ARKADELPHIA- Entering the week, the buzz was all about the nation’s best defense against the GSC-best offense, but it came down to special teams play as Ouachita Baptist sophomore Dijon Benton blocked an extra point attempt in overtime, as the Tigers upset No. 10 North Alabama, 24-23, on Homecoming weekend at A.U. Williams Field in Arkadelphia on Saturday.
Ouachita (5-2, 3-2 GSC) collected an important Gulf South Conference victory over North Alabama (6-2, 3-2 GSC), despite the Lions holding the ball for just over 54 minutes on the afternoon. In a game where the Tigers answered when it mattered the most, Ouachita held a 42-32 advantage in punting average. Also not to be overlooked was the field position battle. Ouachita finished the night with their offensive drives beginning on average at the 31-yard line, while North Alabama averaged a 19-yard starting point. The Lions did put up big chunks of yardage offensively, finishing with 452 yards as the second highest output of any opponent against the Tigers in 2010 (457 by Harding on Sept. 25).
“It was a huge victory against the No. 10 team in the country, against one of the top defenses in the league,” Ouachita Head Coach Todd Knight said. “To be able to do that at home in front of our students and alumni on Homecoming was special. One thing we talked about is that somebody has to make a play, and Dijon Benton went out and made the play. The call wasn’t designed for him to make the block, but somebody had to step up.”
The Tigers grabbed the lead with 2:11 left in the fourth quarter on a 1-yard run by senior quarterback Eli Cranor and looked to be in great position to come up with a victory in regulation. With just under a minute remaining, No. 10 North Alabama (5-2, 3-2 GSC) marched down the field on 13 plays for 70 yards, tying the game at 17-17 on a 6-yard run from Josh Montgomery with 55 seconds remaining.
“I’m most proud of the players, because we had the game won with two minutes left, and UNA drives down to make the touchdown and we go into overtime,” Knight said. “We never gave up, and we wanted to be on defense first in the overtime period and it worked out for us with the blocked kick. Having two weeks to prepare in breaking down game film really helped, and it was great for our kids to have the opportunity to get healthy.”
It was the Lions who opened play in the overtime period offensively, scoring on the fifth play as Wes Holland capped off the drive with a 4-yard dive off-tackle to the right. The suspense, however, came in an unlikely source in the extra point attempt. Benton broke through the line for North Alabama on an excellent jump off the left edge, allowing the stretched arm block to give the Tigers a much needed momentum swing heading into their offensive possession.
On the second play from the UNA 25, Cranor found sophomore receiver Brett Reece down the home sideline for a 25-yard touchdown strike that tied the game at 23-23. Sophomore kicker Jason Fowler sealed the victory with a successful extra point attempt, sending the Tigers rushing onto the field and to their first win over North Alabama since 2002. The game-winner by Fowler was the first game-winning field goal for the Tigers since Zach Wright hit a 38-yard field goal against Texas A&M-Commerce on Sept. 1, 2007.
“It was a really special moment for Jason Fowler, who had a death in his family earlier this week,” Knight said. “We hoped that Jason would be in a position that he could do something big for our team and that was huge.”
Among the highlights for Ouachita, was that the Tigers broke the 27-game winning streak that the Lions had against Arkansas schools. The Tigers became the first team to record 300 yards of offense against the national leader, and only the second team to rush for 100 yards, as Ouachita collected 137 yards on the ground.
North Alabama jumped on the board on their first possession in the opening quarter, as quarterback Lee Chapple connected with Thor Merrow for 21 yards and a 7-0 lead with 9:30 remaining.
The Tigers salvaged a six-play, 34-yard drive in the second quarter with a 38-yard field goal for the lone score by either team in the second quarter, as the Lions held a 7-3 advantage.
To begin the third period, North Alabama put together an impressive 8-play, 89-yard drive, but was forced to settle for a 26-yard field goal from Josh Montgomery, extending the lead to 10-3 for the Lions with 2:50 remaining in the third quarter.
Ouachita responded just over a minute later, as Cranor found Reece for a 35-yard score to tie the game at 10-10 with 1:16 remaining in the third.
It was the Tigers again who found the end zone late in the fourth quarter, as Cranor’s 1-yard quarterback sneak up the middle gave Ouachita a 17-10 lead with 2:11 remaining in the final period.
Too much time on the clock and a fast tracked offensive drive by North Alabama kept the game alive, as Holland tied the game at 17-17, as the Tigers downed the football on the ensuing possession with 55 seconds remaining.
On the night, Cranor completed 17-of-34 passes for 190 yards and two touchdowns, while also leading the Tigers on the ground with 81 yards and one touchdown for 271 total yards of offense. Reece made impressive catches throughout the night, totaling seven catches for 103 yards and two touchdowns.
Leading the charge defensively for Ouachita was senior linebacker Blake Burkett with 11 tackles, followed by a 10-tackle effort from Benton. Ouachita recorded three sacks on the evening, including one from junior linebacker Terrence Garrett (nine tackles), junior defensive tackle Taurus Williams (five) and sophomore defensive end Devin Ball (one).
North Alabama finished with a game-high 452 yards, led by Chapple’s 215-yard passing effort on 18-of-29 effort and 136 yards rushing from Holland. Hilliard Foster led the defensive charts with eight tackles, while Larry Wilson recorded the game’s only interception.
“I’m proud of our coaches. Our plan was good and our staff did a great job. The players were resilient and they got it done. I’m extremely proud of them and our 14 seniors. They’re a group of winners.”
Ouachita returns to action on Saturday, Oct. 30 for the annual Battle of the Ravine series against Henderson State at Carpenter-Haygood Stadium in Arkadelphia at 1 p.m.
“The Battle of the Ravine is huge as usual. We have to take care of business with Henderson, as they have a great football team and it will be a great atmosphere with the cross-town rivalry.
