A pair of fourth-quarter interceptions by Ouachita Baptist University made the difference in a 24-7 Tigers’ victory over Arkansas Tech University in Great American Conference action at Cliff Harris Stadium in Arkadelphia on Saturday afternoon.
The nationally seventh-ranked Tigers (5-0) scored 14 points as a result of those fourth-quarter turnovers by the Wonder Boys (2-3) to hold off an ATU comeback bid.
Arkansas Tech amassed 425 yards of total offense, including a career-high 325 passing yards by quarterback Carter Burcham.
Tech’s Bryan Allen carried 23 times for 104 yards, giving him 3,144 career rushing yards. He surpassed Travis Horn during Saturday’s game to move into No. 3 on the all-time career rushing list at ATU.
KJ Reid made 13 tackles to pace the Wonder Boys’ defense.
Ouachita’s Kris Oliver opened the scoring when he dove over the goal line from 1 yard out with 5:40 remaining in the second quarter. Cole Antley added the extra point and the Tigers held a 7-0 lead.
Antley drilled a 45-yard field goal with 43 seconds remaining in the second quarter, providing Ouachita with a 10-0 margin at halftime.
The score remained unchanged until a 2-yard run by ATU’s Tanner Gaines with 9:16 left in the fourth quarter. Tech’s lone touchdown of the day was set up by a 67-yard pass from Burcham to Terrez Hampton. Carson French added the extra point to pull the Wonder Boys within 10-7.
Tech got the football back with a chance to tie or go ahead, but Ouachita’s Hayden Lassiter made the first of two game-deciding interceptions at the 7:02 mark. He returned the interception 20 yards to the ATU 10, and two plays later Brockton Brown notched an 8-yard touchdown run. The Tigers led 17-7 with 6:17 to go.
Arkansas Tech remained steadfast, driving all the way to the Ouachita 5-yard line on its next possession. Then, on third-and-goal, Keandre Evans intercepted a pass and returned it 100 yards for a Tigers’ touchdown with 3:19 left. Antley’s third extra point of the day set what proved to be the final score.
Oliver finished with 21 carries for 110 yards for OBU.
The Wonder Boys will host the University of Arkansas-Monticello for a 6 p.m. GAC contest at Thone Stadium at Buerkle Field in Russellville on Saturday, Oct. 6.
