MONTICELLO, Ark. – East Central University football passed its first road test of the season with flying colors, pulling away in the second half for a convincing 38-13 win over Arkansas-Monticello on Saturday afternoon inside Convoy Leslie Cotton Boll Stadium.
 
The win marks ECU's second straight and improves the Tigers to 2-0 on the season as they return home next Saturday, Sept. 21, to host Southern Nazarene at Koi Ishto Stadium. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. as ECU looks to build on its early-season momentum and continue its strong start to GAC play.
 
ECU wasted no time asserting control, scoring touchdowns on its first two drives. Quarterback Sergio Kennedy opened the scoring with a 6-yard touchdown run midway through the first quarter, then followed it up with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Kaden Jones, giving the Tigers a 14-0 lead.
 
UAM managed to cut into the lead with a pair of second-quarter scores, but ECU added a long 46-yard field goal by Alexander McGregor to stay ahead. The Tigers held a 17-13 edge going into halftime.
 
After a scoreless third quarter, the Tigers took over in the final 15 minutes. Cade Searcy ignited the offense with a 56-yard touchdown run, and less than two minutes later, Quincy Thompson added a 5-yard touchdown to push the lead to 31-13.
 
With under a minute to play, JaQuarion Turner put an exclamation point on the victory, racing 40 yards for a touchdown to seal the game.
 
Searcy led the ground attack with 101 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries, marking his second 100-yard performance of the season, while Jaquarion Turner added 89 yards and a score on just 8 carries as ECU piled up 245 rushing yards and four touchdowns on the ground.
 
Kennedy was efficient in the passing game, completing 12 of 18 passes for 113 yards and a touchdown, while also adding 39 rushing yards and another score on the ground.
 
Conner Combs led the receiving corps with 4 catches for 50 yards, including a long of 37, while Jones hauled in a 10-yard touchdown for the Tigers' only receiving score of the day.
 
ECU's defense delivered a dominant performance, particularly after halftime, shutting out the Boll Weevils over the final two quarters and limiting big plays throughout the game.
 
Justin McCray led the way with 7 total tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack, while Michael Onwuzurike added 5 tackles, 1 sack, and a fumble recovery. Elijah Alexander and Seth Aguilera each contributed with 4 tackles and a tackle for loss, with Aguilera also forcing a fumble. Molinsky Desire anchored the unit with a team-high 7 assisted tackles.