Flags for all

The University of Arkansas-Monticello held nearly a 100-yard advantage in total offense last week against Arkansas Tech, but that was overshadowed by the excessive amount of penalties the Boll Weevils collected.

UAM (2-5, 2-5 Great American Conference) was flagged 17 times for 164 yards during its 24-10 loss to the Wonder Boys. The penalty total was the second-most in Boll Weevil history, and it was the most flags thrown against one team during a conference game this season.

Unfortunately for UAM, which has drawn more penalties that any team in the GAC, many of those flags came in critical moments and either hindered its possessions or helped Arkansas Tech whenever it had the ball. A prime example came during the Boll Weevils’ second series when they had a third and 4 from the Wonder Boys’ 13. But a false start — one of several that UAM garnered — pushed the ball back to the 18. On the next play, quarterback Buddy Taylor threw an incomplete pass, which resulted in a 35-yard field-goal attempt that Zachary Grisotti ended up missing.

On the flip side, Arkansas Tech (3-4, 3-4), which is the second-least penalized team in the league, drew six flags for 55 yards.

The 14-point win pushed Arkansas Tech’s winning streak to three games, and that’s noteworthy considering the Wonder Boys started the season 0-4. They had chances to win three of those first four games, with the losses coming by a combined 12 points.

Arkansas Tech will try to make it four consecutive victories when it plays at Ouachita Baptist on Saturday. The Tigers have won nine of the past 11 games in the series, including the past five.