Yes, Ouachita Baptist has an unusual name.

But the Tigers won't bring an unusual game into Caniglia Field for Thursday's 7 p.m. matchup with the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

An emerging football team in the rugged Gulf South Conference, the Arkansas school has excelled in two fundamental ways while going 13-7 the past two years. The Tigers have run the ball well on offense, and they have stopped the run on defense.

“It would be a big-time mistake for anyone to overlook this team,” UNO coach Pat Behrns said. “We've talked to several people in their league and they all talk about how sound they are, how well-coached they are and how hard it is to do anything against them.

“(Running and stopping the run) are two things they do very well — and it's not very complicated. They've got good personnel.”

Ouachita (pronounced WASH-uh-taw) Baptist has been building under 12th-year coach Todd Knight, who had previously led Gulf South Conference power Delta State (Miss.) to a league title. In 2008, the Tigers went 7-3 for their first winning season since 1987 — when Knight was a senior captain — and last year started 4-0 with wins against nationally ranked league opponents Valdosta State (Ga.) and Delta State. But, after reaching No. 14 in the NCAA Division II rankings, the Tigers slumped to a 6-4 finish.

“We had several key injuries, and we didn't overcome that situation,” Knight said. “And at this level, injuries can be tough on you.

“We got into a little midseason rut, but we got back on it toward the end of the season. Our depth is better this year, and we hope we can overcome those situations when they arise.”

OBU, which opened the season with a 73-0 win against Texas College of the NAIA, was picked to finish sixth in the Gulf South Conference and had a league-high five players selected to the preseason All-GSC team. While one of those players, linebacker Clayton Goree, didn't return to the team, his spot is more than capably filled by Terrence Garrett, who was All-GSC in 2008 before sitting out last year.

One All-Gulf South Conference-level player who has caught UNO's attention is 6-foot-5, 250-pound tight end Phillip Supernaw. And UNO knows a few things about high-caliber tight ends, having one of its own in All-American Mike Higgins.

“He (Supernaw) is a good tight end-wide receiver type,” Behrns said. “One of the few tendencies they have is that they go to him — whether it's behind his blocking or throwing to him.

“He's a little different type of tight end than Mike. He's more physical, but they do as much with him as we do with Mike and maybe more.”

While the Tigers have to replace all-conference running back KJ Johnson, they have had the top running back in the league the past three years, rushed for 197.2 yards per game (24th in Division II) last year and also have quarterback Eli Cranor (1,941 passing yards last year) back.

Defensively, OBU surrendered 85 rushing yards per game last year to rank ninth in Division II.

“Our philosophy is to bend and not break, and not give up big plays,” Knight said. “But any time you play somebody strong in one phase or the other, you can't just focus on that.

“I don't think you can just line up in the league we're in or the league that Nebraska-Omaha is in and try to stop just one thing. You've got to be really good against both the run and the pass.”

While OBU stretched its legs in its easy win last Thursday, UNO has had only five days to recover from its 32-29 home loss to University of Nebraska at Kearney. Despite the loss, Knight said UNO compares favorably with the likes of North Alabama, Valdosta State, West Alabama, Delta State and the rest of the GSC's elite.

“We've got a chance to look at some things in our first game, but it's not like we were playing a strong Division II football team,” Knight said. “(UNO) just has so many weapons.

“Both their quarterbacks create a lot of problems for you. They have a great running game, no matter who is playing (tailback). Their kicker (Greg Zuerlein) was out, but he's a huge weapon. Defensively they're solid across the board.”

Contact the writer:

444-1027, rob.white@owh.com

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