BIRMINGHAM, Ala.- After leading the Gulf South Conference in rushing offense and sporting the second best defense among all league teams, Ouachita Baptist led all conference schools with landing five players on the 2010 Preseason GSC Football Team, conference officials announced on Tuesday.
Among the players selected for the preseason squad, all five are returning All-GSC honorees from the 2009 season, including senior defensive tackle Bryan Church, senior linebacker Clayton Goree and juniors Phillip Supernaw (tight end), Kyle Smith (guard) and Cory Godbolt (tackle).
The 2010 Preseason GSC Football Team is selected by head coaches of the 11-member league. Church was one of only three consensus picks by league coaches.
After garnering a Second Team All-GSC selection after the 2009 season, Church is one of 10 returning starters on defense for the Tigers, who finished second to only North Alabama in total defense, giving up just 312 yards/game. The Warren native finished fourth in the conference with 15 tackles for loss, including 40 total tackles, three sacks, one interception, six quarterback hurries and one fumble recovery. The three sacks by the defensive tackle were among the 29 total by Ouachita, good enough for second-best overall. The Tigers also gave up the least amount of first downs last season at 166, 13 fewer than second place Valdosta State in the same category.
Goree joined the Tigers after playing junior college at El Diablo Valley, and quickly burst onto the scene in 2009, by totaling 54 tackles and two interceptions to lead the top-ranked rush defense in the GSC. Paired with nine other returning starters, Goree will attempt to continue the team dominance against the run, after the Tigers gave up just 85 yards/game against teams. Ouachita was the only team to average allowing opponents under 100 yards, while also returning the fourth best pass defense overall, giving up 227 yards through the air.
With a 6’4, 240 pound frame, defenses found it tough to get past Supernaw at tight end, as the Katy, Texas native helped with the run blocking scheme, while also totaling four touchdowns on 13 catches for 132 yards. Supernaw was a Second Team selection on the 2009 All-GSC squad and is among seven returning starters on offense.
A pair of offensive linemen return in Smith and Godbolt, as both teamed up for the top rushing offense in the GSC last season, averaging 197 yards per game. The duo are also both in-state products, as Smith hails from Lake Hamilton High School in Pearcy and Godbolt from Lafayette County High School in Stamps. Perhaps one of the most impressive factors about the offensive line for Ouachita last season was the protection of returning senior quarterback Eli Cranor. The Tigers limited opponents to just four sacks on Cranor throughout the season. The second best team in the category was Arkansas Tech at 10, while five other teams gave up 20-plus sacks in 2009.
Also recognized among the top 2010 newcomers by the GSC are junior center Austen Hybsha (Butler CC; Kansas), sophomore defensive end Shauwn Hawkins (Stephen F. Austin), freshman linebacker Colby Miller (North Little Rock HS) and freshman running back Chris Rycraw (Bryant HS).
The five honorees for Ouachita tied with Arkansas-Monticello for the most among the conference, followed by four selections for Valdosta State. North Alabama, Southern Arkansas and West Alabama each placed three, respectively.
