ADA, Okla. – The East Central University football team faced a formidable challenge in a Great American Conference matchup against the undefeated fifth-ranked Ouachita Baptist University on Saturday. Unfortunately, ECU fell short, with a final score of 31-14 at Koi Ishto Stadium.
 
The loss drops ECU to 2-4 on the season.
 
Ouachita wasted little time getting on the board, scoring on their opening possession with a 48-yard passing touchdown to cap off a six-play, 84-yard drive. Ouachita extended their lead with a 50-yard field goal later in the first quarter to take a 10-0 advantage before the gap widened further in the second when they connected on a five-yard pass in the opening play, bringing the score to 17-0.
 
ECU responded on their next possession with a three-play 75-yard drive. Jaiave Magalei's 29-yard pass completion to Jackson Allen set the stage for a 43-yard pass to Miles Davis who shook off the Ouachita defenders and scored an ECU touchdown. Tommy Yousey successfully converted the PAT, and ECU was back in the game trailing 17-7.
 
Ouachita found the end zone again towards the end of the second quarter on a 25-yard strike to lead 24-7 heading into the break.
 
In the third quarter, Ouachita would come up with a 12-play, 78-yard drive to earn their final touchdown of the night to push the score to 31-7.
 
ECU was not done yet as they mounted an eight-play 89-yard drive that set up Magalei for a 21-yard rushing touchdown with 7:48 remaining in the game. But an Ouachita interception ended the Tigers' final drive to secure the 31-14 win
 
Offensively, Magalei finished the game 16-for-25 through the air for 199 yards and one touchdown. He also contributed to the Tiger rushing attack with five carries for 33 yards including the second touchdown of the game. Miles Davis led with nine carries for 37 yards while also leading the receiving corps with three receptions for 59 yards.
 
Defensively, Devon Roush made 11 stops while Prince Umanmielen picked up a sack for a loss of eight yards and blocked a field-goal attempt.
 
The East Central University football team will be back on the road next week as they prepare to take on Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva, Oklahoma on Saturday, Oct. 14 at 2 pm.