ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – East Central University staggered nationally-ranked and unbeaten Ouachita Baptist for most of four quarters before allowing them to escape in the final moments. OBU rallied for a 28-18 victory over a determined ECU squad to end what had been a six-game winning streak. ECU is now 6-3 while OBU upped its record to 9-0. 

"We played the No. 3 team in NCAA Division II to the wire. Our guys played with everything they had tonight," said ECU Head Coach Kris McCullough . "I am proud of their fight and togetherness. I've never been a part of a team so close as we were tonight."

ECU took its first lead of the game when Miles Davis scored from one yard out to give the Tigers an 18-14 lead with 6:50 remaining. Davis scored after a 14-play, 75-yard drive that ate up over seven minutes of game time. The big play in the series was a third-down, tackle-breaking, twisting nine-yard run by Kenny Hrncir to give the Tigers first-and-goal at the three. 

ECU had the ball and the lead moments later, pinned at their own goal line. OBU came up with an interception and returned it to the Tigers two-yard line before scoring the go-ahead touchdown to retake the lead 21-18, with 1:56 to play.

The Tigers had one final chance, but again, Ouachita intercepted a pass on the first play of the drive. OBU returned it to the three-yard line and scored on its first play to increase the margin to 28-18 with 1:37 to play. 

"There was no weakness in our team," McCullough said. " We continued to make play after play. At the end of the day, we didn't do enough. We will get better from this. The future is bright for this football team." 

ECU had the advantage in all the statistical categories, having nearly twice as many first downs as their opponent (25-13). The Tigers rushed for more yards (163-147), passed for more (237-201) on their way to a 400-yard night. 

Hrncir ended the game as the team's leading rusher with 73 yards on 14 carries. He completed 20-of-40 passes for 237 yards but tossed two critical fourth-quarter interceptions. It was only the second time he had not reached the endzone passing.

Jayquan Lincoln and Miles Davis had equal receiving numbers for ECU. Both had four catches for 62 yards. 

Defensively, Devon Roush led the team with eight tackles. He also added two tackles for losses and forced two fumbles, one of which was recovered by Keonte Lusk. Donovan Callis added seven stops, and Cody Alexander was next with six tackles, a forced fumble, and a quarterback hurry.