ADA, Oklahoma – The fifth-ranked Ouachita Baptist University football team moved to 6-0 with a 31-14 road win over East Central University on Saturday at Koi Ishto Stadium.
The Tigers have now clinched a winning record for the 2023 regular season, which is the 15th straight year for the program to reach that mark. The win also gives Ouachita a 6-0 start for the 11th time in program history.
Ouachita opened up with a score on the game's first drive with a 48-yard passing touchdown from
Riley Harms to
Kendel Givens to cap a six-play, 84-yard possession.
Gabe Goodman connected on a 50-yard field goal late in the first quarter to put Ouachita up 10-0. It was his longest of the season and third field goal of his career of at least 50 yards.
Harms went back to the air for the next two scores, both to
Connor Flannigan. The first connection in endzone came on a five-yard pass on the first play of the second quarter. The second came at the end of the second quarter with a 25-yard strike to give Ouachita a 24-7 lead at the break. Flannigan ended the game with 11 receptions for 104 yards. Harms finished at 19-for-28 through the air for 218 yards.
Givens found the endzone again with Ouachita's only score of the second half coming on a two-yard rush with 6:01 remaining in the third quarter to cap a 12-play, 78-yard drive to open the third quarter.
The Ouachita defense came up with two takeaways in the win with interceptions from
Mario Ganter, Jr. and
Dawson Miller. The Tiger defense was also crucial in keeping ECU off the field, which led to a 10-minute advantage in time of possession.
Ouachita looks ahead now to what will likely be a battle of top 10 teams next Saturday, October 14 in Searcy against Harding.
