BATTLE OF THE RAVINE: Harris' 7 TDs lead Ouachita Baptist over Henderson State

Ouachita Baptist’s Drew Harris (2) tries to shake off Henderson State defensive back Malcom Scott (18) during the third quarter of OBU’s 49-42 victory Saturday at Cliff Harris Stadium in Arkadelphia. Harris had 216 yards and scored 7 touchdowns.
Ouachita Baptist’s Drew Harris (2) tries to shake off Henderson State defensive back Malcom Scott (18) during the third quarter of OBU’s 49-42 victory Saturday at Cliff Harris Stadium in Arkadelphia. Harris had 216 yards and scored 7 touchdowns.

ARKADELPHIA -- Junior running back Drew Harris scored seven touchdowns to lead the Ouachita Baptist Tigers to a 49-42 victory over the Henderson State Reddies in the 91st Battle of the Ravine at Cliff Harris Stadium on Saturday.

Ouachita Coach Todd Knight said Harris' touchdown count was not by design.

"We're not like that," Knight said. "We're proud of him, but that's not what we're about. We were just trying for a chance to get in the playoffs."

Harris' final touchdown, on a 2-yard run early in the fourth quarter, completed Ouachita's scoring and gave it a 49-28 lead.

No one on either team was surprised to see Henderson rush back.

"We knew it was going to be a football game," Knight said. "It always is. They've got a good football team."

The rivalry between Ouachita (9-2) and Henderson (6-5) is unique. The road trip for the visitor is the shortest in all of college football, with the schools separated by nothing more than a two-lane road. Their stadiums are only a quarter-mile apart, each visible from the other.

Despite the loss Saturday, Henderson leads the series, 43-42-6.

"Records really don't matter in a game like this," Henderson Coach Scott Maxfield said. "We knew we'd be in it to the finish."

Ouachita's final two drives ended at the Henderson 22 and 31 to keep Harris one touchdown short of the NCAA Division II record of eight in a game, set by Junior Wolf of Oklahoma Panhandle in 1958 and Paul Zaeski of North Park in 1968.

Freshman running back Cobra Jones' 1-yard run put Henderson within 49-35 with 3:47 left. Henderson was within one touchdown after senior quarterback Evan Lassiter's 6-yard touchdown pass with 4.4 seconds left.

Henderson freshman kicker Julio Cervantes recovered his onside kick to give his team one final shot from 53 yards away. Strong-arm freshman quarterback Reece Shaw was put in for a last-ditch Hail Mary pass, but under pressure tossed to senior guard John Laubacher. The game ended on a penalty as Shaw's pass went to an ineligible receiver.

"It's always going to come down to the wire with them," Harris said. "I wasn't celebrating with five seconds left on the clock, not until it hit zero. That's the kind of game this is. It's back and forth no matter what."

Ouachita took full advantage of the game's first mistake, a fumble on the opening kickoff by Henderson junior returner Melvin Waters recovered at the Henderson 14 by sophomore Brockton Brown.

Two plays later, Ouachita started the scoring with a 9-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Lucas Reed to junior receiver Drew Harris.

Henderson responded with a 13-play, 79-yard drive, completed with a game-tying 2-yard touchdown run by junior quarterback Andrew Black.

Harris scored his second of four first-half touchdowns with his 58-yard catch of a pass from senior quarterback Austin Warford that gave Ouachita a 14-7 lead with 4:34 left in the second quarter.

"My hat's off to my teammates," Harris said. "They got us down there and put me in a great situation. All week, we just concentrated on winning and playing with passion and heart, and that's what we did today."

Henderson freshman Cobra Jones' 1-yard touchdown run tied the score at 14-14 early in the second quarter.

Ouachita scored on its next two possessions, first with a 38-yard pass from Warford to Harris, and next on a 2-yard Wildcat run by Harris to take a 28-14 lead with 6:34 left before halftime.

Henderson held Ouachita to three plays and a punt from the Ouachita 42 with under two minutes in the half and took possession at its 20 with 1:48.

On the 12th play of the drive, Lassiter's 2-yard touchdown pass to junior receiver Darian Gray put Henderson within 28-21 at halftime.

Harris' fifth touchdown came on Ouachita's first possession of the third quarter. He scored on a 16-yard run to give Ouachita a 35-21 lead. His sixth came on a 1-yard run late in the third.

"All the guys did a great job today," Knight said. "I want to give them credit for coming out and getting it done."

photo

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Ouachita Baptist players celebrate with Coach Todd Knight after the Tigers defeated Henderson State 49-42 on Saturday in Arkadelphia.

Sports on 11/12/2017

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