UAM Weevils Beat Southern Nazarene for Homecoming Win

UAM Weevils Beat Southern Nazarene 22-19

MONTICELLO – The University of Arkansas at Monticello football team forced three turnovers and recorded eight quarterback sacks in a 22-19 homecoming victory over Southern Nazarene on Saturday at Convoy Leslie Cotton Boll Stadium.

The eight quarterback sacks is highest team total in the Great American Conference this season and the second highest all-time in the three-year history of the league.

Freshman Jamie McGee became the school’s new record holder in the single-season field goal category by nailing a pair of field goals in the win, starting with a 42-yarder to tie the game at the 8:17 mark of the first quarter. He connected on a 26-yard attempt late in the third quarter to push him ahead of Kevin Craft’s 15 made field goals in the 1999 season. McGee is now 16-of-18 on field goal attempts this season and continues to lead all NCAA Division II kickers with his average of two made field goals per game.

UAM (5-3, 4-3 GAC) rattled off 17 straight points in the first quarter following an 27-yard field goal from SNU’s Ian Sanders to open the scoring on the game’s opening drive after UAM fumbled the opening kickoff. McGee’s 42-yard field goal started the run, followed by an 18-yard touchdown pass from sophomore Cody Trimble to junior Ian Levine at the 3:02 mark of the first quarter and a 61-yard punt return for a touchdown from junior Ivory Washington.

The second half scoring consisted off an eight-yard touchdown pass from SNU’s Trey Hills to Cass White, followed by a blocked extra point attempt by UAM and returned by junior Anthony Hughes to the other end zone for two points. That play left UAM with a 19-9 lead at halftime. Senior Calvin Ursin was responsible for the blocked kick.

SNU’s Ian Sanders started the second-half scoring with a 26-yard field goal to cap a 10-play, 56-yard drive that used just over four minutes. McGee answered with his 26-yarder to put the Weevils up 22-12 with 1:50 remaining in the third quarter.

The Crimson Storm (0-8, 0-8 GAC) capped the scoring with a one-yard touchdown plunge by Trey Knowles with 6:40 remaining in regulation to end a seven-play, 39-yard drive set up by a 25-yard punt from junior Reagan Wise, who was kicking from the UAM goal line.

Both offenses stalled for the next four combined possessions to seal UAM’s fifth home victory of the season.

SNU outgained UAM 339-223. UAM totaled 98 rushing yards on 33 carries. UAM went with one quarterback for the first time this season, with Cody Trimble completing 20-of-25 passes for 125 yards and one touchdown.

Junior Louis Curry paced the UAM defense with nine tackles, including 2.5 sacks for a combined loss of 22 yards. Junior Keith Reynolds and sophomore Demarcus Robinson each added eight tackles. George Alvarez, Jalen Garmon, Davis Stephens, Shittu Salami and Calvin Ursin all had at least a half sack in the win. Junior Alex Black, senior Deshaun Thomas and junior Mike Early all came up with interceptions.

The Weevils are back at Convoy Leslie Cotton Boll Stadium next Saturday, November 2 for the Senior Day and the final home game of the season. Making the trip to Monticello is fifth-ranked Henderson State, who defeated Harding onSaturday 45-30 to improve to 8-0 overall and 7-0 in league games. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m.