ARKADELPHIA, ARK. – The East Central University football team snapped its six game losing streak with a 24-16 victory on the road at Henderson State.
The Tigers (2-6 GAC) trailed the Reddies (4-4 GAC) 411 to 337 in total offensive yards, but made up the difference with an interception that led to a touchdown.
Junior
Rayjohn Austin-Ramsey went 14-of-22 for 243 yards and three touchdowns at the quarterback position. Senior
Devyn Williams caught two of the TD passes, recording four receptions for 62 yards. Sophomore
Dilland Gardner netted the other touchdown pass. Freshman
Ontario Douglas led the rushing charge, with 23 attempts for 72 yards.
Junior
Justin Hayden, senior
Camnik Campbell and freshman
RJ Williams led the defense with over 10 tackles each. Hayden netted 14 (11-3) tackles, a forced fumble and a pass breakup. Campbell added 12 (10-2) tackles and a pass break up.
RJ Williams earned 12 (8-4) tackles and snagged the interception and returned it 40 yards to set up the key TD in the game.
The Tigers wasted little time getting on the scoreboard when
Devyn Williams caught his first TD pass to put ECU up 7-0.
Devyn Williams caught a 34-yard pass that capped off an eight-play, 74-yard drive, with 10:05 left in the first quarter.
Gardner pushed the lead to 14-0, with 3:13 left in the opening quarter, when he caught a five-yard pass.
The Tigers pushed their lead to 21-0 at the start of the second quarter when
Devyn Williams earned his second TD on a 14-yard pass. The touchdown was the result of a four-play, 49-yard drive that started with the 40-yard interception return by
RJ Williams.
The Reddies got on the scoreboard, with 9:53 left in the second quarter, hitting a 25-yard field goal.
ECU responded with a 26-yard field goal by freshman
Bobby Schmidt, with 4:56 left in the first half, to take a 24-3 lead into the locker room.
Neither team scored in the third quarter, but in the fourth HSU tried to mount a come-back. In the course of five minutes, the Reddies scored two touchdowns to cut the deficit to 24-16, with 3:08 left in the game.
However, the Tigers were able to run out the clock with their final possession for the 24-16 win.
ECU will now return home for the final game at Norris Field at Koi Ishto Stadium in 2017. The Tigers will host Arkansas Tech, Saturday, Oct. 28 at 4 p.m. on the annual Homecoming and Senior Day.
