There are several categories in which the Arkansas Tech University football program can continue recent and historical success this Saturday.
The Wonder Boys are 18-8 against teams from Oklahoma — including an active streak of six consecutive wins against squads from the Sooner State — during head coach Kyle Shipp’s five seasons at the helm of the ATU program.
Arkansas Tech has been especially tough on Northwestern Oklahoma State University. The Wonder Boys are 16-4 all-time against the Rangers, and ATU has won the last four meetings in the series. Tech’s last three wins over NWOSU were by an average margin of 27.7 points.
The Wonder Boys (2-2) and the Rangers (1-3) will renew acquaintances for a 3 p.m. Great American Conference contest at Ranger Field in Alva, Okla., on Saturday, Oct. 5.
Live coverage will be available on KCJC 102.3 FM, the EAB Media Group app and www.arkansastechsports.com.
It will be the first meeting between ATU and NWOSU since the Rangers hired former National Football League head coach Jerry Glanville as their defensive coordinator. Glanville led the Houston Oilers (1985-89) and Atlanta Falcons (1990-93) as part of a football coaching career that began in 1967.
“(NWOSU) does a good job getting pressure on the quarterback,” said Shipp. “They play a lot of man defense and bring six guys after the passer. It’s one of those games where you have to know where you are going with the ball and protect it the best you can. Coach Glanville has been doing it for a long time, and there’s a reason for that. He has always been a big personality and a fun guy to watch how he does things. It will be fun to be able to say you went up against a guy like Jerry Glanville when it’s all said and done.”
Ethan Everson is likely to be the ATU quarterback tasked with making those quick decisions against the Rangers’ defense.
Everson is in his first season with the Wonder Boys after transferring from Northwestern Oklahoma State. He was a part of the Rangers’ program from 2019-23, and he completed 137-of-256 passes for 1,529 yards and nine touchdowns while appearing in 22 games for NWOSU from 2021-23.
The Dallas, Texas, native played his best game of the season the last time Arkansas Tech visited Oklahoma. Everson completed 23-of-33 passes for a career-high 344 yards and three touchdowns while leading the Wonder Boys to a 26-6 win at Southern Nazarene University on Sept. 14.
“Ethan is a very energetic and emotionally-driven young man,” said Shipp. “I’m going to have to encourage him to relax and play in the system. I want him to have fun and take advantage of the opportunity. I know he’s going to be excited and amped up for this game, and I know he can play well in this game.”
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.
