The beauty of the game of football is that no matter what the size of the opposition, the discrepancies on paper or the predictions of sports personalities are, the outcome is still decided between the hash marks. In all scenarios, rain or shine, the team who can navigate their way through four quarters while reaching the scoreboard the most and turnover chart the least, wins the game.
In a society that increasingly values individual merit, it’s the team-first mentality that Ouachita Baptist players have invested in that has changed the course of program history from just working to compete with teams, to rising into championship conversation.
As the old saying goes, “In order to be the best, you must first be able to beat the best.” Well, the Tigers did just that, bursting into the national spotlight in 2009 after starting the season at 4-0. Among the early season victories were back-to-back top-25 triumphs over Gulf South Conference powers Valdosta State and Delta State. The early success landed Ouachita at No. 14 in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Poll.
Midseason injuries and other setbacks during conference action kept the Tigers from advancing to the 2009 NCAA Division II playoffs, but the success against the perennial powers of the league have heightened expectations for the program and raised an important question for the upcoming season: What is the next step?
“Expectations are high and that starts with our staff and our senior class,” Ouachita Head Coach Todd Knight said. “We are a talented team, and one of the reasons for that is our leadership from the upperclassman with their work ethic throughout the offseason and so far through August practice sessions. We are coming off of two good years and we’re looking to build on that success and take the next step in becoming a championship football team.”
Ouachita has put together back-to-back winning seasons for a 13-7 record over the past two seasons, and will return 15 starters overall in 2010, including eight on defense.
While expectations are at an all-time high during the Todd Knight era, a tough upcoming schedule features three teams in the AFCA top-25 poll, including Ouachita Homecoming opponent North Alabama (No. 3) on Oct. 23, traveling to non-conference opponent Nebraska-Omaha (No. 15) on Sept. 9 and Delta State (No. 24) at home on Nov. 6. Another team on the schedule just outside the top-25 is Valdosta State (Oct. 2). Ouachita also must travel to face a 2009 NCAA Second Round Playoff team in Arkansas Tech.
“We’re one of the few teams that plays all of the perennial top-three teams in the GSC,” Knight said. “What I like about our schedule is the open period before GSC action begins and the true open date after our first four games. It’s the first time in a while that we’ve had the midseason break, and that will allow our team to strengthen our morale and for bodies to heal from early season contact. It’s certainly a tough schedule, but we feel like our program is ready for the challenges ahead.”
Offense: it’s what audiences pay to watch. The excitement of the spread passing attack demands headlines, awards and the attention of sports fans alike.
Among the success featured for the Tigers offensively was the best GSC rushing offense with 197 yards per outing. Just as impressive was the overall protection by the offensive line unit, allowing just four sacks in 10 games, the best ratio among conference schools.
The quarterback position always demands the spotlight and returning for the Tigers will be senior Eli Cranor (6-1, 205) of Russellville. Cranor returns after passing for 1,941 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2009. The senior started in all 10 games last season and is also the returning leading rusher for the Tigers with 269 yards on the ground. Redshirt freshman Casey Cooper (6-0, 170) of Conway and freshman Benson Jordan (6-1, 205) of Lake Hamilton back up Cranor.
“Eli possesses great leadership, knowledge of the offense, a strong arm and is mobile out of the pocket for us offensively,” Knight said. “We couldn’t be happier with our quarterback situation. We have a talented quarterback group coming into this season.”
Perhaps the biggest question mark for the upcoming season will be at the running back position, where 77 percent of production has graduated. The returning candidates who look to fill the shoes of former Tiger KJ Johnson (2,651 yards, 25 touchdowns) will be sophomores Daniel McGee (5’10, 205) of Fort Smith Southside and Demarcus Collier (5’10, 180) of Prescott. Collier rushed for 169 yards on 36 carries and three touchdowns during his freshman campaign, while McGee redshirted in 2009. True freshman recruits Chris Rycraw (5’8, 185) of Bryant and Ricky Brown (6’1, 220) of Bearden will also look to see immediate action on the field.
