ARKADELPHIA- Despite a 382-yard passing effort from Ouachita Baptist and four blocked kicks, it was Delta State who erased a 27-7 deficit to score 20 fourth quarter points and defeat the Tigers, 33-27, on Senior Day at A.U. Williams Field in Arkadelphia on Saturday.
Ouachita (5-4, 3-4 GSC) looked to be in great position for a Gulf South Conference victory over Delta State (7-3, 6-2 GSC), but the Statesmen converted on short field position in the fourth quarter to take the victory.
It was a great start for the Tigers to begin the game, as Ouachita went up 10-0 with 8:46 left in the first quarter. Ouachita sophomore kicker Jason Fowler put the Tigers up 3-0 with a 30-yard field goal, finishing an 8-play, 57 yard drive.
After a stop on defense, Ouachita again answered with a scoring drive, this time ending in a 5-yard run from Cranor for a 10-0 lead. The Tigers went 75 yards on just five plays, aided by 72 yards passing from the senior quarterback on a 44-yard completion to senior Nico Hobbs and 28-yard toss to junior All-GSC tight end Phillip Supernaw.
The passing onslaught continued, as Cranor found sophomore receiver Jamie Harris for a 43-yard touchdown strike. Ouachita went 80 yards on eight plays for a 17-0 opening half lead. The scoring play came with 10:51 remaining in the second quarter.
Delta State avoided going scoreless in the first half, as running back Micah Davis found the end zone from 10 yards out to cut the lead to 17-7 with 2:02 remaining in the second quarter.
After halftime, the Tigers came out energetic, as Cranor scored his second rushing touchdown of the game from one yard out, giving Ouachita another 17-point lead with 3:44 remaining in the third.
From there, Delta State reeled off three-straight touchdown drives, all ending in touchdown runs from running back Trevar Deed, beginning with a 3-yard run with 28 seconds left in the third to make the score 24-13.
Benefitting from short field position, Deed scored again less than two minutes later, diving in from 2 yards out to continue the comeback at 24-19. The Statesmen used a 25-yard punt return to start the possession at the OBU 34 yard line.
On the ensuing possession for the Tigers, Ouachita quarterback Eli Cranor was intercepted by Hollan Fiu, as Delta State again began their possession deep into Ouachita territory at the OBU 37.
Delta State drove 37 yards on five plays, ending in an 8-yard score from Deed, giving the Statesmen a 27-24 lead with 8:53 remaining in the final quarter.
Ouachita Baptist answered back with a 57-yard drive, as Fowler was successful on a 25-yard field goal attempt, tying the game at 27-27 with 5:22 remaining.
With the kickoff that followed for the Tigers, Ouachita was penalized 15 yards on a pair of offsides penalties and a kick that sailed out of bounds, eventually giving the Statesmen the football on the OBU 46 after a 29-yard return from Delta State’s Maurice Moore.
Lucas opened the drive for Delta State with a 27-yard run to the OBU 14, followed by a 14-yard touchdown strike to receiver Carlton Ollie for a 33-27 Delta State lead with 4:12 left.
It wasn’t anywhere near over, however, as the Tigers converted on third-and-six as Cranor found sophomore receiver Brett Reece for 18 yards to the OBU 36. After a personal foul penalty on Delta State and a 15-yard connection from Cranor to junior receiver Clinton Dewitt put the Tigers on the DSU 34.
On second-and-10, Cranor found Reece for 14 yards to the DSU 20, giving the Tigers the ball inside the 20 yard line. After a 3-yard run from sophomore Daniel McGee, fans and coaches celebrated what looked to be a game-tying, 17-yard touchdown toss to Reece, but the sideline official said the footing from Reece wasn’t in bounds, forcing Ouachita into a third-and-7. An incomplete pass and 5-yard run from Cranor on fourth-and-7, then ended the comeback effort for the Tigers.
Cranor led the Ouachita offense to 518 yards of total offense, by completing 24-of-44 passes for 382 yards and three interceptions with the 43-yard touchdown pass. The ground game totaled 136 yards on the afternoon, led by McGee’s 55 yards on 18 carries, while Cranor added 40 yards and two touchdowns. The main target for the senior was Harris with seven catches for 136 yards and a touchdown, followed by Hobbs with a career-high of seven catches for 82 yards.
Defensively, sophomore Augustine Ume-Ezeoke led the tackles chart with seven stops, followed by six from seniors Blake Burkett and Desmond Smoot. Senior safety Stanley Eduoard recorded the lone interception for the Tigers.
Delta State totaled 403 yards in the victory, as quarterback Micah Davis threw for 254 yards on 23-of-39 passing, while Trevar Deed ran for 54 yards and three touchdowns. Garrett Williams led all players with 13 tackles and an interception. Teammate Kenny Barnes added seven stops, including six solo tackles.
Ouachita Baptist closes out the 2010 season in Magnolia on Saturday, Nov. 13 against Southern Arkansas at 2 p.m.
