ADA, Okla. - The University of Arkansas at Monticello football team hit the road for the first time in the 2026 season on Thursday evening, taking on Great American Conference member East Central University in Ada, Oklahoma. The Weevils battled the Tigers throughout the night before ultimately falling, 42-37.
Arkansas-Monticello produced 462 yards of total offense in the contest, including 316 yards through the air and 146 on the ground. The Weevils picked up 24 first downs and finished a perfect 6-for-6 on trips to the red zone.
Quarterback Drew Forkner completed 27-of-34 passes for 316 yards and three touchdowns.
Dave Alston led the Weevils on the ground with a strong performance, rushing 16 times for 117 yards, averaging 7.3 yards per carry with a long of 22 yards. Braylon Henry was a force in the red zone, scoring two touchdowns on 21 net yards of rushing.
Michael Lott led the receiving corps with a career night, hauling in 10 receptions for 136 yards and two touchdowns. Drew Dronet followed with five catches for 63 yards, while Josh Scott added three receptions for 51 yards. Aiden Whitmore also found the end zone with a 14-yard touchdown reception.
Defensively, Johnny Richardson led Arkansas-Monticello with 10 total tackles, including four solo stops. Andrew Sánchez followed with seven tackles, while Torren Jackson totaled six. Keyon Clark recorded the Weevils' lone sack of the night, dropping the East Central quarterback for a nine-yard loss.
Charles Stinson finished a perfect 4-for-4 on PAT attempts and connected on a 28-yard field goal in the fourth quarter to briefly give UAM a 31-28 advantage.
Post Game
"I thought we played hard for four quarters," said Head Coach Gary Goff. "However, we still have plenty of room for improvement. You can't lose the turnover battle and expect to win games. We have a chance to be a good football team and will continue to work hard."
How it Happened
First Quarter
- 09:46 - UAM | Arkansas-Monticello opened the scoring with an 11-play, 73-yard drive, capped by a 3-yard touchdown pass from Drew Forkner to Michael Lott. Charles Stinson's PAT gave UAM a 7-0 lead.
- 07:14 - ECU | East Central answered with an 11-yard touchdown run, tying the game at 7-7.
- 03:48 - UAM | Forkner found Aiden Whitmore for a 14-yard touchdown to put the Weevils back in front, 14-7.
- 02:28 - ECU | The Tigers responded on their next possession, tying the game at 14-14 on a 9-yard touchdown pass.
Second Quarter
- 14:57 - UAM | Braylon Henry punched the ball into the end zone from one yard out to cap a drive that began late in the first quarter, giving Arkansas-Monticello a 21-14 advantage.
- 03:22 - ECU | A 44-yard touchdown run from the Togers pulled ECU to even at 21-21 heading toward halftime.
Third Quarter
- 05:57 - ECU | A 1-yard rush on the goal line gave East Central its first lead of the game at 28-21.
- 02:45 - UAM | The Weevils answered with a six-play, 63-yard scoring drive. Alston broke off a 22-yard run during the possession before Henry finished the drive with his second 1-yard touchdown of the night, tying the game at 28-28.
Fourth Quarter
- 09:48 - UAM | Following a missed East Central field goal, Arkansas-Monticello drove 58 yards before Charles Stinson connected on a 28-yard field goal, putting the Weevils back in front, 31-28.
- 07:35 - ECU | East Central responded with a six-play, 75-yard drive, capped by a 9-yard touchdown run to regain the lead, 35-31.
- 01:52 - ECU | Following a UAM turnover, the Tigers scored on a 4-yard passing touchdown, extending the Tigers' advantage to 42-31.
- 01:10 - UAM | The Weevils refused to go quietly. Henry led a 69-yard scoring drive in just 41 seconds, completing passes of 20, 18, and 16 yards before finding Lott for a 15-yard touchdown. The two-point attempt was unsuccessful, bringing UAM within five at 42-37. East Central recovered the ensuing onside kick and ran out the remaining clock.
Up Next
UAM football is on the road again in week three, traveling to Arkadelphia, Arkansas, to face the Reddies of Henderson State. The game is set for Saturday, September 19, at 6:00 p.m.
You can find links to the official live streams, live stats, tickets, and more as tabs on the 2026 Weevil Football schedule page at uamsports.com.
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