The returning receivers include junior All-GSC tight end Phillip Supernaw (6-4, 243) and wide out Clinton Dewitt (5-11, 180) of Arkadelphia. Sophomore Jaime Harris (5-8, 160) caught 19 passes for 436 yards a season ago, while sophomore Peyton Tolliver (6’1, 185) is the leading returner in receptions with 24 for 144 yards and a touchdown.
Lafayette County All-GSC junior Cory Godbolt (6-2, 270) returns at left tackle with All-GSC junior Kyle Smith (6-2, 274) of Lake Hamilton at right guard. Junior Roy Richard (6-3, 295) mans the right tackle spot.
A pair of former Pine Bluff standouts should also compete for time on the offensive line in senior Kyle Garner (6-2, 270) at center and freshman Garrett Sykes (6-1, 280) at left guard.
Defense: simply put, it wins championships. When it comes down to the final minutes, defensive stops empower teams to greater heights and will put their stamp on championship-caliber programs.
Of the teams that ranked in the top-25 in total defense in Division II in 2009, 21 of them had winning records.
Among the most anticipated aspects of the upcoming season for Ouachita will be the returning defensive unit for the Tigers. In all, eight starters return to a unit that ranked as the second-best behind only North Alabama in total defense. Ouachita also fielded the top rushing defense in 2009, allowing just 85 yards rushing per game — the only unit allowing less than 100 yards/game.
“Defensively, we feel like we’re further ahead with so many starters back from a season ago. Overall we’ve had a good camp and have solid depth, but we just can’t relax at this point. We don’t like to get caught up with stats or rankings. Our staff talks more about winning points each position and the win-loss column ultimately from week-to-week.”
Leading the defensive front will be senior All-GSC defensive tackle Bryan Church (6-1, 300) of Warren who recorded 40 tackles, including 15 tackles for loss and three sacks. Junior nose guard Taurus Williams (6-1, 285) added 32 tackles and 5.5 sacks in 2009, while sophomore Alonzo Newton (6-2, 215) returns at defensive end. Junction City redshirt freshman Devin Ball (6-2, 240), the 2008 State Farm Awards 2A Defensive Player of the Year, is the only new addition to the defensive line.
At linebacker, the Tigers will have perhaps the best depth at the position since Knight’s arrival in 1999. Among the returners is senior Blake Burkett (5-10, 206), whose leadership at outside linebacker is critical. Junior Tyler George (5-10, 215) of Gosnell is the leading returning tackler with 57 stops and will play the other outside linebacker position, while Wynne’s Terrence Garrett (5-10, 220) returns after missing last season at the middle linebacker spot. Garrett was a 2008 All-GSC selection at linebacker after finishing with 91 tackles.
A deep secondary includes seniors Desmond Smoot (5-8, 179) and Jamerson Tolbert (5-8, 170), who both return at the corner positions. Smoot was the team leader in interceptions with two in 2009, while Tolbert added 24 tackles and five pass breakups. Junior Chad Emmons (6-0, 185) returns at free safety along with senior transfer Stanley Eduoard (6-0, 185) of Miami, Fla. Emmons totaled 39 tackles last season, including the game-winning pass breakup in the final seconds against Southwest Baptist. Junior A.J. Williams (5-8, 180) of Stuttgart and sophomore Dijon Benton (6-1, 190) of Bryant could also earn playing time in the secondary.
“We’ve got to take each game one at a time,” Knight said. “If we focus on the front end of the schedule and not the back end, we feel like we have a chance to compete for the GSC crown. Our motto during camp has been ‘How are you going to be remembered?’ We want to go out of the GSC on a high note.”
Ouachita kicks off the 2010 season on Thursday, Sept. 2, against non-conference opponent Texas College at 7 p.m. at A.U. Williams Field in Arkadelphia.
