The University of Arkansas-Monticello Boll Weevils along with 3,186 fans and family members made it a family affair when they tamed the Ouachita Baptist University Tigers Saturday night, with a 27-6 victory during Parent/Family Appreciation Day. 

 

   Boll Weevil John L. Williams, a 6-foot-1 junior tailback from Gainesville, Fla., rumbled for 188 yards on only 28 carries. With an average of 6.7 yards per carry, Williams managed to carry much more to record books. His 188-yard performance stands as the most rushing yards in a game this season in the Gulf South Conference. Also, no other back has carried the ball more than his posted 28 times this season.

 

   However, he was not the only one who put in good work for the record book in UAM's last game. All-American senior punter Anthony Rodriguez, of Franklin, La., booted a season-long punt of 68 yards. Rodriguez punted the ball five times for a total of 241 yards, with four of them landing inside the 20 yard line for an average of 48.2 yards per punt.

 

   Williams and Rodriguez both gained players of the week honors with their respective performances in the contest. Williams leads the conference in rushing attempts with 66 and is third in yards and yards per game. Rodriguez leads the conference in yards punted and is second with his 38.9 average on his also second best 17 punts.

 

   The Boll Weevils opened the game with a drive of 49 yards before taking the lead on a 33-yard field goal from sophomore kicker, Ryan Guardia of Hurly, Miss. The score after one quarter of play was 3-0 in favor of UAM.

 

   The Tigers began the second quarter on the UAM 1-yard line. With third down and goal, Willie Hopson of OBU rushed for a loss of a yard forcing an OBU field goal try. The kick was good from 19 yards out only 42 seconds into the second period.

 

   Later in the quarter, Williams scored on a rush from 17 yards out to bring UAM to another lead at 10-3. After a 20-yard field goal from OBU, the halftime score read 10-6 with UAM going in with the lead. 

 

   At the beginning of the third quarter, UAM got right back to business by forcing the Tigers to punt after gaining only one first down. The Boll Weevils took advantage and capitalized on the forced punt and scored another touchdown. This score came at the hands of UAM offense borrowing senior defensive end Brandon Mayweather and passing to the Crossett native for the two-yard touchdown reception.

 

   After back and forth punts, Boll Weevil Scooter White, of Lakeland, Fla., intercepted an OBU pass to bring the offense back to the field. UAM ran one play for a first down before the close of the quarter. The score at the end of three quarters was 17-6, UAM.

 

   At the start of the fourth quarter, UAM ran 11 plays, including a one-yard conversion run on fourth down for Matt Fryfogle of Lucedale, Miss. UAM is the only team in the conference with 100 percent on fourth down conversions gained. Eventually UAM had to settle for a 31-yard kick from Guardia to push the Boll Weevils to a 20-6 lead of the OBU Tigers.

 

   On the last UAM drive, the Boll Weevils kept the ball on the ground in an effort to run out the remaining 4:39 left in the game. In that time left came Williams longest run of the night. On second down with six yards to gain, at the UAM 46-yard line, OBU called a timeout with 2:15 left. Out of the timeout, Williams ran for a 44-yard gain. With 1:09 left in the game, Williams got the call again for a five-yard touchdown run bringing the score to 27-6, which would also go on the be the final.