Box Score (html)
ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – The Paul Sharp Cup again belongs to Ouachita Baptist after the Tigers took advantage of six SWOSU turnovers and handed the Bulldogs a 54-21 defeat on Saturday afternoon at Cliff Harris Stadium.
The SWOSU defense held Ouachita Baptist to a field goal on their opening possession of the game and the offense answered with a nine-play 66-yard drive that was capped off when
Karl Hodge found the end zone from one yard out, giving SWOSU a 7-3 lead with just over five minutes remained in the opening quarter.
The defense appeared to have forced a three-and-out on the Tigers next drive, but two third-down penalties kept the drive alive and OBU cashed it in with a 32-yard TD pass that put them back on top 10-7. The remainder of the first half belonged to Ouachita Baptist as they cashed in four SWOSU turnovers for 17 points, including two fumbles returned for touchdowns by Kyle Lamothe, and took a 33-7 lead to the break.
Ouachita Baptist slowed the game down in the second half, keeping the ball on the ground and adding two offensive touchdowns and another defensive score with a pick-six early in the fourth quarter. SWOSU added their second half scores on a pair of TD passes from
Klark Ashmore to
Teverick Boyd and
Brian Robinson.
Ashmore, who became the first true freshman to start at quarterback for the Bulldogs since
Steve Day in 2005, finished his debut 23-of-38 for 258 yards and two touchdowns while throwing one interception and losing one fumble.
Teverick Boyd was his top receiver, making eight catches for 96 yards and a score. Hodge rushed for 69 yards and a TD while
Matt Farris added 51 yards on 12 carries.
The SWOSU defense, which allowed just 267 total yards and only 87 yards on the ground, was led by
Kapena Olsen, who made 12 tackles (10 solo, 2 assist) while
Steven Townsley added eight.
Devin Benton added two solo tackles for loss to his NCAA Division II leading count and he moved into a tie for third place on SWOSU's career tackles for loss list.
SWOSU falls to 2-3 overall and in conference play with the loss heading into a Homecoming matchup against top-ten nationally ranked Henderson State. The Bulldogs will host the Reddies at 5:00 pm next Saturday night at Fast Lane Field.
