2022 East Central Tigers football team explained
The 2022 East Central Tigers football team represented East Central University (ECU) in the 2022 NCAA Division II football season as a member of the Great American Conference (GAC). The Tigers were led by Kris McCullough in his first and only season as head coach. The Tigers finished the season 9–3, going 8–3 in conference play to finish tied for third place in the GAC. This was the best finish in program history since the 1993 season when the Tigers finished 10–3 and won the NAIA Championship.[1] The team played its home games at Koi Ishto Stadium in Ada, Oklahoma.
The Tigers were invited to the Heritage Bowl, defeating 38–21. Following the season, McCullough announced that he would be stepping down after accepting the head coaching job at UT Permian Basin.[2] [3]
Offseason
Coaching changes
On March 12, 2022, head coach Al Johnson was hired to be Wisconsin's running backs coach, with offensive coordinator Kris McCullough being named the Tigers' interim head coach.[4] McCullough was 26 at the time, making him the youngest head coach in all of college football.[5] The interim tag was removed mid-season, with McCullough being hired as the full-time head coach on October 27.[6] [7]
Preseason
GAC coaches poll
The GAC coaches preseason poll was released on August 2, 2022. The Tigers were predicted to finish sixth in the conference.[8]
| GAC coaches poll |
| 1 | Harding |
| 2 | Ouachita Baptist |
| 3 | Southeastern Oklahoma State |
| 4 | Henderson State |
| 5 | Oklahoma Baptist |
| 6 | East Central |
| 7 | Arkansas–Monticello |
| 8 | Southern Arkansas |
| 9 | Arkansas Tech |
| 10 | Northwestern Oklahoma State |
| 11 | Southwestern Oklahoma State |
| 12 | Southern Nazarene |
|
Schedule
Schedule source:[9]
Game summaries
No. 9 Harding
| Statistics | HAR | ECU |
|---|
| First downs | 15 | 11 |
| Total yards | 340 | 161 |
| Rushing yards | 219 | 14 |
| Passing yards | 121 | 147 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 33:54 | 24:23 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Harding | Passing | Cole Keylon | 3/6, 121 yards, 3 TD |
| Rushing | Will Fitzhugh | 14 rushes, 49 yards |
| Receiving | Kage Citty | 2 receptions, 89 yards, 2 TD |
| East Central | Passing | | 20/33, 147 yards, TD |
| Rushing | Miles Davis | 8 rushes, 14 yards |
| Receiving | Jayquan Lincoln | 6 receptions, 33 yards | |
At Arkansas Tech
| Statistics | ECU | ATU |
|---|
| First downs | 23 | 19 |
| Total yards | 333 | 322 |
| Rushing yards | 124 | 165 |
| Passing yards | 209 | 157 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 35:47 | 24:13 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| East Central | Passing | Kenny Hrncir | 19/42, 209 yards, 2 INT |
| Rushing | Nemier Herod | 13 rushes, 61 yards |
| Receiving | Greg Howell | 3 receptions, 54 yards |
| Arkansas Tech | Passing | Taye Gatewood | 13/23, 157 yards, 3 TD |
| Rushing | Devontae Dean | 10 rushes, 58 yards |
| Receiving | Matthew Rivera | 4 receptions, 39 yards, TD | |
At Southern Nazarene
| Statistics | ECU | SNU |
|---|
| First downs | 23 | 19 |
| Total yards | 471 | 416 |
| Rushing yards | 198 | 256 |
| Passing yards | 273 | 160 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 28:04 | 31:56 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| East Central | Passing | Kenny Hrncir | 18/27, 217 yards, 3 TD |
| Rushing | Nemier Herod | 14 rushes, 80 yards, 2 TD |
| Receiving | La'Quan Wells | 5 receptions, 117 yards, 2 TD |
| Southern Nazarene | Passing | Gage Porter | 10/17, 155 yards, 2 TD |
