Saturday’s 2 p.m. contest at Simmons Bank Field at Thone Stadium in Russellville will mark the final home game of the 109th season of Arkansas Tech University football.
There will be the traditional pre-game hugs and handshakes as each senior Wonder Boy makes the walk to midfield and his achievements are read over the public address.
But with Saturday’s game against East Central University and two subsequent road games remaining on the schedule, ATU football senior day 2024 carries with it the knowledge that this group of Wonder Boys still has work to do.
“We have a chance to play three more games and finish with a winning season,” said Kyle Shipp, ATU head football coach since 2019. “Most of our seniors have been here at least three years…some of them four years, some of them five and one for six years. It’s a very special class because a lot of them have been with me the whole time. I appreciate those guys, and I know they will fight their butts off to win this game. If we can win this one, I know what next week will mean to them.”
Arkansas Tech (4-4) will conclude its season with contests at Southeastern Oklahoma State University on Saturday, Nov. 9, and at nationally-ranked Harding University on Saturday, Nov. 16. The Wonder Boys must win two of their final three games in order to finish with a winning record for the first time since 2017.
If you believe in trends, there are a couple that work in favor of the green and gold.
Arkansas Tech has won eight consecutive games against opponents from Oklahoma, and the Wonder Boys have followed a pattern of two consecutive wins followed by two consecutive losses throughout this season. That means it is time for another two-game winning streak.
Getting that done would start with defeating an East Central (3-5) team that ranks among the Great American Conference leaders in turnovers forced (16) and features GAC freshman of the year candidate Sergio Kennedy at quarterback.
Kennedy has passed for 1,269 yards this season, third-most in the GAC. On the other hand, he leads the league in interceptions thrown (16).
“He has a really talented arm,” said Shipp when asked about the ECU quarterback. “He throws the ball well and has good velocity on it. He’s not scared to throw it, no matter what. Sometimes it’s a good thing, and sometimes it’s a bad thing. It’s part of the growing pains. When he’s having a good day, he’s really good. He has grown a lot when you watch from game one to now.”
Live coverage of the ATU-ECU game will be available on KCJC 102.3 FM, the EAB Media Group app and www.arkansastechsports.com.
Talk to you on the radio.
Tech Tidbits is a column written by Sam Strasner, ATU director of university relations and radio play-by-play voice for ATU football and basketball.
