Weevils Lose 10 in a Row

Runnin' Aground — Scott Buisson pulls off a fake while John L. Williams hits the hole. Both Buisson and Williams rushed for over 100 yards in the 31-10 loss to OBU.

The University of Arkansas – Monticello Boll Weevils’ losing streak reached double digits with a 31-10 loss to Ouachita Baptist in Arkadelphia. The losing streak dates back to Sept. 16 of last year.

Penalties spelled disaster for the Weevils, committing 13 for 142 yards and the defense did not have an answer for OBU’s tailback Willie Hopson, who gained 181 yards on 41 carries and two touchdowns.

“We didn’t wrap him up well,” head coach Gwaine Mathews said. “We would have him at contact and we couldn’t finish it off. He just broke a lot of tackles.”

Both John L. Williams and Scott Buisson surpassed the century mark on the ground, gaining 150 yards and 122 yards respectively. Williams scored the Weevils lone touchdown.

For the second time this season, the Weevils failed to score after a great first quarter.

“What I think is teams are figuring us out offensively and we’re not making the correct adjustments,” Mathews said. “They are counteracting what we are doing and either we’re not staying good at what we are doing and they are getting better at defending it, or we’re getting out coached. I don’t think it’s the later, and it’s the first.”

After UAM took an early 10-0 lead, momentum switched with four minutes to go in the half when OBU quarterback Lance Parker capitalized on an 80-yard drive with a 33-yard touchdown pass to Julius Pruitt

Parker struck again before half, hooking up with Tony Taylor on a 25-yard touchdown pass after a 10 play 62-yard drive to take the lead.

The Weevils could not recover after losing the lead, giving up three sacks and only gaining 103 yards in the second half.

“It was a gradual turn, but when it turned, they pick up the intensity level and we didn’t match it with our offensive line,” Mathews said.

The Tigers continued the onslaught when Hopson scored his first of two touchdowns with 3:45 left in the third. He quickly found himself back in the end zone on the Tigers’ next possession on a 10-yard scamper.

With the offense going inept and the defense unable to contain Hopson, OBU ate up the clock in the fourth and added three more points with a 23-yard field goal by Zach Wright.

Buisson finished the day nine for 25 with 70 yards and an interception. Last year's starter Elijah McDonald saw action for the first time the season, completing his first pass for 22 yards, but failed to convert another attempt afterward.

Tim Harris led the Weevils’ receiving corps, catching six passes for 61 yards.

The Weevils return to action at home Sept. 22 when it faces Harding University for Parent/Family Appreciation Day.

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©The Voice 2007
Revised 09/17/2007 09:07:11 PM — http://www.uamont.edu/Organizations/TheVoice/5_3/obu.htm