After scoring in six of their first seven drives of the first half, Ouachita Baptist University won their first Gulf South Conference matchup with ease, 41-7, over the University of West Georgia.
Ouachita opened the scoring with a three-play, 62 yard drive, ending with a 51-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Eli Cranor from Russellville, to freshman wide receiver Jaime Harris after just 1:21 of play. The play was set up after a 38-yard kickoff return from senior Jeremy Young.
West Georgia answered back quickly with a 62 yard touchdown drive of their own, using 2:24 on the clock, as Wolves runningback Joey Harris scored on a 13 yard run to tie the game at 7-7 in the first quarter.
After Young’s 42-yard kickoff return started the Tigers second drive at the Wolves 48 yard-line, Ouachita senior running back KJ Johnson ran three-consecutive times for a total of 43 yards, as the last run for 17 yards gave the Tigers the lead for good, 14-7.
Two consecutive forced punts by the Tigers on West Georgia, started the fourth drive in the first half for Ouachita, ending in a two-yard touchdown dive by Johnson to open the second quarter. Johnson finished the seven-play, 58 yard drive with 11:24 left in the half for a 21-7 lead.
After a defensive stop, Ouachita began their fifth drive and finished off their fourth touchdown in style, as Cranor connected with Harris again for a 76-yard touchdown strike to make the score 28-7.
Freshman running back Demarcus Collier from Prescott ran for his first touchdown of his collegiate career with a 14-yard touchdown run behind an offensive line that powered the Tigers for 239 yards on the evening. The score gave Ouachita a 34-7 lead midway through the second quarter.
Freshman kicker Jason Fowler successful converted an onside kick on the following kickoff, as Ouachita ended the first half with a Collier 28-yard yard scoring run for a 41-7 led.
In the second half, Ouachita allowed a 38-yard touchdown pass from West Georgia quarterback Kyle Padgett to Frank Brown to bring the score to 41-14.
The final touchdown of the game came when sophomore linebacker Jonathan Browning of Camden picked up a fumble caused by senior defensive lineman Jerry McNeil at the Tigers 48-yardline and returned it 52 yards for the final score of the game. Browning scored the first defensive touchdown of the season, giving Ouachita a 48-14 victory to open Gulf South Conference play with an impressive overall performance.
Cranor finished the matchup 8-of-12 passing for 187 yards and two touchdowns. Johnson led all rushers with 142 yards rushing on 24 carries, including two touchdown runs. Collier carried the ball nine times for 72 yards and two touchdowns. Freshman wide receiver Jaime Harris led all wide receivers for a second-consecutive week with two catches for 127 yards and two touchdowns.
The Tigers defense allowed 370 total offensive yards, while forcing three turnovers by the Wolves. Junior linebacker Blake Burkett led Ouachita with five tackles, while junior defensive lineman Bryan Church from Warren recorded four tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss. McNeil finished with a forced fumble, while Browning scored a touchdown for the defense.
Ouachita returns to GSC action against Valdosta State on Saturday, Sept. 19 for the regular season home opener for the Tigers. Kickoff begins at 7 p.m. at A.U. Williams Field.
