ARKADELPHIA -- Senior quarterback Kiehl Frazier looked right at home in his new home.
Frazier, perhaps the most celebrated signee in Ouachita Baptist history, completed 19 of 30 passes for 209 yards and 2 touchdowns in a 28-7 season-opening victory over Southern (Okla.) Nazarene before an announced crowd of 2,580 on Saturday night at Cliff Harris Stadium.
Frazier, a Parade All-American and USA Today's national offensive player of the year as a senior at Shiloh Christian in 2010, was making his highly anticipated Ouachita debut in the Great American Conference matchup. He spent the previous three seasons at Auburn before transferring in January.
Frazier also rushed 11 times for 46 yards.
Ouachita tailback Steven Kehner, a senior from Glen Rose, ran 16 times for 106 yards and 2 touchdowns. Senior wide receiver Jalen Jones of Conway finished with 12 receptions for 119 yards and 1 touchdown.
The Tigers, who led 21-0 at halftime, finished with 417 total yards and limited the Crimson Storm (0-2, 0-2 GAC) to 238.
The Crimson Storm averted the shutout on a 10-yard touchdown pass with 1:50 remaining in the game.
Frazier's performance punctuated a memorable day for Ouachita, which dedicated its newly renovated stadium (previously known as A.U. Williams Field) with a brief ceremony shortly before kickoff.
Harris, a standout defensive back at Ouachita before graduating in 1970, was a six-time Pro Bowl safety with the Dallas Cowboys.
He addressed the crowd from the field, facing the NCAA Division II school's flashy new home stands and press box. Harris was surrounded by family, friends and former teammates, including fellow Cowboys legends Lee Roy Jordan and Charlie Waters.
Frazier was particularly sharp early, completing 6 of 6 passes -- all to Jones -- for 81 yards in the first quarter, highlighted by an 11-yard touchdown at 10:55.
The scoring play marked Frazier's first touchdown pass in Arkansas since the 2010 Class 4A state championship game, where he helped lead Shiloh Christian to its third consecutive title.
The Tigers bumped the lead to 14-0 when Kehner, the most prolific rusher in Gen Rose history, scored on a 46-yard run with 4:45 remaining in the first quarter.
Ouachita took a 21-0 lead into halftime when sophomore tailback Brandon Marks of Prescott took a swing pass from Frazier in the left flat 34 yards for a touchdown with 6:43 left in the first half.
Southern Nazarene's biggest first-half scoring threat came late in the second quarter. But on fourth and goal from the 7, freshman tailback Damion Willis was swarmed for no gain on a pitch sweep with 4:51 left in the second quarter.
Southern Nazarene was coming off a 72-7 loss to Henderson State.
Sports on 09/14/2014