Ouachita Baptist's best start in 100 years has a decidedly local flavor.
The unbeaten Tigers start 17 Arkansans, including 11 offensively, in pursuit of their second Great American Conference championship in four seasons.
Ouachita (8-0, 8-0 GAC) can clinch at least a share of the conference title with a victory Saturday afternoon at Arkansas-Monticello.
"I went to Star City and graduated from Ouachita, so I'm proud of the Arkansas talent on our roster," Tigers Coach Todd Knight said.
The impressive and expansive recruiting net Ouachita cast over the state in recent years landed, among others, senior quarterback Kiehl Frazier of Shiloh Christian and senior tailback Steven Kehner of Glen Rose.
Frazier, who spent his first three seasons at Auburn, was USA Today's Offensive Player of the Year after leading the Saints to their third consecutive Class 4A state championship as a senior in 2010.
Frazier's younger brother, Jed Beach, is a sophomore offensive guard for Ouachita.
Kehner ran for 6,383 yards at Glen Rose -- the fifth-highest total in Arkansas high school history -- and was the Little Rock Touchdown Club's Class 3A Player of the Year as a senior in 2010.
Ouachita has two starters who were standouts at Jonesboro -- junior offensive tackle Javin Prunty and sophomore wide receiver Ke'Vontae Pope.
The Tigers' other starting offensive tackle, junior Michael Russell, played at Class 3A powerhouse Charleston.
Senior wide receiver Jalen Jones of Conway has a team-high 32 receptions this fall.
Senior offensive guards Michael Rogers and Brent Calhoun graduated from Little Rock Catholic and Des Arc, respectively.
Sophomore defensive end Waymon Johnson was a member of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette All-Arkansas team after helping Stuttgart win the Class 4A state championship as a senior in 2012.
Senior center Aaron Sprinkle and senior defensive tackle Dion Young played at White Hall.
Senior safety Zack Mitchell, who leads the GAC with five interceptions, played at Vilonia.
"We've been able to sign a lot of good Arkansas high school football players," Knight said. "That's made a big difference for us."
Ouachita announced 32 signees in February, including 23 from Arkansas.
Offensive line/tight ends coach Brett Shockley, a former standout offensive lineman at Conway, is Ouachita's recruiting coordinator.
OUACHITA
Just win, baby
Unbeaten Ouachita's 38-28 home victory Saturday over Southern Arkansas marked the Tigers' fourth by 10 points or less this fall.
Ouachita also beat Southeastern Oklahoma (35-29 on a touchdown with 11 seconds remaining), Harding (31-28 in overtime) and Arkansas Tech (14-9).
Ouachita (8-0, 8-0 GAC) trailed SAU 21-17 after three quarters before pulling away with three touchdowns in the final 15 minutes.
The Tigers won despite not fielding a high, short kickoff, missing two field-goal attempts in the first half and allowing 415 passing yards by senior quarterback Si Blackshire.
"We didn't do a very good job of stopping them," Ouachita Coach Todd Knight said. "But I tell you what we have done a good job of -- that's winning football games. I'm proud of the way our kids overcame the mistakes. A lot of teams would start bickering and complaining about each other on the sidelines.
"Two things these guys talk about all the time: 'Stay together, play together.' Nobody turned on anybody and we made the plays and never quit believing."
Ouachita is 8-0 for the first time since 1914. The Tigers finished the regular season 5-0 in Cliff Harris Stadium, their first in the newly renovated facility.
Pulling rank
Ouachita (8-0, 8-0 GAC) moved from No. 4 to No. 2 in the NCAA Super Region 3 rankings following Saturday's 38-28 victory over Southern Arkansas.
Super Region 3 is comprised of schools from the GAC, Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association and Great Northwest Conference.
The six highest ranked teams from Super Region 3 will advance to the NCAA Division II playoffs.
Harding (7-1, 7-1) remained No. 9 in the Super 3 rankings following Saturday's 51-6 victory over Southeastern Oklahoma.
Henderson (8-1, 7-1) remained No 10 in the Super 3 rankings following Saturday's 49-7 victory over Arkansas-Monticello.
A three-way tie for the GAC championship still exists since Henderson and Ouachita meet in the Nov. 15 regular-season finale.
The NCAA Division II selection show can be seen on NCAA.com at 4 p.m. Nov. 16.
Sports on 11/07/2014