| Rushing | Gage Porter | 21 rushes, 150 yards |
| Receiving | Asa Robertson | 3 receptions, 95 yards, TD | |
Northwestern Oklahoma State
| Statistics | NWO | ECU |
|---|
| First downs | 16 | 23 |
| Total yards | 254 | 452 |
| Rushing yards | 61 | 215 |
| Passing yards | 193 | 237 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 26:20 | 33:40 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| NW Oklahoma State | Passing | Tanner Clarkson | 21/35, 193 yards, INT |
| Rushing | Tanner Clarkson | 11 rushes, 27 yards |
| Receiving | Darian Gill | 1 reception, 57 yards |
| East Central | Passing | Kenny Hrncir | 22/27, 237 yards, 2 TD |
| Rushing | Nemier Herod | 23 rushes, 193 yards, TD |
| Receiving | La'Quan Wells | 8 receptions, 88 yards | |
At Southern Arkansas
| Statistics | ECU | SAU |
|---|
| First downs | 24 | 23 |
| Total yards | 523 | 484 |
| Rushing yards | 214 | 326 |
| Passing yards | 309 | 158 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 33:57 | 26:03 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| East Central | Passing | Kenny Hrncir | 21/30, 309 yards, 3 TD, INT |
| Rushing | Nemier Herod | 25 rushes, 123 yards, TD |
| Receiving | La'Quan Wells | 4 receptions, 107 yards, 2 TD |
| Southern Arkansas | Passing | Judd Barton | 10/22, 100 yards |
| Rushing | Jariq Scales | 22 rushes, 173 yards, 2 TD |
| Receiving | Cole Williams | 3 receptions, 59 yards | |
Henderson State
| Statistics | HSU | ECU |
|---|
| First downs | 20 | 23 |
| Total yards | 342 | 398 |
| Rushing yards | 150 | 102 |
| Passing yards | 192 | 296 |
| Turnovers | 4 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 25:01 | 34:59 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Henderson State | Passing | Landon Ledbetter | 14/22, 184 yards, TD, INT |
| Rushing | Korien Burrell | 13 rushes, 60 yards |
| Receiving | Xavier Malone | 7 receptions, 96 yards, TD |
| East Central | Passing | Kenny Hrncir | 20/36, 296 yards, 3 TD |
| Rushing | Nemier Herod | 19 rushes, 84 yards |
| Receiving | Greg Howell | 3 receptions, 70 yards | |
At Oklahoma Baptist
| Statistics | ECU | OKB |
|---|
| First downs | 28 | 20 |
| Total yards | 467 | 315 |
| Rushing yards | 213 | 68 |
| Passing yards | 254 | 247 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 38:22 | 21:38 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| East Central | Passing | Kenny Hrncir | 21/34, 254 yards, 2 TD |
| Rushing | Nemier Herod | 21 rushes, 121 yards, TD |
| Receiving | Jayquan Lincoln | 3 receptions, 60 yards, TD |
| Oklahoma Baptist | Passing | Dayton Wolfe | 26/40, 247 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT |
| Rushing | Nate Anderson | 4 rushes, 27 yards |
| Receiving | | 9 receptions, 95 yards, TD | |
Southwestern Oklahoma State
| Statistics | SWO | ECU |
|---|
| First downs | 23 | 22 |
| Total yards | 346 | 458 |
| Rushing yards | 242 | 219 |
| Passing yards | 104 | 239 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 26:26 | 33:34 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| SW Oklahoma State | Passing | Tylan Morton | 14/30, 104 yards, TD |
| Rushing | Dexter Brown | 13 rushes, 93 yards, TD |
| Receiving | Jalen Lampley | 4 receptions, 35 yards |
| East Central | Passing | Kenny Hrncir | 16/25, 239 yards, 3 TD |
| Rushing | Nemier Herod | 22 rushes, 151 yards, 2 TD |
| Receiving | Jayquan Lincoln | 3 receptions, 99 yards, TD | |
At No. 4 Ouachita Baptist
| Statistics | ECU | OUA |
|---|
| First downs | 25 | 13 |
| Total yards | 400 | 348 |
| Rushing yards | 163 | 147 |
