ARKADELPHIA -- Ouachita Baptist pounded out 323 rushing yards on a warm and rainy night Saturday at Cliff Harris Stadium for a 41-8 Great American Conference victory against Southwestern Oklahoma State.
Ouachita (2-0) has hoisted the Paul Sharp Cup trophy for three consecutive seasons. The Tigers improved to 11-4 all-time against Southwestern (1-1) and now hold a 7-1 mark in the GAC era. The 33-point margin ties the largest Ouachita victory in series history.
Senior running back Kris Oliver, of Arkadelphia, rumbled for a season-high 127 yards and three scores. Junior Shun'cee Thomas, of Bossier City, La., complemented Oliver with four carries for 80 yards, including a 61-yard score. Brockton Brown, of Sheridan, score from three yards out late in the game.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Brayden Brazeal, of England, completed 61 percent of his passes for an 8-for-13 night with 110 yards. Senior Drew Harris hauled in five receptions for 39 yards.
Jake Ford, of Australia, punted four times for an average of 33.8 yards with two landing inside the 20-yard line. Senior kicker Cole Antley, of Atlanta, Ga., connected on both of his field goal attempts and averaged 63 yards per kickoff.
The Tigers' defensive front brought down Southwestern quarterback Casey Freeman five times during the game. Freeman threw for 416 yards and six touchdowns in the opening week, but was held to just 104 yards Saturday with C.J. Heckard, of Wisner, La., picking off a pass.
Ouachita's dominance began early. Southwestern went a quick three-and-out to start the game. Tigers then went on a 15-play, 88-yard scoring drive.
The home defense got sacks from Khairan Staff, of Newport, and Shimorye Hampton, of Shreveport, La., on back-to-back plays to force another punt on the next possession.
Oliver took the handoff on the first play of the next drive to a 52-yard score.
Antley added the first of two field goals earlier in the second quarter. The Tigers found the end zone again on Thomas' 61-yard run.
Oliver added his third score on a 26-yard run 38 seconds before halftime to put Ouachita ahead, 31-0. Heckard's interception ended Southwestern's final drive of the half.
Ouachita opened up the second half with a nine-play scoring drive. After an incomplete pass in the end zone was knocked away by a Bulldog defender, Antley hit his second field goal to extend the Tigers lead to 34-0.
Brown rumbled for 35 yards and a touchdown midway through the third quarter. The Tigers took a 41-0 lead into the final quarter.
Freeman found J.R. Omigie for a 25-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter to break up the shutout bid. Both teams gave playing time to their younger players throughout the final quarter.
Ouachita is now 2-0 for the ninth time in the past 10 seasons. The Tigers will travel to Durant, Okla., Saturday to face Southeastern Oklahoma State (1-1).
Sports on 09/10/2018