Brown’s TD knack propels Ouachita Baptist

EL DORADO — Ouachita Baptist University’s Brockton Brown did what running backs do when they run for 149 yards and 3 touchdowns to lead their team to victory.

He praised the offensive line in OBU’s 38-21 victory over Southern Arkansas University in front of an announced crowd of 4,741 at the Murphy USA Classic at Memorial Stadium.

But Brown, a senior from Sheridan, went off script for a moment when trying to explain his ability score touchdowns, whether long or short.

He leads the Great American Conference with 17 rushing touchdowns, and he came into Saturday’s game with the second most in Division II.

“Whenever I break out on a run, I remember my mom in peewee [league],” he said. ”She’d run with me down the sidelines. She’d always say, ‘Never let me beat you to the end zone.’ That always pops into my head when I break out into the open.”

Melissa Brown’s inspiration came in handy Saturday, with her son scoring on runs of 1, 43 and 3 yards to help stake OBU (9-0, 9-0 GAC) to leads of 7-0, 14-0 and 28-14.

Brown’s third touchdown, which followed a 53-yard run to the SAU 16, came with 6:46 to play in the third quarter after Southern Arkansas had cut a 21-0 deficit to 21-14.

Brown returned to praising an OBU offensive line that paved the way for the Tigers to rush 49 times for 314 yards and 4 touchdowns. Specifically, he credited the linemen’s work in OBU’s Wildcat formation when he receives a direct snap and looks for room to run.

“I can’t say much else besides the blocking,” Brown said. “It’s just that big push up front and just being able to read the holes. We get that big push up front, and then I know the options of where to hit.”

Southern Arkansas Coach Bill Keopple shook his head and shrugged when asked about Brown’s ability to score touchdowns — he has reached the end zone 11 times in the past four weeks.

“He’s a physical kid,” Keopple said. “I don’t know. He’s a good player, and I’m glad he’s a senior.”

Brown’s performance — along with the running of TJ Cole (10-82) and Shun’cee Thomas (17-81, 1 TD), and the all-around play of Allie Freeman (6-108 receiving, 1 TD)

— helped OBU fend off the Muleriders.

Keopple said he thought SAU (7-2, 7-2) might break through after it closed to within 28-21 on Kor’Davion Washington’s 2-yard run with 13:46 to play in the game.

But just when it looked like the Muleriders would get the ball back after a thirddown stop, SAU was called for unsportsmanlike conduct, extending OBU’s drive that eventually ended with a Gabe Goodman 39-yard field goal with 7:37 to play.

“The stop we had when it was 28-21, and then we get a flag, that hurt,” Keopple said. “I thought when we had the stop down here, we had a chance to win the football game, and we did. It got took away from us with the personal foul penalty. That’s disheartening right there.”