ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – The Ouachita Tigers defeated the Henderson State Reddies by a final of 30-27 on Saturday in the 90^th Battle of the Ravine. The Tigers outscored the Reddies 27-7 in the second and third quarters and capitalized on three Henderson State fumbles to seal the win. Ouachita converted 11 of 19 third-down conversions and led the Reddies in time of possession by 18 minutes. Quarterback Lucas Reed went 15-29 for 159 yards and a touchdown. He rushed for 45 yards and a score.

The Tigers drove the ball down inside the Reddies 10 yard line on their first possession, but turned it over on a fumble after Drew Harris slipped on the turf, one of several slips by Tigers on the drive, while attempting to make a pitch. Henderson State responded with a 10 play 91 yard touchdown drive to take a 7-0 lead. Ouachita forced a Reddie three and out late in the first quarter when Jordan Jones broke up a deep pass intended for HSU's Ben Johnson. The first quarter would end with the Tigers down by a touchdown.

The Tigers opened the second quarter with a fake punt. Lineman Justin Gooseberry took the snap and ran it 36 yards down to the Henderson State 44 yard line. Ouachita capitalized when Drew Harris broke a run up the middle for 31 yards and the score. The Tigers tied the game 7-7 with 13:43 remaining in the first half. Henderson State answered with a rushing touchdown from four yards out to retake the lead 14-7.

Ouachita had an extended drive following the Reddie score, getting all the way down to the HSU 6 yard line. A delay of game penalty moved them back to the 11 on a fourth and one play, forcing the Tigers to attempt a field goal. Cole Antley's kick off the right upright gave the ball back to HSU. The Tigers defense responded immediately when Khairan Stafford recovered quarterback Andrew Black's fumble at the HSU 36. Lucas Reed hit Lamar Haynes on a crossing route on a third down and four to get the Tigers down to the HSU 13 yard line with 1:07 left in the half. On a third and 17 with just over 40 seconds to play, Lucas Reed found La'Darius McElroy in the left corner of the end zone on a fade route to tie the game. At halftime the teams were tied 14-14.

The Tigers compiled 234 yards of offense in the first half and converted six of nine third down conversions. The defense held Henderson State to 45 yards in the first half.

The Tigers opened the second half on defense and forced a Reddie fumble. Kendrick Henderson recovered the loose ball and the Tigers took over at HSU 48. The Tigers went three and out, but Shelton Wooley pinned the Reddies deep when his 41 yard punt was down at the Reddies' 4 yard line. On the Reddies first play. Demetric Jennings burst through the line to bring down Jeremy Wilson in the end zone for a safety. The Tigers took a 16-14 lead with 11:27 left in the third quarter.

Allie Freeman returned the ensuing free kick 49 yards to the HSU 26 and the Tigers set up in enemy territory to open their second drive of the quarter. Cole Antley drilled a 41-
yard field goal to put Ouachita ahead 19-14. The Ouachita defense forced the Reddies to punt on the ensuing possession. Ouachita began their drive on their own 8 yard line.
After three consecutive third down conversions, the Tigers benefited from a Reddie pass-interference call to advance to the HSU 24. The 13 play, 92-yard drive was culminated by a 3-yard touchdown run by Lucas Reed. Reed found Logan Morris in the center of the end zone to complete the two-point conversion and Ouachita extended their lead to 27-14 with 54 seconds remaining in the quarter.

The Ouachita defense held the Reddies on a fourth down and two to open the fourth quarter, allowing the Tigers to take over in Henderson State territory at the 48 yard line. Unable to capitalize, Ouachita's Wooley punted the ball down to the HSU 18 with 11:18 remaining in the game.

With new quarterback Evan Lassiter, the Reddies went 82 yards on 12 plays to score on a quarterback keeper from one yard out. They failed to convert on the extra point and with 8:10 remaining in the game, the Tigers held a seven-point advantage, 27-20. The Tigers moved down into a HSU territory and extended the drive on a crucial third down and 12 completion from Reed to Drew Harris. With 4:28 remaining, Cole Antley was true from 40 yards out for his second field goal of the game.

Leading 30-20 with 4:21 to play, Ouachita's defense took the field. Henderson State answered quickly with a four play, 72-yard drive. With 3:22 left in the game the Tigers lead was cut to 30-27. After converting their 11^th third down of the game earlier in their drive, Ouachita was faced with a third down an 11 with 1:41 remaining. Ouachita attempted a deep throw to McElroy that was broken up. The ensuing punt by Shelton Wooley was fielded at HSU 2 yard line where Ouachita's special teams made the tackle.

On a fourth down and eight for Henderson State with seconds remaining, Ouachita's Parker Witt recovered a fumble by Lassiter at the HSU 21 yard line to seal the win for Ouachita in the 90^th Battle of the Ravine by a final of 30-27. The Tigers finished their ninth-consecutive winning season with a record of 7-4.