Box Score ALVA, OKLA. – In the first game between the East Central University football team and Northwestern Oklahoma State in Alva, Okla. in over 14 years, the Tigers (4-2, 4-2 GAC) claimed a dominate 66-7 win over the Rangers (1-6, 1-6 GAC) in Great American Conference action.
ECU jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, holding a 24-7 lead at the half and adding 42 more points in the second half for the 66-7 final.
The Tigers saw a well-rounded effort from both sides of the ball. Junior
Jamal Hall led the rushers with 112 yards and a touchdown, while junior
Nathan Pickett was the top receiver with 88 yards and a TD. Junior
Spencer Bond threw for 230 yards and three touchdowns, while junior
Rocky Moore added 100 yards and a TD.
On the defensive side of the ball, ECU was paced by junior
Carter Grigg with five (3-2) total tackles and 1.5 sacks for five yards. Senior
Daniel Holland added 5 (2-3) total tackles, 1.0 sacks (1 yard) and 2.0 TFL (2 yards).
The Tigers got the scoring started at 5:26 in the first quarter when redshirt sophomore
David Massuere hit a 34-yard field goal to put ECU up 3-0 after a nine-play 37-yard drive.
On the next drive, the Rangers (1-6, 1-6 GAC) were going to go four-and-out, but the Tigers blocked the punt and returned it for a touchdown. The punt was blocked by sophomore
Lexus Jackson and returned by junior
Cole Weber for a 10-0 lead with 3:33 left in the first.
It didn't take long for the Tigers to add to their advantage in the second quarter, as they scored with 14:24 left in the stanza. Junior
Nathan Pickett caught a 56-yard pass from Bond for a TD and a 17-0 lead.
NWOSU got on the scoreboard with 9:20 left with a touchdown to cut the deficit to 17-7.
ECU finished the scoring in the second quarter with a 20-yard pass to junior
Juwan Dotson with just 1:26 left to play and a 24-7 lead.
After forcing the Rangers to a three-and-out in the first possession of the second half, Bond opened up the scoring with a 54-yard touchdown run to give the Tigers a 31-7 advantage.
The lead was pushed out 38-7 when senior
Michael Allen caught a 28-yard pass with 11:09 left in the third.
The final scoring drive in the third quarter came when sophomore
Seth Handley rushed in from 15-yards out for his first TD of the season and a 45-7 score.
ECU struck three more times in the fourth quarter. Junior
Jamal Hall claimed an 11-yard rushing touchdown with 14:55 left. Redshirt freshman
Dezmon Jackson added a 54-yard passing TD with 12:50 remaining and Weber added his second defensive scoring play of the game with 2:32 left after a blocked field goal attempt by Massuere. Weber picked up the loose ball and ran in for a touchdown and the final 67-7.
The Tigers will now return to Norris Field after a month away from home for the 2014 Homecoming game against Southwestern Oklahoma State. The packed filled day will wrap up with the 4 p.m. kickoff at Norris Field, Saturday, Oct. 25.
