The Ouachita football team has concluded its pre-season practices and is preparing to suit up Saturday for the first game of the year.
The Tigers are looking to continue moving in the right direction this year after coming from a year in which they showed significant signs of improvement.
Head Coach Todd Knight expects great things from this year’s group of Tigers. “When you have good morale and enthusiasm, control your attitudes and thoughts, have a little depth and keep people healthy, you really expect great things,” Coach Knight said.
Lance Parker, in his third year starting at the quarterback position, agrees. “We expect to improve on last year’s team,” Parker said. “We know it won’t be the same team, but we plan to produce.”
The main team difference will come in the running game. The Tigers lost Willie Hopson, an all-conference tailback and a 1,177-yard rusher. A three-pronged approach will be used to replace Hopson’s game. Keldrick Johnson, Terrell Alex and John Johnson will all get carries, according to Knight. Keldrick Johnson was last year’s top backup, rushing for 424 yards on 102 carries.
The passing game will look very similar to last year’s with Parker starting the attack and returning starters Julio Pruitt and Jared Nutt lining up as receivers.
“It is my third year with Julio so we are about to the point where we read each others minds,” said Parker.
The offensive line also comes back with experience with Kyle Barnard anchoring, along with Eric Butler. Bob Ruffing will be returning at tight end.
“You have somebody coming back at every position that has been in the wars,” Knight said in regards to the team’s experience.
The defense also has a lot of returning starters or players who saw significant play time last year. In the secondary the Tigers return starting safety Blake Burkett after a strong freshman campaign.
Also returning is second team all-conference cornerback Antwon Thompson who had nine pass break-ups last year.
At linebacker the Tigers have Terrance Garrett and Jimmy Pinkney, neither of whom started, but both did who saw significant playing time. Also at linebacker is transfer Mikhail Lindsey who racked up 80 tackles at his Butler Community College (Kan.).
Knight said the defensive line is a real strength for this year’s team. The line returns five players with significant playing time and starting experience: Bryan Church, Robert MeKee, Jerry McNeil, Frank Espy and Josh Mills.
“You have guys who have been through it and know what to expect,” Knight said.
In the kicking game the Tigers return starter Zach Wright who was selected to the second team all-conference squad and kicked the game-winning, 38-yard field goal at Texas A&M Commerce last year.
The Tigers open up Saturday at 12 p.m. against the Fort Lewis College (Colo.) Skyhawks at A.U. Williams Field. The Skyhawks won their opening contest last week 21-0, so the Tigers know not to take them lightly. However, they do not know much about the team, with only a few game tapes from last year to go by.
“We have to establish a run game early,” Parker said, if Ouachita wants to win the game.
Supposedly their strength is the secondary. “If we don’t turn it over and sustain some drives to keep our defense fresh, we should be successful,” Parker said.
