Ouachita Baptist University senior football players Julius Pruitt and Bob Ruffing played their final collegiate football game Friday, Jan. 9 as the two were teammates for the East Team in the 2009 Valero Cactus Bowl at Javelina Stadium.
Pruitt, a native of Newport, Ark., had one long catch and one run for six yards. Ruffing, a native of Chico, Calif., caught one pass, a 1-yard touchdown reception, for the first score of the game.
In front of more than 6,000 fans, the East and West All-Star team put on a show as there were five lead changes. The contest came down to the final seconds as the West snapped a three-game losing streak as the East missed a potential game-winning 34-yard field goal with three seconds.
Pruitt, who was honored Saturday night by the Little Rock Touchdown Club, set a school record and career record in his final collegiate game against Henderson State with 250 receiving yards on 10 catches in a 43-36 victory. The senior wide receiver finishes this season with 77 catches for 1,116 yards and 11 touchdowns. He averaged 111.6 yards per a game.
He ranks just second all-time in receiving yards in a career with 2,406. Only Doug Freeze’s mark of 2,453 is better. Pruitt, who was an All-Gulf South Conference second team player last season, set a school records this past season in receptions with 171 and holds the single-season mark with 77. He is also second in all-time career touchdowns among receivers at OBU. Freeze holds the mark with 26, while Pruitt finished his four-year career with 24.
Pruitt, who was tabbed First-Team All-Gulf South Conference, was named to the Daktronics First-Team All-Super Region 2 Team.
Ruffing, a senior tight end from Chico, Calif., caught seven passes for 60 yards, while adding a pair of touchdowns. He was a key contributor in the offense with his pass and run blocking abilities.
