Kiehl Frazier's first start at quarterback in almost two years was a success.
Frazier, a senior from Shiloh Christian, completed 19 of 30 passes for 209 yards and 2 touchdowns in Ouachita Baptist's 28-7 victory over Southern (Okla.) Nazarene on Saturday night at Cliff Harris Stadium in Arkadelphia.
Frazier, a Parade All-American and USA Today's National Offensive Player of the Year as a senior at Shiloh in 2010, transferred to Ouachita in January after spending the previous three seasons at Auburn.
Frazier hadn't started at quarterback since Oct. 6, 2012, when Auburn was beaten 24-7 at home by Arkansas. He eventually left Auburn after losing his starting job.
Completing his first seven passes for 90 yards and 1 touchdown got Frazier's Ouachita debut off to an efficient start.
"The first quarter was phenomenal," Ouachita Coach Todd Knight said. "But you've got to remember, he hasn't played in a while. That's why we played him so long."
Ouachita led 28-0 when Frazier was pulled midway through the fourth quarter after a 7-yard run in which he hurdled a defender going out of bounds.
Frazier, who operated out of the Shotgun, finished with 46 yards rushing on 11 carries.
The arm strength and running ability that made Frazier, 6-2, 218 pounds, such a coveted recruiting prospect was on display at times.
"He is able to do what we like to do," Knight said. "We're able to stay balanced with him."
Frazier accounted for more than 10,000 yards running and passing at Shiloh, helping the Saints to three consecutive Class 4A state championships (2008-2010).
Frazier's brother, Jed Beach, is a sophomore offensive lineman for Ouachita, and their coach at Shiloh, Josh Floyd, graduated from OBU in 2003.
Knight said Frazier attended Ouachita's summer football camps while at Shiloh, adding OBU recruited him in high school.
"We've known Kiehl for a long time," Knight said. "When he came in, the thing that I was most impressed about Kiehl was he didn't come in talking about Auburn. He came in wanting to be a Ouachita Tiger."
Jalen Jones, a senior wide receiver from Conway, caught 12 passes for 119 yards and 1 touchdown.
Frazier and Jones are roommates, Knight said.
"They've got a good connection," Knight said.
Ouachita (1-0, 1-0 Great American Conference) hosts East Central Oklahoma on Saturday night.
OUACHITA BAPTIST
'Shaq' attack
Shaquille Hunter's high school career ended with one of the most famous plays in Arkansas prep history.
Hunter threw a 30-yard touchdown pass -- deflected into the arms of wide receiver Dorian Evans in the end zone with no time remaining -- to give Junction City a 27-26 victory over Bearden in the 2012 Class 2A state championship game.
Hunter no longer plays quarterback, but he's still making plays.
Three unassisted tackles and three pass breakups filled the stat line for Hunter, a redshirt freshsman cornerback in his collegiate debut for Ouachita Baptist, a 28-7 victory over Southern (Okla.) Nazarene on Saturday night at Cliff Harris Stadium in Arkadelphia.
"He's going to be a good one for us," Tigers Coach Todd Knight said.
Hunter, 5-11, 175, transferred to Ouachita after spending the 2013 season as a walk-on cornerback at Arkansas. He enrolled at Ouachita this summer, Knight said.
"We were a little short on scholarships when he came out," Knight said. "We recruited him right down to the last minute. Then, we didn't have enough scholarship money and couldn't get it done."
Knight said Ouachita continued to monitor Hunter's progress at Arkansas.
When he decided to transfer, Knight said Arkansas' coaches believed Hunter was good enough to play for other FBS programs like Louisiana Tech or Louisiana-Monroe.
"We said, 'Now, wait a minute. Let's wait here a minute,' " Knight said with a laugh. "This is a great place for him. He's going to do great."
Ouachita is a member of NCAA Division II.
Hunter was the Little Rock Touchdown Club's Class 2A Player of the Year as a senior at Junction City after rushing 108 times for 951 yards and 14 touchdowns, completing 86 of 178 passes for 1,508 yards and 27 touchdowns and recording 13 tackles and 2 interceptions at cornerback.
Extra points
Arkansas-Monticello tries to end a 19-game road losing streak Saturday afternoon vs. Northwestern Oklahoma State in Alva, Okla. UAM (0-2, 0-2 GAC) hasn't won a road game since Sept. 18, 2010, when it beat Ouachita Baptist 37-31. The Boll Weevils did win at a neutral site (El Dorado's Memorial Stadium) in 2010. ... Harding ranks No. 1 in NCAA Division II in rushing defense (21.0 yards per game). ... Arkansas Tech sophomore Randy Velazquez, a sophomore from Dardanelle, is averaging 2.50 field goals per game, which is tied for No. 3 in NCAA Division II. He is 5 for 6 this fall.
Sports on 09/19/2014