ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Ke'vontae Pope returned the opening kickoff of the season 97 yards and found the end zone again in the third quarter on the receiving end of an 86-yard pass play from Austin Warford to lead the Ouachita Tigers to a 42-28 win over East Central University. Pope's return marked the first time in Great American Conference history that a player opened the season with kickoff return for a touchdown.

Up 7-0, the Tigers forced ECU to pun ton their opening drive. The Tigers drove the field 80 yards on 12 plays and increased their lead to 14-0 after a two-yard touchdown run by Kris Oliver. East Central responded with 10 straight points, highlighted by a 37-yard touchdown reception by David Moore.

Oliver extended the Ouachita lead on the ensuing possession, scoring his second rushing touchdown of the half, this one from six yards out. It took ECU only three plays to score on their next drive. Moore caught his second touchdown pass of the half, but ECU failed to convert on the extra point. Ouachita led 21-16 at the half.

ECU's opening drive of the second half ended in a 35-yard field goal from Jarod Haynes to put them with two points of the Tigers. It took Ouachita only three plays to extend the lead. Austin Warford found a wide open Pope down the middle of the field and Pope took it 86 yards for the score. Another field goal by Haynes would cut the Ouachita lead to 28-22 heading into the final quarter.

A 54-yard kickoff return by Pope at the end of the third quarter had the Tigers in ECU territory to start the fourth. Oliver would score his third rushing touchdown of the game to cap of a drive of 44 yards on nine plays. Ouachita now led 35-22.

Another touchdown reception by David Moore put ECU back within striking distance of the Tigers, but the offense responded with a 15 play, 74-yard scoring drive that took seven minutes off the clock. Warford carried into the end zone for the score to put Ouachita up by the final score of 42-28.

Demetric Jennings and Waymon Johnson Jr. were credited with the sack that ended ECU's final push into Tiger territory.

Pope finished with 277 total yards and two touchdowns. Oliver finished with 99 yards on 22 carries and scored three touchdowns. Warford went 8-10 for 162 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for 78 yards and a score.

Eric Parker and John Rachal each finished with eight tackles. Demetric Jennings finished with 1.5 sacks for -12 yards. Jordan Jones led the team with two pass break-ups.

The Tigers will travel to Durant, Oklahoma next Saturday, September 10 to face Southeastern Oklahoma State. Kickoff is set for 6:00 p.m.