ECU Sports
Teri LaJeunese, Sports Information Director
SHAWNEE – The East Central University football team had a great start to the 2017 season, exploding for a 55-34 victory at Oklahoma Baptist in Great American Conference action.
While the Tigers (1-0) technically had 41 fewer yards of total offense (546-597), they won the game recording only four penalties to eight by the Bison (0-1) and by starting the scoring with senior Devyn Williams running back the opening kickoff 91 yards for a touchdown.
Junior quarterback Noah Holle, debuted at ECU by going 20-of-27 for 351 yards and five touchdowns, while adding 26 yards himself on the rush in seven attempts.
Holle spread out his targets, with five different receivers earning a TD and seven total catching at least one pass. Williams was his favorite receiver for the game, with five catches, 56 yards and a TD. Junior Tre Harvey earned the most yards, with 82 yards on four passes and a TD.
Freshman Ontario Douglas and junior Tre’von Jackson led the rushing charge for the Tigers, with each earning a TD. Douglas ran 16 times for 88 yards, while Jackson added 18 rushes for 70 yards.
Senior Camnik Campbell led the defensive, with 10 (4-6) total tackles, a pass break up and a fumble recovery. Junior Dewayne Finney added seven total tackles (5-2), while senior Patric Edwards netted 2.0 tackles for loss for eight yards and forced a fumble.
ECU got the scoring started right of the gates, as Williams returned the opening kickoff 91 yards for a touchdown. It was the first time since Sept. 14, 2013 when LaQuan Harper returned a kickoff 94 yards for TD against Southern Arkansas.
OBU responded five minutes later with a touchdown, but the missed extra point attempt left the Tigers leading 7-6, with 8:52 left in the first quarter.
The Bison then earned their lone lead of the game, with 14 seconds left in the first on a TD and good extra point attempt to put the score at 13-7 OBU.
However, the Tigers wasted no time responding and tied the game at 13, with three second left in the quarter, on a 66-yard pass between Holle and Harvey.
ECU then added two more touchdowns in the first 10 minutes of the second quarter. Jackson earned his touchdown for the day on a one-yard run, with 9:53 left. Junior Trinity Benson then caught an 18-yard pass from Holle, with 5:29 left in the half to increase the lead to 27-13.
The Bison responded, with 3:04 left in the half, to cut the deficit to seven (27-20), but ECU was not done scoring in the half.
The Tigers scored one more TD with six second left in the half, this time a 36-yard pass between Williams and Holle.
The third quarter was scoreless, but the teams made up for it in the fourth, scoring five total touchdowns, with ECU earning the advantage with three.
The Tigers first added to the scoreboard with 11:03 left on a nine-yard pass caught by senior Dezmon Jackson (41-20).
The Bison fought back with a score just 23 seconds later to cut the lead to 41-27.
ECU then got a touchdown from offensive lineman turned tight end, sophomore Dilland Gardner. Gardner caught a 63-yard pass from Holle, with 7:27 left to play, and gave the Tigers a 48-27 advantage.
OBU got one more ball across the line, with 5:49 left, to cut the deficit to 48-34, but ECU added one more TD with 1:10 left for the 55-34 final. Douglas earned the final points of the day with a one-yard rush.
The Tigers will now get ready for their first home game of the 2017 season, Saturday, Sept. 9 at 6 p.m. against Southern Nazarene. The game at Norris Field at Koi Ishto Stadium will be part of the annual Family Day, which also includes a home soccer game at noon against Randall.