MONTICELLO, Arkansas – A 21-0 advantage in the first quarter helped the fourth-ranked Ouachita Baptist University football team maintain at least a two-score lead and eventually secure a 45-25 road win over Arkansas-Monticello on Saturday night at Willis "Convoy" Leslie Cotton Boll Stadium.
The Tigers (4-0) scored on the game's opening drive, capped by a 73-yard touchdown pass from
Riley Harms to
Connor Flannigan. The Tiger defense then forced a turnover on downs on UAM's first drive, which led to Ouachita going up 14-0 on a 12-yard touchdown pass from Harms to
Chris Hightower. The Tigers went up 21-0 later in the quarter on a drive capped by a 16-yard touchdown run by
Kendel Givens.
UAM (2-2) found the endzone for the first time with five minutes remaining in the second quarter, but the Tigers immediately responded on a 94-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by reigning Great American Conference Special Teams Player of the Week
Carter McElhany, who finished the game with five returns for 188 yards for an average of 37.6 yards.
The Weevils added another touchdown with just over one minute remaining before halftime, but the Tigers managed to go 62 yards in just 47 seconds and score on a 27-yard field goal by
Gabe Goodman as time expired to put Ouachita up 31-13 at the break.
The Tigers were held scoreless in the third quarter, but the defense gave up just one score to maintain a two-score lead heading into the final 15 minutes. Ouachita outscored the Weevils 14-6 in the fourth quarter, highlighted by a one-yard touchdown run by Givens on fourth-and-goal and a four-yard touchdown run by
Eli Livingston for the final dagger.
Kendel Givens turned in his best rushing game as a Tiger with 22 carries for a career-high 171 yards.
Chris Henley, Jr. finished with 11 carries for 68 yards.
Through the air, Harms finished 17-for-24 for 221 yards and two scores.
Connor Flannigan had six receptions for 106 yards.
Keemontrae McKnight had seven catches for 78 yards.
Josiah Johnson once again led the Tiger defense with 10 tackles.
The team stats in the game were balanced between the two squads with the Tigers holding a slight advantage in total yards at 486-452. UAM led in passing yards 247-221. Ouachita led in rushing 265-205.
One of the biggest differences in the final stats were third down conversions. The Tigers were 7-for-12 on offense, while the defense held the Weevils to just one conversion on nine attempts.
The Tigers move on to week five and look to next Saturday, September 30, when the team hosts Southeastern Oklahoma State for Homecoming. Next Saturday's kickoff is set for noon at Cliff Harris Stadium.
