ARKALDELPHIA, Ark. – Senior tight end Johnathan Powell caught his first career touchdown pass with 1:40 left in the fourth quarter to give the Tigers a late lead over the #12 Harding Bisons at Cliff Harris Stadium on Saturday. Barkely Legens sack and safety on Harding quarterback Park Parrish sealed the victory for Ouachita, 26-21.

The play of the game for the Tigers came from the defense in the fourth quarter when Demetric Jennings forced a fumble on a Harding third down and three. Harding was up 21-17 on moving into the Ouachita red zone, when the ball was forced loose and recovered by Devin Price at the Ouachita 46 yard line. Austin Warford drove the Tigers 54 yards on 11 plays finding Powell in the end zone to give Ouachita the 24-21 lead.

Ouachita opened the game with 48-yard kickoff return by Ke'Vontae Pope. After a 10-play 34 yard drive, the Tigers took a 3-0 lead on a 32-yard field goal from Cole Antley.
Harding answered with a 13 play drive that ended with a one-yard touchdown run by the Bisons quarterback. Harding extended their lead in the second quarter, capitalizing on a Tiger fumble in the red zone.

The Tigers defense would swing first-half momentum by forcing a Harding three and out with seven minutes left in the second quarter. A 19-yard completion from Warford to Pope was accentuated by a personal foul penalty against the Bisons. Brandon Marks would score from two yards out to bring th Tigers within four.

Harding had a chance to get back into the end zone to end the second half but a sack and forced fumble by Alex Myres gave the Tigers possession to end the half.
Trailing 14-10 to start the second half, Ouachita's defense continued to limit the Bisons option attack. They forced a Harding punt on their first possession and started their first drive of the second half on their own 21 yard line.

Warford and the Tigers offense moved the ball the length of the field with a mix of run and pass, along with the help of personal foul penalty against the Bisons. On a third and 10 from the Harding 23 yard line, Warford ran through the middle of the Harding defense down to the one for a first and goal. He carried it in on the next play, giving Ouachita a 17-14 lead.

Harding opened the fourth quarter with possession and capped off a 12 play, 83-yard drive with a go-ahead touchdown run by fullback Michael Latu. Ouachita answered by driving down to the Harding 14 yard line, but were turned away empty-handed after Antley's field goal attempt was blocked.

Looking like they were going to score again, Harding's offense was denied when Demetric Jennings knocked the ball loose from Park Parrish, turning the tide of the game once again in Ouachita's favor. The resulting touchdown drive put the Tigers up for good 24-21. Barkley Legens sack of Parrish came on a fourth and 15 from the Harding seven yard line.

Ouachita's second half success came from their ability to convert on third down (8-12) and stopping the Bisons on third down (5-10). This marked the first time in the last five games of the series that the home team won. 

Ouachita (4-1) travels to Russellville next weekend to take on Arkansas Tech.