SPORTS

PAGE 8 | WWW.OBUSIGNAL.COM

The Ouachita Baptist University Tigers face off against the Southeastern Oklahoma State University Bison on the line of scrimmage. The Tigers are 8-2 heading into The Battle of the Ravine. (photo by Levi Dade)

BOTR has high stakes for Tigers, Reddies

BY CAROLINE DERBY

Staff Writer

After two years of anticipation, The Battle of the Ravine (BOTR) is back for its 94th season. This year, the competition will be on Ouachita’s home turf at Cliff Harris Stadium on Nov. 13, with kick-off at 1 p.m. The Tigers are 8-2 heading into the Battle of the Ravine, and the Reddies are 9-1.

Ouachita Baptist, Henderson State, Harding and Southeastern Oklahoma were always the front-runners for the conference championship and have maintained that status since the beginning of the season.

While Oklahoma Baptist’s record is 6-4, they beat Southeastern Oklahoma State. Meanwhile, Harding lost to Southeastern by one point, while Ouachita and Henderson State both lost to Harding earlier this season. In a jumbled mix of wins and losses, the Great American Conference (GAC) is experiencing a highly engaging season.

After falling 35-21 to Southeastern Oklahoma State University this past Saturday, the Tigers are hungry for a win, especially against the Henderson Reddies. If Ouachita wins this weekend, Henderson will be 9-2, and that would strip the conference championship away from HSU.

One other scenario could give Ouachita a share of the conference championship. Ouachita would have to beat Henderson and Arkansas Tech would have to pull an upset over Harding.

However, Harding and Henderson will share the conference championship if Henderson loses and Harding falls to Arkansas Tech, who currently has a record of 4-6.

However, if Henderson wins BOTR and Harding wins against Arkansas Tech, then Harding and Henderson would share the championship.

Ouachita’s season started off with a nail-biter against Oklahoma Baptist, who has been giving teams a run for their money throughout the season.

When in Searcy, Arkansas, for week four of competition, the Tigers put up a good fight against Harding, scoring on the first drive of the game. However, with strong offenses and defenses on both sides, it was a contest, with the final score at 38-21, for Harding.

Ouachita rebounded strong the next week and put up 64 points on the board against Northwestern Oklahoma State University. The Tigers won the next four games, but then fell to Southeastern Oklahoma State at home this past weekend.

Two classes of students have never experienced BOTR. Both freshmen and sophomores look forward to the traditions and excitement that the week brings.

Freshmen running back Kendel Givens, who holds the second place all-time in single season touchdowns with 22 this year, looks forward to his first time playing the Henderson Reddies.

“I’m ready to experience that atmosphere as a player. Back in 2019, I came down on a visit and watched the Battle of the Ravine,” Givens said. “It was packed out, so I’m ready to see what it is like to actually play in one.”

There is expected to be anywhere from 10,000 to 14,000 people in attendance. Fans are more eager than ever to cheer on their team to victory.

Clearly, there is a lot riding on this game for both teams.

“I feel like it’s going to be a great week of practice, and I feel like it will be fun. This is a really big game, so everyone is ready to get after it this week,” Givens said.

As someone who has played in BOTR before, junior kicker Gabe Goodman is looking forward to hitting the field again this year.

“I’m excited to be a part of such a great and exciting tradition with two great football teams,” Goodman said.

Football

Sat Oct 30

OBU 43

ECU 28 Sat Nov 6

SOSU 35

OBU 21

Men’s Basketball

Wed Nov 3 PSC* 64

OBU 76

*(Exhibition game)

Volleyball

Thur Oct 28

OBU 3

UAM 2 Tues Nov 2

Harding 3

OBU 1 Thur Nov 4 SAU 1

OBU 3

Men’s Swimming

Sat Nov 6 OBU 99

Delta St 123

Women’s Swimming

Sat Nov 6 OBU 85

Delta St 156

Men’s Cross-Country

Sat Nov 6 NCAA Central Regional 23rd of 31 teams

Men’s Soccer

Thur Oct 28

FHSU 6

OBU 0 Sat Oct 30

Newman 5

OBU 0 Thur Nov 4 OBU 0

Harding 3 Women’s Cross-Country

Sat Nov 6 NCAA Central Regional 23rd of 35 teams

Women’s Soccer

Thur Oct 28 OBU 0

SWOSU 3

Sat Oct 30 OBU 1 (2OT) NWOSU 1 Tues Nov 2 OBU 2 (OT)

Harding 3

Sat Nov 6

ECU 1 (2OT)

OBU 2