DURANT, Oklahoma – The 14th-ranked Ouachita Baptist University football team moved to 5-0 on the season with a 25-9 road victory over Southeastern Oklahoma State University on Saturday at Paul Laird Field.
Neither offense found a rhythm in the first quarter with zeros on the board after the first 15 minutes. There were seven straight punts combined before Southeastern (2-3) struck first at the 6:48 mark of the second quarter on a 22-yard touchdown pass.
It wasn't until the 2:48 mark of the second quarter that Ouachita found the endzone. Quarterback
Eli Livingston broke free for a 79-yard touchdown run to tie the game, and then
Joel Allen connected with
Nathan Frater for a swinging-gate two-point conversion pass to put the Tigers up 8-6.
The Tigers scored on another quick drive at the end of the half to take a 15-6 lead at the break. Livingston connected with
Carter McElhany on a crossing pattern and McElhany ran 50 yards for what went into the books as a 55-yard touchdown pass.
In the third quarter, Ouachita went up 22-6 on a 10-yard touchdown run by
Nate TenBarge at the 8:28 mark.
The Savage Storm later added its final score on a 28-yard field goal with 26 seconds remaining in the third.
Ouachita finalized the scoring with a 32-yard field goal by
Dax Jaggers with 2:18 remaining in the game.
The Tiger defense posted its third game this season to only single digit points.
Southeastern held possession for nearly twice as long as Ouachita at 39:49 and held an 18-8 margin in first downs. Both teams struggled on third downs. Southeastern was 7-for-21. Ouachita was just 1-for-12. The Tigers held the Storm to just one fourth down conversion on five attempts, which was key late in the game.
Southeastern outgained Ouachita 393-240 and ran nearly twice as many plays as the Tigers.
Ouachita is back at home for its next two games. Next Saturday, October 12, the Tigers host East Central for Homecoming in a noon kickoff at Cliff Harris Stadium.
