Sports

UAM DEVELOPS CHEMISTRY IN MISSOURI S&T WIN

By Sean Saunders/OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF
Monday, September 8, 2008 9:44 AM CDT

MONTICELLO — Arkansas-Monticello coach Gwaine Mathews made his point clear Saturday night. The Boll Weevils grew more as a team in their 42-24 victory against Missouri S&T than in their 21-7 win against Arkansas-Pine Bluff to start the season.

Arkansas-Monticello's Clarence Denmark hauls in a 45-yard touchdown pass against Missouri S&T's Corey Taylor in the second quarter Saturday at Convoy Leslie-Cotton Boll Stadium. The Boll Weevils defeated the Miners 42-24 to remain unbeaten on the season. Special to the Commercial

Mathews pointed out that each side of the ball did something to correct the mistakes of the other side. When the offense turned the ball over, the defense came up with a key stop. When the defense gave up a big play, the offense responded with a score.

“Tonight, I think we grew,” Mathews said. “I think that in Pine Bluff, we were in such shock that I’m not sure of how much growing we actually did in the game. In this game, we had to fight, kick, scratch and claw a little bit.”

The two series represented the defense’s game-saving abilities. UAM (2-0) turned the ball over on its opening drive when the team failed to convert on a fake punt. Then the defense stood tall by forcing a three-and-out on the Miners’ first possession.

On Missouri S&T’s next possession, a 15-yard facemask set up a field goal to give the Miners the early 3-0 lead. Then UAM went on a nine play, 75-yard drive to take it first lead of the game at 7-3.

The most frustrating drive for the Weevils was an eight-play, 80-yard drive that ended with a fumble on the S&T 5-yard line. The defense then bowed up, forcing another three-and-out that led to a change of possession at the Miner 38 after a shanked punt.

“There was no panic,” Mathews said. “I think that in situations like that, this team came together a little bit, and that is going to help us out quite a bit.”

The offense then took the ball to the end zone in just three plays for less than a minute. The result was a 21-10 lead.

The team also grew in terms of the receiving corps. Against UAPB, the Weevils completed passes to just five receivers in an attempt to remain mistake-free in the passing game.

UAM completed passes to eight different players Saturday, including five players that caught at least two passes. Four players caught touchdown passes, including Jaleel Harris, a receiver who caught just two passes last year, and Spencer Garrison for his first score at UAM.

“Some of our young guys stepped it up tonight,” Mathews said. “Jaleel Harris stepped up big tonight. Spencer Garrison had a touchdown. We were spreading the ball around great tonight.”

One area where the Weevils didn’t see improvement was in the kicking game. Senior Nick Green missed his first two field goal attempts of the year, giving Missouri S&T confidence after holding UAM to no points on long drives. Green also sent one kickoff out of bounds.

“I think it’s all mental,” Mathews said. “I don’t know what to do. Nick Green is an athlete and a senior, but he’s gotta to get it fixed.”

UAM is 2-0 for the first time since 2000 when the Weevils began the season 4-0.

The Weevils get their first test of the season from the Gulf South Conference next Saturday in the form of Delta State. But in an odd bit of scheduling, UAM travels to Cleveland, Miss., for a nonconference tussle.

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