ADA, Okla. – East Central University football opened the 2025 season in dramatic fashion, knocking off No. 15-ranked Ouachita Baptist University in a thrilling 24-22 victory at Norris Field on Thursday night. The win not only marks a strong start to the Tigers' season, but also snaps Ouachita's 17-game winning streak in season openers.

"Great team win, so proud of the guys," Head Coach John Litrenta said. "They trusted each other in the most critical moments. We kept playing even when things seemed tough. Need to regroup and go back to work this week. The goal is to go 1-0. We all appreciate the support from the university, community, and our alumni."

ECU put together a complete and balanced performance, racking up 488 total yards of offense while holding Ouachita to 371.
 
Cade Searcy's standout night proved to be a difference-maker, as the sophomore running back powered his way to 174 rushing yards and two crucial touchdowns, including a momentum-shifting 47-yard score in the fourth quarter. At quarterback, Sergio Kennedy was poised and efficient, throwing for 279 yards and a touchdown on 24 completions, consistently finding open targets and helping keep drives alive.
 
The Tigers also controlled the pace of the game, winning the time of possession battle with 33:30 on the clock, and came through in crucial moments, converting 8 third downs and outplaying OBU in nearly every key category. Defensively, ECU delivered a strong performance, holding Ouachita to just 82 passing yards and allowing only 2 of 13 third-down conversions. Caden Pickens and Molinsky Desire led the way with 11 tackles each, with Pickens also forcing and recovering a fumble. Michael Onwuzurike recorded a sack and a tackle for loss, while Terry Lewis II broke up three passes.
 
ECU struck first midway through the opening quarter, thanks to a clutch special team play. After a 40-yard punt from Reece Conner, Brett Alfred forced a fumble on the return, and Caden Pickens recovered the loose ball to give ECU great field position. Just three plays later, Searcy broke loose for a 31-yard touchdown run, and Gabriel Ogura's extra point gave ECU an early 7-0 lead. The defense held firm for the rest of the quarter to preserve the advantage heading into the second.
 
Ouachita responded in the second quarter, outscoring ECU 16-0 with a 30-yard field goal and a 95-yard touchdown run that shifted momentum, putting ECU behind 16-7 heading into halftime.
 
The Tigers came out of the locker room determined, delivering a dominant third-quarter performance that held Ouachita scoreless once again. ECU capitalized on a 31-yard third-down strike from Kennedy to Kaden Jones, then capped the drive with a 14-yard touchdown reception by Jacob Martin to close the gap to 16-14 and inject new energy into the squad.
 
The fourth quarter was a battle of willpower. Cade Searcy broke loose for his second touchdown of the night, a crucial 47-yard run that allowed ECU to reclaim the lead, 21-16. But the momentum was short-lived, as Ouachita responded immediately with a 99-yard kickoff return touchdown to regain the advantage, 22-21, with 12:49 left in regulation.
 
With the game hanging in the balance, both teams traded blows. Ouachita's defense stepped up, forcing a fumble on ECU's next drive and snagging an interception on the following possession. But ECU's defense answered right back, forcing a pair of punts to keep the deficit at a single point.
 
As the clock ticked down, ECU began a methodical march, setting up what would be the game-winning drive at the 2:08 mark. A series of clutch plays, including a 19-yard pass to Brooks Rigney, a 17-yard connection to Conner Combs, a 20-yard strike to Jaden Williams, and a 20-yard run from Searcy, pushed the Tigers deep into Ouachita territory.
 
With just two seconds remaining, kicker Gabriel Ogura stepped up under pressure and delivered the dagger, a 24-yard field goal to clinch the 24-22 victory in dramatic fashion.
 
In a relentless, back-and-forth contest, ECU's resilience and refusal to back down fueled one of the program's most thrilling wins in recent memory.
 
The Tigers (1-0) will look to carry that momentum forward as they build on a statement-making start to the 2025 campaign. ECU will have their first road test against Arkansas-Monticello on Saturday, Sept. 13 at 6 pm.