Game From Obscurity

Toward the end of every week, tBBC gives you a preview of a contest that’s beyond the pages of Sports Illustrated. Unless there’s a scandal. They always find time to cover that.

This week’s GFO takes a cue from the Tuesday Morning Quarterback and visits Division Two’s Gulf South Conference. Match-up du jour? Ouachita Baptist at Arkansas Tech.

The Tigers of OBU strive to “take the student-athlete where he can’t take himself,” which might be an NCAA violation for an illegal benefit. Led by Eli Cranor, the Tigers currently reside at 3-2 and are 1-2 in the GSC after falling last week to Valdosta State in the final minutes of the contest. Cranor, a senior QB went 27-41 with a TD and no interceptions, as 312 yards of passing- ten short of what VSU managed as a team. His favorite target thus far seems to be Brett Reece, who’s amassed 440 yards and 3 TDs on the season. Defensively, OBU is led by junior linebacker Terrence Garrett- this season Garrett has 33 tackles and 2.5 sacks. Just think if he wasn’t being taken somewhere where he couldn’t go himself?

Game From Obscurity
Chuck and Huck

Hailing from Arkadelphia Arkansas (seriously), Ouachita Baptist was founded in 1886 and has the Ouachita river as one of the campus boundaries (which explains it). It’s believed that “Ouachita” meant “Eastern boundary of our nation” to the first peoples who used to inhabit the land before people from over that boundary came to do what people who cross boundaries do. Their conference foes Henderson State also cal Arkadelphia home; given that it’s only 35 minutes from Hot Springs, who can blame both of them?

Famous alumni include the gospel group Point of Grace as well as former Arkansas Governor and Presidential Candidate Mike Huckabee.

Game From Obscurity
They’re naturals…

The Wonder Boys of Arkansas Tech look to recover from their 28-0 loss to undefeated North Alabama last week, and boast a 2-3 overall and 1-2 in conference. ATU follows the success of their defense thus far in 2010; they are only allowing an average of 58 yards of rushing per game; in two contests, Tech held the opposition to under 12 yards. Senior Captain Antonio Charles leads the team with 26 solo tackles, an interception, and a blocked kick. When they have the ball, the Wonder Boys have redshirt QB Rico Keller leading the offense; which has struggled a bit thus far. Keller has 3 TD to 5 INTs on the season- it’s probably a good thing that Cody Burns, Nick Graziano, and Tim Childress have amassed over 1350 yards and 20 TDs running the ball.

Celebrating their 101st year as an institution, Arkansas Tech has called Russellville home since 1909. On the shores of Lake Dardanelle and the banks of the Arkansas River, ATU students are certain to take advantage of the water sports and world class bass fishing in the waters nearby. Tech’s academics are without question, as is the level of hotness of many of the institution’s instructors. In addition, the Wonder Boys excel both on the courts and the fields and in teh awesomz that is Guitar Hero:

I’m sure his parents are proud.

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