Late Tiger comeback falls short on Senior Day
Oct. 31—The East Central University football team remained snake-bit at home.
The Tigers had more total yards but came out on the short end of an 18-16 setback to Arkansas Tech on Saturday on a cool, wet Senior Day at Norris Field.
East Central fell to 3-6 overall and lost all five of its home games during the 2023 season. The Wonder Boys left town at 4-5. It's the first time since 2017 that the Tigers failed to snag a victory at Norris Field. That team finished 2-9 and had road wins over Oklahoma Baptist and Henderson State.
ECU nearly pulled off a big fourth-quarter rally.
The Tigers trailed 18-3 heading into the final period before running back Damuryion Montgomery capped a 12-play, 73-yard drive with a 2-yard touchdown run. Montgomery had an 18-yard run earlier in the drive, and receiver C.J. Moore followed with a 21-yard reception that got the Tigers close.
Kicker Tommy Yousey missed a PAT attempt that would have made it a one-possession game but the Tigers still trailed 18-8 with 12:50 left to play.
The Tiger D then stopped the Wonder Boys short on a 4th-and-2 rush and ECU took over at its own 31.
Facing a 4th-and-16 play from the ECU 40, ECU quarterback Jaiave connected with receiver Jace Wyatt for a 38-yard pickup to keep the drive alive.
Montgomery finished off that 15-play, 68-yard drive when he raced around the left side and dove into the end zone for the touchdown. Yousey's PAT kick trimmed the Arkansas Tech advantage to 18-16 with 2:07 left.
Yousey got a good bounce on the ensuing onside kick attempt, but the ball sailed out of bounds and the Wonder Boys were able to run out the clock and preserve the victory.
The Tigers grabbed the early lead on a 30-yard field goal from Tommy Yousey at the 8:39 mark of the first period that put ECU on top 3-0. A nice pass and catch from quarterback Jaiave Magalei to Dior Scott covering 33 yards down the right sideline got the Tigers close and set up Yousey's kick.
Arkansas Tech kicker Austin Hosier had just missed a 42-yard field goal try on his team's previous possession.
However, ECU was held scoreless until the late comeback bid.
The Tigers out-gained Arkansas Tech 331-281.
Magalei completed 13-of-32 passes for 227 yards but threw a pair of interceptions. Moore finished with four catches for 119 yards, including a nifty 49-yard grab. Scott followed with two catches for 42 yards.
Montgomery, the third tailback to enter the game for the Tigers, led the rushing attack with 46 yards on nine carries. David Hall added 43 yards on six tries.
ATU quarterback Taye Gatewood finished 15-of-26 through the air for 140 yards and two touchdowns. He connected with Matthew Rivera for a 14-yard score early in the second quarter that put the Wonder Boys ahead for good at 7-0. After the visitors recorded a safety when the ball was snapped over ECU punter Reece Conner's head, Gatewood connected with Caleb Tanis from 21 yards out and ATU had forged a 15-3 halftime lead.
Deuce Wise led the Wonder Boys' rushing attack with 74 yards on 14 carries.
Top performers for the ECU defense included Ameer Muhammad with 10 total tackles, including one for loss, and a sack. Prince Umanmielen added five stops, two of those for loss and also sacked Gatewood.
The Tigers have a tall task this weekend when they travel to Searcy, Arkansas to face No. 4 Harding. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. at First Security Stadium. The Bisons are coming off a 55 — 0 pounding of Southeastern Saturday in Durant.
