BETHANY, OKLA. – The East Central University football team earned its first win of the 2016 season, 23-6 at Southern Nazarene in Great American Conference action.

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The Tigers (1-2, 1-2 GAC) claimed the win largely due to field goals in the first three quarters by senior Jarod Haynes.  Haynes went 3-for-3 on field goal attempts for the day and is now 6-for-6 for the season, ranking him No. 1 in the NCAA standings.

Senior Brooks Holder went 8-of-13 for 157 yards in the game, with two touchdown passes.  Freshman Je'Qualon Wright was the leading rusher with 24 attempts for 131 yards.  Sophomore Trevon Jackson added 73 yards on 10 carries.

Senior David Moore caught four passes for 60 yards, while sophomore Tre Harvey added two catches for 58 yards and a TD.

On the defensive side, sophomore Ryan Rackley led a well balanced attack with six tackles (5-1), while senior Desean Watson and senior Lexus Jackson each garnered an interception.

ECU allowed just 137 total yards for the day, including just two passing, while recording 429.

The Tigers opened the scoring with a 35-yard field goal by Haynes, with 13:06 left in the second quarter.

The lead for ECU was short lived, as the Crimson Storm scored a TD less than three minutes later.  However, the Tigers blocked the extra point attempt to leave the score 3-6.

ECU kept fighting and tied the game at six, with 2:35 left in the half, on another field goal by Haynes.  This time it was a 34-yard kick.

The Tigers came out ready to fight in the second half, taking a 16-6 lead before the end of the third quarter.  ECU started the half with a 28-yard field goal from Haynes (8:48) and then added its first touchdown of the game with 2:03 left.

Holder connected with sophomore Trinity Benson for an 11-yard pass that capped off an 8-play, 52-yard drive.

Holder added a second TD pass to his record for the game, with a 54-yard pass to sophomore Tre Harvey with 9:23 left in the fourth quarter to put ECU up 23-6.

The Tigers will now return home to get ready for the 2016 Homecoming game, Saturday, Sept. 24 against Oklahoma Baptist at 6 p.m. at Norris Field at Koi Ishto Stadium.