at 421-370— led by TenBarge's 299 passing yards and another 44 yards on the ground.
Chris Henley, Jr. was the leading receiver in terms of receptions with six catches for 41 yards. The Wonder Boys held an edge on the ground, 143 yards rushing to Ouachita's 121.
Malique Reliford and
Justin Crutchmer led the defensive effort with eight tackles each.
Kahlil Smith and
Joey Ortego each had seven. One of Smith's tackles was an 11-yard sack.
The Tigers are back in action next Saturday, September 27 on the road against second-ranked Harding. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at First Security Stadium in Searcy.
