ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – With 3:30 remaining in the final quarter of play Arkansas Tech was knocking on the door of the Ouachita endzone; Tiger defensive back Keandre Evans stepped in front of a pass, ran it back 103-yards, and cemented a 24-7 victory for Ouachita on Homecoming Saturday.

With the win on Saturday, Ouachita improves to 5-0 on the season. It is the first time the Tigers have started the season with five consecutive wins since the 2014 season. The win also improves the Tigers record to 7-2 on Homecoming Saturday's since the 2010 season.

Ouachita has now outscored opponents 107-15 at home this season in large part to a smash mouth defense. Keandre Evans (Junction City, Ark.) led the Tigers defense on Saturday afternoon, collecting 10 total tackles, a pair of pass breakups, two interceptions and a 103-yard touchdown. Jon Johnson (Haskell, Ark.) was the second leading tackler with nine stops in the game and Hayden Lassiter (Warren, Ark.) came away with the Tigers third interception of the game.

On the offensive side of the ball, quarterback Brayden Brazeal (England, Ark.) had another quality game under center for the Tigers. Brazeal passed for 116 yards and ran for an additional 88 yards in the contest. Brazeal's favorite targets this afternoon were Allie Freeman (Little Rock, Ark.) and La'Darius McElroy (Ashdown, Ark.) both ended the game with 50 or more receiving yards.

Kris Oliver (Arkadelphia, Ark.) led the Tigers in rushing once again. The senior crossed the 100-yard threshold for the third time this season and scored his first touchdown since week two against Southwestern Oklahoma State. Junior running backs Brockton Brown (Sheridan, Ark.) and Shun'cee Thomas (Bossier City, La.) ran the ball for positive yardage in the game.

Arkansas Tech (2-3) had a three-headed monster on the offensive side of the ball. Starting quarterback Carter Burcham threw for 325 yards but was intercepted by the Tigers on three different occasions. Running back Bryan Allen picked up 104-yards on the ground, while Terrez Hampton led the receiving core with seven receptions for 130 yards.      
First Quarter: Ouachita 0, Arkansas Tech 0
In the opening quarter of play, the two teams battled and fought for every yard they could get. Both squads had promising drives that ended in punts or were derailed by penalties.

The key play of the first quarter came with three minutes left in the opening stanza. The Wonder Boys had just completed a 24-yard pass and found themselves inside Ouachita territory for the first time. It did not last long as Evans intercepted his first pass of the afternoon and set the Tigers up with positive field position.

Second Quarter: Ouachita 10, Arkansas Tech 0
With 11:37 remaining in the quarter, the two teams were still scoreless. Backed up on their own 17-yardline Ouachita had long field ahead of them. Oliver broke off runs of 21 and 13 yards to set the Tigers up with a first-and-ten inside Arkansas Tech Territory. A few moments later Ouachita faced a third-and-long situation, Brazeal found McElroy for a 20-yard hookup and the Tigers set up shop at the Arkansas Tech one-yard line. Two plays later and Oliver found his way into the endzone for the first time in two weeks.

Up 7-0, Ouachita got the ball back with 2:47 left to go in the half. On the third play of the drive, Brazeal found McElroy for the second time in the game, this time it was 32-yard connection that gave Ouachita possession on the Arkansas Tech side of the 50. The Tigers called timeout with 48 seconds left to go in the half and called on senior kicker Cole Antley (Atlanta, Ga.) to attempt a 45-yard field goal. The senior nailed the kick and gave the Tigers a 10-0 advantage going into halftime. The 45-yard field goal was also the longest of the season for Antley.  

Third Quarter: Ouachita 10, Arkansas Tech 0
The Wonder Boys opened the second half with the ball and began a 10-play drive down the field. Arkansas Tech marched down the field and found themselves inside the redzone for the first time all day. The Tiger defense stood strong and forced the Wonder Boys to attempt a field goal attempt. Arkansas Tech kicker Carson French missed a 38-yard field goal wide left and the Wonder Boys empty handed.

The two teams then traded punts for the rest of the quarter as Ouachita held onto a 10-0 lead going into the final frame.

Fourth Quarter: Ouachita 24, Arkansas Tech 7
With 10:30, remaining in the game Arkansas Tech found themselves backed up on their own eight-yard line and facing a third-and-twelve. Burcham then connected with Hampton for a massive 67-yard gain. Three players later and Tanner Gaines found the endzone from two-yards out.

After a quick three-and-out by Ouachita the Wonder Boys took over at their own 30-yardline. Burcham dropped back to pass on a second-and-20 play, Lassiter read the play the whole way and intercepted the ball. Lassiter ran the interception back inside the Arkansas Tech ten-yard line.

Two plays later and Brown punched the ball in for his seventh score of the season. The score gave the Tigers a 17-7 lead late in the fourth quarter.

Arkansas Tech got the ball back with 6:11 left to go in the game. The Tigers defense was unable to get the Tech offense off the field as they converted two consecutive third down plays. The second third down conversion put the Wonder Boys at the Ouachita 10-yard line.

The Wonder Boys appeared to be in good shape to come away with some points, with a third-and-goal opportunity on the five-yard line. Then the play of the game happened, Burcham dropped back to pass and threw the ball straight into the hands of Evans. Evans wisely took the ball out of the endzone and ran it all the way back, 103-yards to be exact, for a Tigers touchdown. The defensive score gave the Tigers a 24-7 advantage late in the game.

Arkansas Tech got the ball back with 3:13 to play in the game. The Wonder Boys marched it down the field but Ernest Reed (El Dorado, Ark.) came away with the game ending sack as time expired.

Next week the Tigers face their toughest road test yet with a trip to Searcy against nationally ranked Harding. For more information on the Ouachita football team head over to obutigers.com.