Ouachita Christian Takes 1A Title

Ouachita Christian defended its 2011 state championship with a 20-8 victory against Haynesville on Friday at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

Senior quarterback Braden Bristo threw for 62 yards and added another 98 on the ground to help pace the Eagles to victory. Senior running back Quin Graves ran for 99 yards and three touchdowns in the win.

The two teams battled to a scoreless first quarter before OCS jumped out to a lead in the second quarter. Senior defensive back Tanner Pennebaker picked off Haynesville quarterback Jerrell Jackson and returned into the Tors redzone.

OCS scored two plays later on a one-yard touchdown run by Webb.

The Eagles forced a Haynesville punt on the next possession, but Pennebaker failed to handle it and the Tors recovered it at the OCS 29. Haynesville scored seven plays later on a five-yard touchdown run by Kendrick Jackson.

Haynesville was successful on the two-point conversion and took a 8-7 lead into halftime.

OCS regained the lead on the opening possession of the second half. Starting at their own 31-yard line, the Eagles mounted a 69-yard touchdown drive capped off by another one-yard score by Webb.

Bristo ran for 39 yards on four carries and also completed a 20-yard pass on the drive.

Haynesville nearly evened the game in the fourth quarter, driving to the OCS six-yard line after a 27-yard run by Jackson. But the Tors stalled, turning the ball over on downs at the OCS three.

The Eagles ran out the clock the remainder of the game, driving 97 yards on 14 plays with Webb notching his third rushing touchdown, this one from 18 yards out.

The missed extra point kept the final score 20-8.