ARKADELPHIA- For a second-straight season, Ouachita Baptist was in a class of their own, as the Tigers landed an Arkansas-best, school record 10 Gulf South Conference selections, officials announced on Thursday. Among the 10 selections were seven Arkansas natives.
Among the selections were First Team members in sophomore receiver Brett Reece, junior offensive guard Kyle Smith (Royal), junior offensive tackle Roy Richard (Lewisville), junior offensive tackle Cory Godbolt (Stamps) and sophomore kicker Jason Fowler. On the All-GSC Second Team were senior quarterback Eli Cranor (Russellville), sophomore running back Daniel McGee (Fort Smith), junior tight end Phillip Supernaw, senior defensive tackle Bryan Church (Warren) and sophomore defensive back Dijon Benton (Bryant).
The 10 selections were second only to North Alabama in GSC schools, breaking the school record nine selections from a season ago. Ouachita led all Arkansas-based GSC schools, as the Tigers have produced three-straight winning seasons under Head Coach Todd Knight, also the longest streak among state GSC schools. The offensive unit for the Tigers set a school record for scoring in 2010, as Ouachita garnered seven offensive selections to the All-GSC Team after scoring 35.2 points per game, breaking the former record of 34.1 points/game set in 2008. Both totals were records since joining the conference in 2000.
For a second-straight season, the offensive line unit made headlines, this season garnering an impressive three selections to a First Team that consisted of only seven lineman total. Even more significant is the geographical location and classification of the trio, as all three reside in south Arkansas and were juniors in 2010. Among the three are former teammates in Lafayette County High School products Roy Richard and Cory Godbolt. Junior Kyle Smith resides in Royal, Ark. after attending Lake Hamilton High School.
Smith is a returning All-GSC Second Team selection in 2009, as well as an All-GSC Pre-Season Team selection in 2010. Smith started all 10 games at right guard this season, and has 26-straight starts for his career. The junior graded out on an average of 87 percent in 2010. The Royal, Ark. native didn’t allow a sack all season as the Tiger offense placed second in the league in fewest sacks allowed with 13. The pass protection from Smith also aided the offense to finish second in the GSC in scoring at 35.2 points/game. Smith also helped pave the way for the second-leading rushing offense in the conference at 193.4 yards/game. On the season, Smith totaled 74 knockdowns.
Godbolt was an All-GSC Second Team selection in 2009, as well as an All-GSC Pre-Season Team Selection in 2010. Godbolt started in 10 games this season and has started 25-straight for Ouachita. The junior left tackle is a main reason that the Tiger offense finished fourth in the GSC in passing with 258 yards/game. On the season, Godbolt allowed one sack, 8 pressures and totaled 53 knockdowns while protecting the quarterback’s blindside. Godbolt graded out at 83 percent in 2010.
Richard joined teammates with his first GSC selection as a First Team member at right tackle. The junior right tackle started in all 10 games and has started 18-straight overall. Richard was dominant in the run blocking scheme all season long, totaling 90 knockdowns. The effort from Richard was evident, as 90 percent of Ouachita’s GSC-best Red Zone Offense rushing attack was run behind the right tackle. For the season, the junior graded out at an average of 85 percent, while allowing no sacks and just 10 pressures all season.
Reece was a game-breaker at receiver throughout 2010, finishing second in the GSC in receiving yards receiving yards per game. The Houston, Texas native started all 10 games, catching 46 passes for 825 yards and six touchdowns. The sophomore finished with 3-100 yard games, including a season-high 153 yards on eight catches in a 37-34 victory over Harding. Also among the highlights was a 25-yard game-tying touchdown reception in overtime against then-No. 10 North Alabama in a 24-23 upset victory.
For many teams, special teams can be a headache at times. That wasn’t the case for Ouachita and sophomore kicker Jason Fowler, as the Mesquite, Texas native was tabbed the GSC’s best kicker in 2010. Fowler finished tops in the GSC in field goals, first in scoring and first in scoring (kicks). Fowler was a special teams force throughout the season for Ouachita, finishing 13-of-17 on field goal attempts for 76.5 percent, including a 41-for-42 mark in extra point attempts, which broke the OBU single season record for extra points in a single season. Fowler finished with the highest PAT kicking percentage among kickers with 30-plus attempts and highest field goal percentage among kickers with 11-plus made field goals.
At quarterback, there were few who efficiently led offensive units better than Cranor, as the senior completed 204-of-338 passes for 2,570 yards and 14 touchdowns. The Russellville native averaged 257 yards passing/game, while also totaling 513 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns. In all, Cranor averaged 308 yards of total offense per game, finishing with 3,083 total yards, which was third best in the GSC. Cranor broke the single-season record for both Total Offense and Passing Yards in a season, eclipsing former Ouachita quarterback Lance Parker’s mark of 2,475 yards passing and 2,523 yards of total offense set in 2008. Cranor also earned GSC Offensive Player of the Week honors on Monday. In his career, Cranor completed 386-of-663 passes for 4,712 yards and 28 touchdowns, including 792 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns. In all, the senior finishes with 5,504 yards of total offense and 40 touchdowns. Both career totals for passing yards and total offense rank fourth all-time in Ouachita Baptist football history.
Bursting onto the scene at running back in 2010 was sophomore Daniel McGee. The Fort Smith, Arkansas native finished first in the GSC in scoring touchdowns and second in the GSC in rushing yards and rushing yards per game. McGee led Ouachita with 926 yards on 167 carries with 11 touchdowns for a 5.5 yards-per-carry average and 92.6 yards/game. McGee recorded career-high games against Southern Arkansas with 195 yards and Nebraska-Omaha with 180 yards. The sophomore marks the fourth-straight season that Ouachita has fielded a running back with 900-plus yards on the season, the best such mark among all GSC schools.
Supernaw is a returning All-GSC selection, after garnering First Team honors in 2009. The junior tight end was a Pre-season All-GSC selection in 2010, collecting 29 catches for 377 yards and three touchdowns. Supernaw also worked as a premier blocker in the run and pass blocking schemes.
Church is a returning 2009 All-GSC Second Team selection, as well as a 2010 Preseason All-GSC selection at defensive tackle. The senior has been a pivotal part of the Tigers success, totaling 37 tackles, including 8 tackles for loss and .5 sacks while being double-teamed throughout most of the season. Church also had 2 pass breakups, one quarterback hurry and one recovered fumble.
Benton garners his first All-GSC honors, finishing with 40 tackles on the season, including 1.5 tackles for loss and an interception for a 44-yard return. Benton added 2 pass breakups, one recovered fumble, one forced fumble and one blocked kick.
Ouachita Baptist finished the 2010 season at 6-4 overall, ending with a 52-34 victory over Southern Arkansas.
