SEARCY – Ouachita Baptist senior kicker Matthew Ehasz kicked a 38-yard game winning field goal in overtime to give the No. 22 Tigers a 31-28 victory over No. 13 Harding on Saturday in Great American Conference action at First Security Stadium.
It was the first of two games Harding (5-1, 5-1) will play against nationally-ranked teams. Next Saturday, the Bisons will travel to Arkadelphia, Arkansas, to meet Henderson State, ranked No. 6 in this week's American Football Coaches Association Top 25 Poll.
Ouachita Baptist (6-0, 6-0) snapped a two-game losing streak to Harding and ended the Bisons' school-record nine-game winning streak.
Trailing 20-14 entering the fourth quarter, Harding put together two scoring drives that gave the Bisons a 28-20 lead with only six minutes left in the game. Sophomore slot back Eric Simmons scored his second touchdown of the game on an 11-yard run with 11:39 left. The 38-yard drive began after Darious Lane forced a fumble that Chris Sarkissian recovered.
Two drives later, Harding took over at its own 7. After gaining a yard on the first play, senior fullback Romo Westbrook broke loose on the dive and raced 92 yards for a touchdown. It was the longest run in school history, breaking the record of 90 yards by Alan Dixon against Ouachita Baptist in 1971, and the longest run in GAC history.
Westbrook carried 16 times for a career-best 190 yards and moved past Chris Pierson (1996-97) for third in career rushing yards at Harding with 2,627 yards.
Three possessions later, Ouachita Baptist took over at their own 20 with 2:37 left in the game. Quarterback Kiehl Frazier led the Tigers on a 12-play drive and evaded Harding's rush to complete a 15-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Marks in the back of the end zone to cut Harding's lead to 28-26 with no time left on the clock. Frazier then tied the game by running in the two-point conversion himself.
Harding won the toss in overtime and took the ball, but a fumble on its first play gave Ouachita Baptist the chance for the game-winner. The Tigers drove to the Harding 16 and lined up for the field goal. Ehasz's first attempt was blocked by Harding's Darious Lane, but the play was whistled dead by a false start by the Ouachita Baptist offensive line. The snap on the second attempt was low, but Ehasz's kick fell just beyond the crossbar to give the Tigers the win.
Harding, ranked No. 1 in Division II in rushing offense, rushed for 380 yards and three touchdowns. Simmons had three carries for 53 yards and two touchdowns, and senior Alapeti Magalei carried nine times for 50 yards.
Harding senior quarterback Keenan Kellett completed 5-of-8 passes for 77 yards, including a 12-yard touchdown pass to Westbrook. Senior Donatella Luckett had four catches for 65 yards.
Frazier rushed 16 times for 122 yards and completed 14-of-29 passes for 215 yards and two touchdowns. Sophomore receiver Ke'Vontae Pope had five receptions for 120 yards and a touchdown.
Harding's defensive standout was sophomore defensive end Trevon Biglow, who had 4.5 tackles for loss, a sack, and a forced fumble. Daylan Skidmore had 10 tackles and a forced fumble, and Devonte Britt had nine tackles.
