<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=03q7Nh_0wEKd2Rf00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=03q7Nh_0wEKd2Rf00" width="800" height="567" ><figcaption>UAM cornerback Tremarius Gray recovers a fumble by Arkansas Tech in the second quarter of a 24-13 win Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, in Monticello. (Pine Bluff Commercial/I.C. Murrell)</figcaption></figure>MONTICELLO -- The Boll Weevils achieved two firsts this season in winning for the first time in more than a month.The University of Arkansas at Monticello scored on their opening offensive and defensive drives -- something it hadn't done in its previous six games -- setting the tone for a 24-13 win over Arkansas Tech University on Saturday. UAM (3-4 overall and Great American) ended a four-game slide and surpassed its win total from last season with the victory.Arkansas Tech (4-3) saw a two-game win streak snapped.Quarterback Demilon Brown more than made up for the Weevils' thinned backfield due to season-ending injuries. The graduate student rushed 20 times for 204 yards and 2 touchdowns, putting an exclamation point on the game with a 57-yard jaunt to ice the game."The line up front and the defense played tremendous," Brown said after ringing the victory bell near Weevil Pond and getting a congratulatory hug from Chancellor Peggy Doss. "Just the coaching staff, I would say everybody working together doing their 1-11th. They're my team. Everybody did their job. They didn't quit fighting. I know as the game got close, normally they would give up and people would give up, but they stayed strong."Brown ran 38 yards for a touchdown on the game's fifth play, and UAM bolstered that lead to 14-0 thanks to Jordan Mansfield's recovery of his punt block in the end zone on Tech's first series."That first drive there was the key," Weevils Coach Hud Jackson said. "That's Demilon Brown. He controlled the entire drive. That's what decided the game."UAM held the Great American Conference's top receiver, Caleb Tanis, to no receptions while second-leading receiver Joyrion Chase had 9 catches for 95 yards. Isaiah Cross caught 2 passes for 15 yards for the Weevils, who heavily relied on the run despite missing Slade LeBlanc and Tyler Reed because of injuries in last week's home loss to Southeastern Oklahoma State. Brown completed just 5 of 14 passes for 25 yards.Tech totaled 323 yards to UAM's 283, possessing the ball for 32 minutes.Dontae Rhodes, listed as UAM's fourth-string quarterback, lined up behind Brown and carried 7 times for 33 yards, with a long of 12 yards."Josh Qualls called a hell of a game," Jackson said of his offensive coordinator. "The work he put in, (offensive line coach) Dallas Pruitt, the offensive staff this week, (Qualls) had a plan that was really, really good. ... Defensively, I thought (coordinator) Steve Wright and all the defensive coaches did a tremendous job."Christopher Baldazo made 2 of 2 field goals for Arkansas Tech, ending UAM's shutout bid at 21-3 on a 48-yard field goal with 8 seconds left before halftime.The Wonder Boys opened the second half with a 14-play, 75-yard drive that ended with Jared Long's 18-yard touchdown pass from Ethan Everson (23 of 43, 207 yards, 1 interception). The Weevils were held to just one first down on its next three drives combined before Baldazo narrowed the Tech deficit to 21-13 with a 35-yard kick at the 8:24 mark of the fourth quarter.Tech turned to Deuce Wise, who collected 31 of his 99 all-purpose yards on that scoring drive. Wise rushed 15 times for 81 yards.Brown rushed for 3 first downs on UAM's next drive, but was sacked back to the Tech 28 by Ben Stegall. That set up Dylan Duhon's 45-yard field goal at the 2:25 mark."What a kick by Dylan. How big of a kick was that?" Jackson said.The Weevils still needed a defensive stop and got one on Taylor Collins' interception near the Wonder Boys' sideline with 1:30 left. Trying to run down the clock, Brown found an opening and sprinted 57 yards to finally cap the win."Just grit and the fight to keep working," Brown cited. "It's been a tough four weeks for us, but we've been putting it together. We stayed close-knit and we put in the work together until it paid off."UAM will return to Arkadelphia to face Henderson State at 1 p.m. next Saturday at Carpenter-Haygood Stadium. Tech will welcome Ouachita Baptist at 2 p.m. in Russellville.</div></body>

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UAM tops Arkansas Tech, 24-13

MONTICELLO -- The Boll Weevils achieved two firsts this season in winning for the first time in more than a month. The University of Arkansas at Monticello scored on their opening offensive and defensive drives -- something it hadn't done in its previous six games -- setting the tone for a 24-13 win over Arkansas Tech University on Saturday. UAM (3-4 overall and Great American) ended a four-game slide and surpassed its win total from last season with the victory.