The Ouachita Tiger Football Team enters the Henderson State game 7-2, riding off an impressive 35-10 win over the Arkansas-Monticello Boll Weevils. The Tigers are led by a strong, senior backfield in quarterback Benson Jordan and runningback Chris Rycraw.
Rycraw leads the team this year in rushing with 892 yards on 156 carries and averages over 100 yards per game. Rycraw has significant help from Steven Kehner who has rushed for over 500 yards this season as well.
But, Rycraw and Kehner have quickly noted in interviews this season that a large majority of their success can be attributed to the offensive line.
The offensive line this season began with it a few questions of inexperience that needed to be addressed. With a freshman, a redshirt freshman, and a sophomore starting, the offensive line has stepped up and gained significant experience in big games so far this season.
Dubbed by most this season as the Tigers make or breaking point, Mitch Bledsoe (LT), Brent Calhoon (LG), Aaron Sprinkle (C), Brannon Kotch (Freshman) and Michael Russell have stepped up and have led this team into the trenches.
At the receiving core, the Tigers are loaded. They have 5 receivers with over 200 yards receiving in the year. This receiving core has lightened the load on Rycraw and Kehner significantly and has given Jordan the ability to spread the ball around when he wants to pass and thus, makes him less predictable and that eliminates interceptions.
In defense, the Tigers are average. They are allowing 318 average yards per game on defense. Ouachita’s strong point is the secondary which will be tested by Henderson’s potent passing attack on Saturday.
In reality, it will take everything that everyone of these players has to take down the mighty Henderson Reddies football team. This team averages over 40 points a game and the lowest number of points they have scored this year came against UAM where they scored 37. Henderson averages over 530 yards of total offense per game while there opponent averages 321 yards.
In defense, the Henderson State Reddies are aggressive and impressive as well. The Reddies boast a 4.2 average yards per play and will be tough to score on. The Tigers will need to be playing their best ball on both offense and defense to come out of A.U. Williams field with a win.