| Passing yards | 237 | 201 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 36:26 | 23:34 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| East Central | Passing | Kenny Hrncir | 20/40, 237 yards, 2 INT |
| Rushing | Kenny Hrncir | 14 rushes, 73 yards |
| Receiving | Jayquan Lincoln | 4 receptions, 62 yards |
| Ouachita Baptist | Passing | Riley Harms | 10/19, 201 yards |
| Rushing | T. J. Cole | 22 rushes, 103 yards, 3 TD |
| Receiving | Connor Flannigan | 5 receptions, 81 yards | |
Arkansas–Monticello
| Statistics | UAM | ECU |
|---|
| First downs | 10 | 18 |
| Total yards | 164 | 272 |
| Rushing yards | 105 | 172 |
| Passing yards | 59 | 100 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 24:45 | 35:15 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Arkansas–Monticello | Passing | Edwin Kleinpeter | 11/25, 59 yards, 2 INT |
| Rushing | Gary Ferman | 9 rushes, 42 yards |
| Receiving | Caleb Jacobs | 3 receptions, 16 yards |
| East Central | Passing | Kenny Hrncir | 15/23, 100 yards, 2 INT |
| Rushing | Miles Davis | 14 rushes, 88 yards |
| Receiving | Greg Howell | 2 receptions, 29 yards | |
Southeastern Oklahoma State
| Statistics | SEO | ECU |
|---|
| First downs | 14 | 16 |
| Total yards | 216 | 257 |
| Rushing yards | 109 | 93 |
| Passing yards | 107 | 164 |
| Turnovers | 5 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 30:29 | 29:31 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| SE Oklahoma State | Passing | Daulton Hatley | 14/29, 107 yards, TD, 2 INT |
| Rushing | Ryan Hirt | 18 rushes, 105 yards |
| Receiving | Braxton Kincade | 3 receptions, 52 yards |
| East Central | Passing | Kenny Hrncir | 12/23, 164 yards, TD |
| Rushing | Miles Davis | 11 rushes, 48 yards |
| Receiving | Jayquan Lincoln | 4 receptions, 66 yards, TD | |
Vs. Texas A&M–Kingsville (Heritage Bowl)
| Statistics | ECU | AMK |
|---|
| First downs | 17 | 14 |
| Total yards | 355 | 255 |
| Rushing yards | 208 | 64 |
| Passing yards | 147 | 191 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 35:17 | 24:43 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| East Central | Passing | Kenny Hrncir | 8/14, 147 yards, TD |
| Rushing | Miles Davis | 23 rushes, 127 yards, 3 TD |
| Receiving | La'Quan Wells | 2 receptions, 51 yards |
| Texas A&M–Kingsville | Passing | Jacob Cavazos | 14/31, 191 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| Rushing | Christian Anderson | 14 rushes, 31 yards, TD |
| Receiving | Craig Clemons | 5 receptions, 86 yards, 2 TD | |
Notes and References
- Web site: Football History and Records UPDATED (PDF) . November 29, 2023 . East Central University Athletics . en.
- Web site: December 23, 2022 . McCullough Steps Down as ECU Tiger Coach . November 29, 2023 . KXII.
- Web site: Perpetua . Tom . December 22, 2022 . Rising Star McCullough Named Head Football Coach . November 29, 2023 . UTPB Falcons.
- Web site: Hummer . Chris . October 21, 2022 . Meet 27-year-old Kris McCullough, the youngest head coach in college football . November 29, 2023 . 247 Sports.
- Web site: Baker . Davis . December 22, 2022 . Kris McCullough leaves ECU, takes head coaching job at UTPB . November 29, 2023 . K10.
- Web site: Kris McCullough - Football Coach . November 29, 2023 . East Central University Athletics . en.
- Web site: October 27, 2022 . McCullough Looks to Future as ECU’s Head Football Coach . November 29, 2023 . ECU.
- Web site: #theGAC COACHES TAB HARDING AS 2022 FOOTBALL PRESEASON FAVORITE . August 2, 2022 . November 29, 2023.
- Web site: 2022 Football Schedule . November 29, 2023.
