The Bison football team broke school records as it steamrolled the Arkansas Tech University Wonder Boys 76-23 at the Homecoming game on Oct. 27.
Seventy-six points is the most the football team has earned in a game, beating the record high of 75 points set last year against Shepherd Tech University.
The Bisons are now ranked No. 16 in NCAA Division II according to the AFCA Coaches poll. The previous school record was No. 18, set in 2002. The Bisons are also 7-1 overall and 5-1 in conference play.
Head coach Ronnie Huckeba said he is excited about the football team’s ranking and that the football program will continue to focus on the things that have made it successful so far as it heads into the remainder of the season.
“It’s awesome,” Huckeba said. “It’s nice to be recognized. This is a good football team; we’re very proud of them — proud of all the work that the players and coaches have done to get to this point.”
Sophomore kicker John Gay made two field goals in the first six minutes of the game, and senior Dempsey Bonner and sophomore Jason Oller (receiving a 72-yard pass from senior quarterback Kelvin Martin) each scored a touchdown later in the first quarter, making the score 20-0 at the quarter’s end.
With 14:39 on the clock in the second quarter, Martin made a touchdown for a score of 27 points, followed soon after by sophomore fullback Romo Westbrook, who made a 90-yard touchdown run, bringing the score to 34.
The score was 48-16 at halftime.
In the third quarter, the Bisons scored three more touchdowns, including a 75-yard run by Westbrook. They finished the quarter with a 62-16 lead.
The Wonder Boys made one final touchdown during the fourth quarter. The Bisons made two more touchdowns as well, finishing up the game.
One of the highlights was a new school record set by Gay, who made all 10 of his extra points. Gay said a number of people helped him achieve this success.
“I’m really impressed with them because we haven’t had a blocked kick yet, and we’ve kicked a lot this season,” Gay said. “That’s a huge part. Overall, I’m really pleased with where we’re at.”
The Bisons hit the road to face Southeastern Oklahoma State University tomorrow at 2 p.m.
