www.arkansastechsports.com will have live coverage. Two games into the 2015 campaign, Arkansas Tech ranks among the top 10 teams in NCAA Division II in total offense (9th, 558.5 yards per game), rushing offense (5th, 344.0 yards per game), scoring offense (2nd, 56.0 points per game), red zone offense (T-1st, 100 percent), third down conversions (10th, 54.8 percent) and first downs gained (3rd, 60). Such production on its own would be noteworthy, but consider this: one season ago, the Wonder Boys ranked in the bottom 10 teams in NCAA Division II in each of those statistical categories. The Wonder Boys’ good start also compares favorably within the context of Arkansas Tech football history. Tech has out-scored its first two opponents by a margin of 112-21. That scoring offense figure represents the highest points total after two games in the 101-season history of Arkansas Tech football. Only twice in their history — in 1932 and in 1945 — have the Wonder Boys out-scored their first two opponents by a wider cumulative margin. “The biggest thing I’ve seen from this team is the way it gets itself ready to play,” said Arkansas Tech head coach Raymond Monica. “You can feel it on Friday afternoons during walk-throughs and meetings, and then again on Saturdays. It’s a long season, and we’ve only played two games, but you can tell how ready they are to go play. You’ll have good practices and bad practices. That happens. The thing you want to do is see the guys get better at what the opponent is going to do throughout the week, and so far that’s been the case.” UA-Monticello has suffered losses to Northwestern Oklahoma State University (52-31) and Southwestern Oklahoma State University (50-20) during the first two weeks of the 2015 season. The Boll Weevils’ early troubles can be traced back to turnovers. UAM has given the football away a GAC-high eight times — four interceptions and four lost fumbles — this year. The Weevils rank tied for last in the GAC in turnover margin at minus-5. UAM senior quarterback Hunter Leppert ranks fourth in the GAC in passing offense (279.5 yards per game) this season. He is sixth in career passing in Boll Weevil history with 4,063 yards. “(Leppert) throws the football extremely well and he gets it out quick,” said Monica. “He understands about the game and does a good job reading coverages. I’m very impressed with his leadership, durability and everything he brings to their team.” Saturday will mark the 73rd football game between Arkansas Tech and UA-Monticello. The Wonder Boys lead the all-time series 44-25-3, including an 18-13 home win over the Boll Weevils last season. Tech has won seven of the last nine meetings between the two sides. However, it has been five years since Arkansas Tech left Convoy Leslie Cotton Boll Stadium with a victory. UAM defeated the Wonder Boys at Monticello 38-31 in 2011 and 34-0 in 2013.]]>
