ARKADELPHIA, Ark.- The No. 11 Ouachita Tigers (4-0, 2-0 GAC) have a lot to look forward to as they head into their fifth game of the 2012 campaign, as they return home for homecoming after capturing a 27-24 victory over Southeastern Oklahoma State with a third string quarterback at the helm. Ouachita's No. 11 ranking marks the best in program history since their move to Division II and they hope to improve upon it as they enter Saturday's contest with Southwestern Oklahoma State (1-3, 0-2 GAC)

QUARTERBACK SITUATION
The quarterback situation for this week is still up in the air, as Head Coach Todd Knight has redshirt sophomore quarterback Benson Jordan listed as a game time decision. Jordan is recovering from a shoulder injury that occurred against Arkansas Tech. In his time on the field this year, Jordan has recorded 545 yards and six touchdowns while completing 69 percent of his pass attempts. If Jordan is unable to play, Ty Towers will again take the reins of the Tiger offense. Last week against Southwestern, Towers recorded 187 yards and two touchdowns on 13 completions. He also added 103 yards on the ground in the game.
 
OFFENSIVE NOTES
The Tigers enter the game with almost all of their offensive weapons healthy. Chris Rycraw will continue to handle duties out of the backfield for the Tigers. He has recorded 386 yards and five touchdowns on the ground for the Tigers so far, but has proven to be a receiving threat as well, notching five catches for 49 yards and a touchdown. No matter whom ends up starting at quarterback, the receiving duo of Brett Reece and Drew White are going to be ready to go. Reece, a senior, has recorded a team high 20 catches for 291 yards and four touchdowns this year. White has 18 catches on the year, recording 261 yards and a touchdown. Don't discredit the Tiger offensive line either. So far this season, they have only allowed one sack, providing plenty of time for the quarterback to see the field. They have also been great in the running game, allowing the Tigers ample room to make plays and contributing to the 204.5 rushing yards per game average.
 
DEFENSIVE NOTES
Ouachita's defense enters the game as the number five ranked defense in the country. So far this season, Ouachita has recorded 14 sacks already this year, as the defensive line and linebackers provide constant pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Marquez Massey has recorded four sacks already this year, as well as a blocked punt against Southeastern. Jackson Guerra leads the linebackers, and the team for that matter, racking up 42 tackles so far this season. In the secondary, the Tigers continue to keep opposing offenses to minimum gains, as they are only allowing 162 yards passing per game. So far this season, the Tigers have held opponents to just 234 yards per game, including two games in which they held opponents to under 120 yards in the game.
 
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAY IS VITAL
As the Tiger special teams units proved last week, a great special teams unit can change a game completely. The Tigers blocked a punt and a kick last week in their effort to hold off Southeastern. Those two plays, coupled with the defensive play down the stretch, sealed a Tiger victory. Along with the blocked kick and punt, Ouachita's kicking teams were spectacular. Kicker Jason Fowler was perfect in the game, accounting for nine of the team's 27points. So far this season, Fowler has not missed a field goal or PAT attempt and is tied for the team lead in scoring with 36 points. He sits just a few points away from breaking the all-time scoring record at Ouachita.
 
WHAT TO WATCH FROM SWOSU
Southwestern Oklahoma's quarterback, Dustin Stenta, has struggled to get things going at times this season. He has thrown seven interceptions, while only completing four touchdown passes. Southwestern is still averaging 231 yards per game through the air though, so the Tiger secondary is going to have to be on top of their game. The Bulldogs are averaging 95 yards per game on the ground, with Aaron Wilson leading the charge. Wilson has racked up 209 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.
 
The Tigers and Bulldogs are slated for a 1 p.m. kickoff on Saturday. Homecoming festivities will begin at 12:30 p.m.
 
-Josh Fink, Sports Information Director