Wonder Boys host East Central for final home game of 2024

KICKING OFF
For the final time in 2024, the Arkansas Tech football team will take the field at home and play in front of its home crowd fans inside Simmons Bank Field at Thone Stadium as they are set to host East Central.
Prior to the 2 p.m. kick-off, the Wonder Boys will honor the careers of 20 of its football players in a special Senior Day ceremony. Listed among those that will partake in senior day festivities are: Matt Arnold, Joyrion Chase, Rondell Cole, Jaden Duhart, Jordan Edington, Ethan Everson, Austin Hoiser, Ayo Johnson, Dayton Keller,
Keshaun Lazard, Javon Love, Hunter Loyd, Christian Moody, Deundre Potts, Jason Richardson, Antonio Ruiz, Christian Stafford, Ben Stegall, Will Stegall and Caleb Tanis.
TECH(NICALLY) SPEAKING
LAST GAME
The Wonder Boys are coming off home loss to No. 5-ranked Ouachita Baptist this past Saturday afternoon. Tech fell behind early in the game and was unable to get their offense established enough to mount a comeback.
SCOUTING THE OFFENSE
Offensively after eight games, the Wonder Boys are averaging 22.8 points per game and 338.6 yards of total offense. Their ppg average ranks sixth in the GAC, while their total offense also ranks sixth.
In the passing game, the Wonder Boys used a trio of quarterbacks with Ethan Forrester, Ethan Everson and Hunter Loyd making at least one start. Overall, Everson has played in seven of eight game and has made five starts. In his time on the field, Everson has thrown for 1,089 yards on 87-of-158 passing with seven touchdowns and four interceptions. As a team, their 212.3 passing yards per game rank third in the GAC.
On the ground, the Wonder Boys have had 10 different ball carriers against this season. Deuce Wise has shouldered the largest load with 103 carries and leads the team in net yards with 467. Luke Gall is next on the team in rushing yards with 330. He also leads in rushing touchdowns with four. Myles West has come on as of late in the backfield and is up over 190 yards and has two touchdowns.
Jordan Edington, who handles most of the short-yardage downs, has recorded three rushing touchdowns. The Wonder Boys' 126.4 rushing yards per game ranks ninth in the GAC.
In terms of receiving, Tech has had pass completions to 12 different targets. Joyrion Chase leads the team in receptions with 31, yards at 391 and has one receiving TD. Caleb Tanis is next with 388 yard on 26 receptions and is tied for the second-most touchdowns with tight end Dayton Keller and wideout Jordan Jackson with two. Jared Long is the team-leader in touchdown receptions with three.
SCOUTING THE DEFENSE
Defensively through eight games, the Wonder Boys allow an average of 285.4 yards of total offense per game by their opponents and 26.8 points per game. The total defense ranks third in the GAC, while their scoring defense is seventh.
Individually, Tech has six players that registered at least 25 tackles overall are led by Jyrin Steward and his 54 stops. Steward also lead the team in tackles for loss with 14.5 and has 2.0 sacks. Israel Whitmore is currently the team leader in sacks with 3.5.
In terms of takeaways, the Wonder Boys have recovered three fumbles and come away with seven interceptions. Three of the picks have been hauled in by CJ Palmer. The Wonder Boys also have two pick-six interceptions this season with Diego Sanchez having a 62-yard one against Northwestern Oklahoma and Steward a 15-yard one against Southwestern Oklahoma. The fumble recoveries have been secured by Jordan Thompson, Tyler Mosley and Whitmore.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Christopher Baldazo has assumed the placekicking duties for the Wonder Boys and in seven games he is 11-for-12 in field goals with a long of 48 yards against Arkansas-Monticello. He is also 13-of-15 in extra point kicks.
In the punting game, Logan Tymeson has been called upon to punt 30 times this season and is averaging 41.2 yards per punt.

In the return game, Tyrique Jones leads the team in kickoff return yards with 90 yards on three returns. His long is 40 yards. On punts, he has returned three for 22 yards with a long of 16.
COACH SHIPP
Kyle Shipp is in his sixth season as head football coach at Arkansas Tech and is in his fifth season of competition after the 2020 season was not played due to COVID-19. After a 3-8 season in his first year on the sidelines of his alma mater in 2019, Shipp would improve his team's win output each of the next two seasons with four wins in 2021 and five wins in 2022. This past season, Shipp matched that win total of five. Overall, Shipp carries a 21-31 record.
KNOW YO FOE
LAST GAME
East Central is coming off a thrilling come-from-behind win at home against Southern Nazarene. Trailing by nine points heading into the fourth quarter, the Tigers would out-score Southern Nazarene 10-0 in the fourth quarter. Kicker Brandon Perez kicked the game-winning field goal from 54 yards out with seven seconds left to seal the victory.
THE COACH
The Tigers are coached by John Litrenta, who enters into his second season as head coach at East Central after being the interim head coach last season. No stranger to ECU itself, Litrenta first got to Ada in 2018 as the outside linebackers coach and then was elevated to defensive coordinator in 2020.
SCOUTING THE OFFENSE
Offensively, the Tigers feature a run and shoot spread offensive attack. Through eight games, ECU ranks eighth in the GAC in scoring average at 17.9 ppg and eighth in total offense with an average of 274.4 ypg. On the ground, the Tigers are averaging 115.9 yards per game to rank 10th in the GAC. Through the air, they also rank eighth with an average of 158.5 yards per game.
The leading rusher thus far has been Myles Featherston with 342 yards gained on 80 carries. Quarterback Sergio Kennedy leads the team in rushing TDs with six.
Under center, for the Tigers has been the aforementioned Kennedy. In eight games, Kennedy has thrown for 1,269 yards on 122-of-228 completitions and has six TDs and 16 INTs.
The leading pass catcher is Dequavious Bowens. Bowens has 271 yards receiving on 22 receptions and has scored three touchdowns.
SCOUTING THE DEFENSE
Defensively, the Tigers base out of the 4-3 scheme and currently rank sixth in scoring defense allowing just 26.1 ppg. Their total defense is the 10th-ranked unit in the GAC as they are currently allowing 382.4 ypg of total offense by their opponents.
Collectively, the Tigers have forced 16 turnovers with seven interceptions and nine fumble recoveries.
Individually, the Tigers have a two tacklers with at least 50 stops and are led by Chase Faber and his 66 tackles. Prince Umanmielen leads the team in sacks with 3.0 and is tied with Molinsky Desire in tackles for loss with 3.5.
THE SERIES
This will be the 26th meeting all-time between Arkansas Tech and East Central in a series that dates back to 1926. The series has been played in earnest since 2011 as both ECU and Tech were charter members of the GAC. Since 2011, ECU leads 7-5. Overall, ECU holds a 14-11 advantage in the all-time series. This will also be the 15th game played between the two in Russellville and ECU has a lead in those games, 8-6.