ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – SWOSU Football fell 42-3 to a nationally ranked Ouachita Baptist on Thursday night inside Cliff Harris Stadium to begin the 2024 season.

The Bulldogs went toe-to-toe with the Tigers in the first quarter with back-to-back stops on defense to start the game including a fumble recovery from Cadynce Hall on Ouachita's second drive. Following the fumble, SWOSU moved down the field with a 13 play, 62-yard drive that picked up four first downs along the way – getting all the way to the Tiger 21-yard line – before a fumble of their own halted the drive and seemingly shifted momentum for good.

Ouachita capitalized two plays later from a 73-yard touchdown pass, and then put up another 21 points on three consecutive drives in the second quarter to lead things 28-0 by halftime.

Two more third quarter scores went unanswered before the Dawgs finally broke the seal in the fourth quarter. Jaylen Niedo forced and recovered a fumble and Ethan McBee knocked down a 25-yard field goal shortly thereafter for SWOSU's lone points of the game.

The Dawgs finished with 247 yards of total offense – 150 through the air and 97 on the ground. Ouachita totaled 334 yards of offense, 296 of which came in the first half.

Chandler Galban and Kai Kunz split time at quarterback. Galban was 7-of-9 for 56 yards. Kunz finished 13-of-21 with 94 yards and an interception but had success running the ball with a team high 85 yards rushing on 15 carries.

Baylor Nash grabbed six catches for 48 yards to lead the receiving core.

Defensively, SWOSU recovered three fumbles. Both teams had three turnovers, as the Bulldogs coughed up two fumbles of their own and threw another interception. Logan Monroe, SWOSU's leading tackler a year ago, totaled seven more including a sack.

After a road game to start the year, the Bulldogs will get a long week of preparation leading up to the home opener on Saturday, September 14 when Arkansas-Monticello comes to Weatherford. Kickoff for that game is set for 6:00 pm.