MAGNOLIA, Arkansas – The 17th-ranked Ouachita Baptist University football team made the big plays when needed leading to a 25-20 road victory over Southern Arkansas University on Saturday night at Wilkins Stadium.
The Tigers (3-0) struck first at the 9:06 mark of the first quarter on a 10-yard touchdown run by Kendel Givens on a drive that was extended due to a roughing the kicker call. The extra point was missed to give Ouachita a 6-0 lead. The scoring drive was set up by an interception from the Ouachita defense hauled in by Pierce Smalley on a tip drill.
Article by obutigers.com
After forcing a three-and-out on the ensuing possession, the Tiger offense set up SAU’s first score when Eli Livingston was stripped of the ball while passing, which was scooped up and scored by the SAU defense on a 30-yard return. The extra point gave the Muleriders (2-1) a 7-6 lead, but that was the only SAU lead of the game.
Ouachita responded with a 10-play, 66-yard scoring drive that used just over four minutes capped by a 34-yard field goal from Dax Jaggers to put the Tigers up 9-7.
After the Tiger defense forced another three-and-out, Ouachita marched 55 yards in five plays ending with a touchdown catch in the corner of the endzone by Bo Baker from Livingston. The extra point put the Tigers up 16-7 with 6:53 remaining before halftime.
SAU closed out the first-half scoring with a 16-play, 75-yard scoring drive with a touchdown coming with 1:16 remaining before halftime to make it 16-14 in favor of the Tigers at the break.
The third quarter was all defense from both teams. The Tigers scored their first safety since 2021 at the 11:10 mark after SAU was flagged for holding in its own endzone. That play was set up by a 56-yard punt by Tom Weston that was downed at the one-yard line. It was one of Weston’s four punts downed inside the SAU 20-yard line.
Ouachita put together what ended up being the score that put the game out of reach for SAU early in the fourth quarter. Ouachita went 82 yards on 11 plays in 5:44 capped by a six-yard touchdown run by Livingston.
SAU responded with its final score of the game on a 12-play, 89-yard drive capped by a three-yard touchdown with 2:25 remaining to finalize the scoring.
The Tigers ran the clock out aided by a key third-down conversion rush by Livingston to set up the victory formation in the final seconds.
Livingston led the Tigers in passing and rushing with 133 yards through the air and 120 yards on the ground.
Overall, Ouachita outgained SAU 356-291, including a 223-86 edge in rushing.
The Tigers now turn their attention to next Saturday night’s home game against Arkansas-Monticello (2-1).
