Oklahoma Baptist University quarterback Preston Haire accumulated 416 yards of total offense on Saturday night to lead the Bison to a 43-31 Great American Conference win over Arkansas Tech University at Thone Stadium at Buerkle Field in Russellville.
Haire completed 20-of-37 passes for 267 yards and three touchdowns while also rushing five times for 149 yards and two touchdowns.
His play allowed Oklahoma Baptist to earn its first road win over Arkansas Tech since Oct. 4, 1929.
It was all Wonder Boys through the first 29 minutes and 58 seconds. Mason Cunningham delivered a 3-yard touchdown pass to Tucker Kennedy, Deon Simmons had touchdown runs of 16 and 3 yards and Jesus Zizumbo made a 32-yard field goal to give Arkansas Tech a 24-7 lead late in the second quarter.
Everything changed in the final two seconds of the first half. After time had expired, the officials called for two seconds to be placed back on the clock.
Haire used those two extra seconds to throw a 29-yard touchdown pass and cut the Wonder Boys’ advantage to 24-13 at halftime.
With that, the momentum permanently shifted in Oklahoma Baptist’s favor.
The Bison (3-2) rattled off 36 unanswered points, including two more touchdown passes by Haire and touchdown runs of 50 and 84 yards by the Oklahoma Baptist quarterback, to build a 43-24 margin with 2:44 left in the fourth quarter.
Arkansas Tech (0-5) set the final score with a 5-yard touchdown pass from Cunningham to Wallace Foote and a Zizumbo extra point at the 1:27 mark.
Cunningham finished 26-of-47 passing for 265 yards and two touchdowns. Trey Smith caught six passes for 76 yards and Drew Wade made six receptions for 59 yards for the Wonder Boys.
Josh Cornell made nine receptions for 143 yards and a touchdown for the Bison. Oklahoma Baptist’s Josh Arnold was credited with a game-high 17 tackles.
Arkansas Tech will visit Southern Nazarene University for a 1 p.m. GAC contest in Bethany, Okla., on Saturday, Oct. 12. Radio station KCJC 102.3 FM and www.arkansastechsports.com will provide live coverage.
