Ouachita Baptist’s group of starters don’t look much like what it used in the season opener, but the Tigers were able to get a victory Thursday night minus their starting quarterback, running back and a top receiver.
Shun’cee Thomas rushed 16 times for 149 yards and a first-quarter touchdown, while receiver Drew Harris rushed for three scores and OBU ran away from Southern Nazarene for a 41-14 victory on Thursday at Cliff Harris Stadium in Arkadelphia.
Thomas, a freshman from Bossier City, La., was making his second start in place of starter Kris Oliver, who has missed the last two games. Thomas averaged 9.3 yards per carry, and his 22-yard run early in the second quarter gave OBU (5-4, 5-4 GAC) a 17-0 lead. The Tigers’ lead was built on Cole Antley’s 24-yard field goal and a 9-yard run by Drew Harris.
Antley then added a 40-yard field goal and freshman Allie Freeman’s 87-yard punt return for a touchdown made it 27-0. which became 27-7 at halftime. Harris added touchdown runs of 5 and 10 yards in the second half for the Tigers.
Lucas Reed, making his fourth start in place of starter Austin Warford, was 5 of 10 for 65 yards. Brandon Marks added 65 yards rushing for the Tigers, who had 307 yards rushing as a team. OBU held Southern Nazarene (1-8, 1-8) to 292 yards of offense, and forced three turnovers, two of which were turned into points.