MonticelloLive

The University of Arkansas at Monticello Boll Weevils (0-1) were victimized by five turnovers as the Southern Arkansas University Muleriders rallied from a 21-7 deficit with 31 unanswered points to take a 38-21 non-conference victory over the Boll Weevils in both teams’ season opener on Saturday at Convoy Leslie-Cotton Boll Stadium in Monticello.

The Boll Weevils jumped on the board first as Scott Buisson (Fr., Metairie, La.) connected with Tim Harris (Jr., Kansas City, Mo.) with a 45-yard touchdown strike to cap a seven-play, 80-yard drive and give UAM a 7-0 lead with 6:44 remaining in the opening quarter. UAM extended their lead to 14-0 after recovering an SAU fumble, as Buisson connected on yet another long touchdown strike, finding Clarence Denmark (Jr., Jacksonville, Fla.) on the receiving end of a 49-yard touchdown pass.

SAU cut the UAM lead to 14-7 as Tony McDonald found the end zone after a five-yard run with 4:28 remaining, but UAM immediately responded as Johnny Polite (Fr., McGehee, Ark.) scored on a five-yard run to extend the Boll Weevils’ lead to 21-7 with 3:26 remaining in the first quarter.

The Southern Arkansas offense took over, scoring two touchdowns in the first five minutes of the second half to knot the game at 21-21, and then the Muleriders took the lead as Jayvian Johnson scored on a 13-yard run to take a 28-21 lead going into the second half.

The Muleriders held the Weevils scoreless the remainder of the way and padded their lead with a 23-yard Noe Cuevas field goal with 8:18 remaining in the third, and a Johnny Fields 10-yard touchdown run early in the fourth to seal the victory.

Buisson was solid in his college debut, connecting on 17-of-30 passes for 250 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. John L. Williams (Sr., Gainesville, Fla.) led the Weevils with 116 yards on 18 carries. Larry White (Jr., Atlanta, Ga.) led UAM with nine tackles on the defensive side.

The Boll Weevils will return to action on Saturday, September 8 as they travel to Huntsville, Texas for a 6 p.m. kickoff against Sam Houston State. The game will be broadcast on KHBM-FM 93.7 in Monticello, and live over the internet at www.uamsports.com.