WEATHERFORD, Okla. – SWOSU Football begins the 2023 campaign at home on Thursday, August 31 against preseason nationally ranked Ouachita Baptist in the battle for the Paul Sharp Cup. The matchup is named after the former head coach of SWOSU's 1996 NAIA National Championship team who also played and coached football at Ouachita.
View Week One Game Notes (pdf)
The game will be SWOSU Interim Head Coach
Ruzell McCoy's first appearance as head man on the sidelines. McCoy was elevated to the head coaching title back in January after replacing Josh Kirkland who spent one season as head coach in 2022. Ouachita historically has been a tough task for the Bulldogs, who have not defeated the Tigers since 2015 in what was their lone win over them in the league's 11-season history.
Good news is home field is on SWOSU's side. In the GAC era, the Bulldogs have hung tough with Ouachita in Weatherford with a win in 2015 and an overall scoring margin cut well over 50 percent when the teams play in Oklahoma. The past two matchups in Weatherford have been decided by a total of 25 points including a 26-21 score in 2019.
Ouachita, winners of four of the last five GAC Championships, sits prone to make another run at the league title by returning over 50 lettermen from last year's team including 15 starters. The Tigers lose T.J. Cole, a Harlon Hill finalist last season, but will continue to be led by Kendel Givens who ran for nearly 1,000 yards himself last year with 14 TDs. Givens ran eight times against SWOSU in 2022 for 118 yards and two scores. Ouachita's running attack should consume a majority of the Tiger offense again this season. 2022 Ouachita rushing stats include:
- 49 TDs (2nd most in D2)
- 281.8 YPG (4th most in D2)
- 547 rushing attempts, compared to 220 passing attempts
Meanwhile, Ouachita's 2022's defense allowed a GAC third best 20.7 points per game and fourth-best 379.3 yards per game.
On offense, SWOSU will look to replace its quarterback
Tylan Morton, top two rushers including Morton, and top four pass catchers including two All-GAC selections
Isreal Watson &
Deshon Moreaux from last season in 2023.
Notable returners include:
2022 OFFENSIVE CONFERENCE RANKINGS
31.0 points per game (7th in GAC)
389.4 yards per game (8th)
143.1 yards rushing per game (9th)
246.3 yards passing per game (2nd)
36.2% (63-174) 3rd down conversions (10th)
62.2% (23-37) 4th down conversions (3rd)
88.1% Red Zone Scoring | 37-42; 26 TDs, 11-14 FGs
26:44 Time of Possession (11th)
SWOSU's top-five tacklers will need to be replaced in 2023 including
Keldric Martin who led the league in tackles last regular season.
Notable returners include:
2022 DEFENSIVE CONFERENCE RANKINGS
36.6 points per game (9th in GAC)
454.4 yards per game (9th)
260.1 rushing yards per game (10th)
194.3 passing yards per game (6th)
38.4% (58-151) opponent 3rd down conversions (3rd)
57.1% (16-28) opponent 4th down conversions (6th)
69.4% Red Zone Scoring | 37-53; 30 TDs, 7-9 FGs
2.2 sacks per game, 24 total (2nd)
12 INTs (3rd)
SWOSU will feature a new kicker/punter in 2023. Last season, four of SWOSU's league-leading eight GAC Player of the Week awards came on special teams.
2022 SPECIAL TEAMS CONFERENCE RANKINGS
11-15 FGs (4th in GAC in makes; 7th in GAC in percentage)
34.5 yards per punt (6th)
36-41 PATs, .878 (9th)
