ADA, Okla. – The (RV) East Central University football team made its 2026 home debut a memorable one Thursday night, as the Tigers outlasted Arkansas-Monticello, 42-37, in a back-and-forth thriller at Koi Ishto Stadium.
ECU improved to 2-0 on the season with its second straight victory, overcoming a night of momentum swings by consistently answering each time the Boll Weevils found the scoreboard.
Arkansas-Monticello struck first, opening the scoring with a touchdown on its first possession to take a 7-0 lead with 9:46 remaining in the first quarter. The Tigers answered quickly, as
Sergio Kennedy broke into the end zone on an 11-yard touchdown run to cap an 89-yard drive and tie the game at 7-7 with 7:14 left in the quarter.
The back-and-forth action continued, with Arkansas-Monticello reclaiming the lead on its next scoring drive. ECU responded once again, as Kennedy connected with
Jonathan Brown for a 9-yard touchdown to knot the game at 14-14 with 2:28 remaining in the opening quarter.
The visitors regained the advantage early in the second quarter with a 1-yard touchdown run, but the Tigers answered later in the frame. ECU marched 83 yards in just six plays, capped by a 44-yard touchdown run from
Quincy Thompson with 3:22 remaining to send the game into halftime tied at 21-21.
ECU took its first lead of the night early in the third quarter. The Tigers put together a 12-play, 64-yard drive that ended with Kennedy finding the end zone from one yard out, giving ECU a 28-21 advantage with 5:57 remaining in the quarter.
Arkansas-Monticello answered with another touchdown to tie the game at 28-28 with 2:45 left in the third, setting up a decisive fourth quarter.
The visitors regained the lead with a 28-yard field goal early in the fourth, but the Tigers responded with a scoring drive of their own. ECU went 75 yards in six plays, with
Donovan Shannon breaking through for a 9-yard touchdown run to put the Tigers back in front, 35-31, with 7:35 remaining.
ECU extended its lead late in the fourth quarter, putting together an eight-play, 41-yard drive that ended with
Conner Combs hauling in a 4-yard touchdown pass from Kennedy with 1:52 remaining. Ogura's extra point pushed the Tigers' advantage to 42-31.
Arkansas-Monticello answered with a late touchdown to cut the deficit to 42-37 with 1:10 remaining, but the Tigers held on in the closing seconds to secure the home-opening victory.
ECU finished the night with 488 yards of total offense, averaging 7.9 yards per play. The Tigers produced 199 yards on the ground with four rushing touchdowns while adding 289 yards through the air. ECU also converted 9-of-13 third-down opportunities and finished a perfect 5-for-5 in the red zone.
Sergio Kennedy once again led the Tigers' offense, completing 18-of-27 passes for 289 yards and two touchdowns while adding 22 rushing yards and two more touchdowns on the ground. Kennedy accounted for four of ECU's six touchdowns on the night and finished with 311 total yards.
Quincy Thompson powered the Tigers' rushing attack with 116 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries, averaging 8.3 yards per carry. His 44-yard touchdown run in the second quarter helped ECU answer and tie the game at 21-21 heading into halftime.
Kaden Jones provided a big night through the air, hauling in five passes for a team-high 112 yards, including a 51-yard reception.
Jonathan Brown added four catches for 80 yards and a touchdown, while
Conner Combs recorded four receptions for 60 yards and a touchdown, including the late fourth-quarter score that gave ECU a 42-31 lead.
Donovan Shannon added 60 rushing yards and a touchdown on nine carries, including a 9-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter that put the Tigers back in front, 35-31.
Defensively,
Caden Pickens led the Tigers with a game-high 13 tackles and added a tackle for loss, a sack and an interception returned 20 yards.
Qwalan Miller recorded five tackles and a forced fumble, while
Amin White added four tackles, a tackle for loss, a forced fumble and a pass breakup.
Nathaniel Rainey recovered a fumble, while
Justin McCray and
Kaleb Hamilton each recorded a quarterback hurry.
ECU will hit the road for their next Great American Conference matchup against southern Nazarene University on Saturday, Sep. 19 at 6 pm in Bethany.
