ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Senior quarterback Si Blackshire tossed four touchdowns and threw for a career-high 415 yards on Saturday afternoon against No. 13-ranked Ouachita Baptist, but Southern Arkansas' upset bid would ultimately fall short as OBU upended SAU by a score of 38-28.
 
Entering the game, OBU was the lone remaining unbeaten team in the Great American Conference, but it was the Muleriders (4-4, 4-4 GAC) who would jump out to the early lead as they scored on their opening possession.
 
On that opening Mulerider drive, Blackshire would show signs that he was going to have a special day as he racked up 72 yards on just two completions as he connected with Jonathan Weisheit for a 32-yard gain and then capped the drive with a 40-yard TD pass to Zikerious Ware.
 
Later in the first quarter, OBU would get on the board and tie the game at seven-all as Kiehl Frazier hooked up with fullback Spencer Knight for a 47-yard TD pass.
 
With just over nine minutes left in the second quarter, OBU would take the lead, 14-7, as Frazier found running back Brandon Marks out of the backfield for a 24-yard score. On the ensuing kickoff, SAU would fumble and the Tigers (8-0, 8-0 GAC) would recover. Despite the turnover deep in their own territory, the Muleriders' defense would hold strong and force a field goal attempt, which would go wide right, keeping it a 14-7 game.
 
Following that missed field goal, Blackshire and the Muleriders would march 80 yards down the field to tie the game at 14-all as Blackshire connected with Weisheit from 15-yards out. On the ensuing kickoff, Bradford Grems would place his kick perfectly in between potential OBU returners, allowing the Muleriders to eventually come away with the unconventional on-side kick recovery.
 
On the very next play, Blackshire would throw his third TD pass of the game as he completed a 37-yard strike to Sidney Moore. The TD pass gave SAU a 21-14 lead with 3:57 left in the second quarter.
 
The Tigers would come back on their next drive with a 26-yard field goal to make the score 21-17 in favor of the Muleriders. At the end of the half, the Tigers would attempt another field goal as they looked to bring themselves to within a single point, but the 37-yard try clanked off the left upright, ending the first half.
 
Neither team would score in the third quarter as the game worked its way into the decisive fourth quarter with the Muleriders leading 21-17.
 
On the first play of the fourth quarter, however, OBU would cap a 13-play, 82-yard drive as Frazier scored on a QB draw from 9-yards out. Now trailing 24-21, SAU would fumble on their next possession, giving the Tigers the ball back near midfield. Seven plays later, the Tigers would turn that fumble into points as Frazier scored on another draw, this time from five-yards out.
 
The scoring would keep on coming for the Tigers as they got a 50-yard punt return touchdown from Etaju Allen to suddenly make it a 38-21 lead for OBU.
 
The Muleriders, however, would waste no time with a score of their own following the punt return as Blackshire moved the ball 71 yards on just two pass completions as he brought the Muleriders to within 10 points, 38-28. The first completion on that drive was a 53-yard bomb to Tevin McDonald, which was then followed up with 18-yard TD pass to Ware, his second TD grab of the game.
 
After forcing a punt with 4:39 left in the game, the Muleriders' comeback effort would take some hits as the Tigers sacked Blackshire twice to make it a fourth-and-23 for SAU. The Muleriders would not be able to pick up that first down, giving the ball back to OBU with 2:37 left.
 
With just one timeout left, the Muleriders were able to force one last OBU punt, but the Tigers would seal the game with an interception of Blackshire with 29 seconds left in the game.
 
The Muleriders will now prepare for another ranked opponent as they will take on No. 14 Henderson State on Saturday, November 8. The game against the Reddies will be played at Memorial Stadium in El Dorado as part of the annual Murphy USA Classic. Kick-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. and the Muleriders will honor their 2014 senior class 20 minutes prior to kickoff.