MonticelloLive

The University of Arkansas at Monticello football team continues its quest for a Gulf South Conference title with a 7 p.m. contest at Ouachita Baptist on Saturday.

“We lost a key conference game at home,” said fourth-year head coach Gwaine Mathews, referring to the team’s 35-38 loss to Arkansas Tech. “But, we fully believe that if we win out the rest of this season, then we have a shot at claiming that title. Our destiny is in our hands starting Saturday against Ouachita.”

Saturday’s game against the Tigers is a part of the 2008 Gulf South Conference-TV Game of the Week package that is scheduled to produce 10 live broadcasts during the 2008 season.

Due to the game being on a Saturday, several providers throughout the southeast region of the United States will not carry the game due to other contractual agreements, but Cablevision of Monticello has confirmed the game will be played on local cable channel 31 (Cox Sports Television).

Saturday’s game is the first of two UAM games to be televised this season. UAM’s game with West Georgia in Monticello on Thursday, October 9 finishes the GSC-TV Game of the Week package for the Weevils.

UAM enters the game 3-2 overall and 1-1 in the GSC, while OBU sports a 2-3 overall record a GSC mark of 1-2, including losses to No. 1 Valdosta State and No. 14 Delta State.

The Weevils sport the league’s best rushing offense at close to 245 yards per contest, but Saturday the team faces a tough task, an OBU defense that ranks first in the league in rushing defense, only allowing its opponents an average of 91 yards per game on the ground.

The Weevil offense ranks second in total offense with an average of 528 yards per game, while OBU ranks third in rushing offense with 203.3 yards per game.

Sophomore quarterback Scott Buisson (5-10, 175, Metairie, La.) leads the league in rushing (131.8), total offense (410.8) and passing touchdowns (16). He ranks ninth in the nation among NCAA DII players in rushing and has the best rushing average for a quarterback. His total offense average is the best in the nation.

Junior free safety Augustus Ashley (6-0, 185, Jacksonville, Fla.) leads the GSC in interceptions per game (1.0), which is tied for the second best average nationally.

Ouachita Baptist holds the all-time series 37-29-1. The series dates back to 1914, a game in which OBU won 54-0 in Arkadelphia. UAM’s first win over the Tigers came in 1950 - a 31-14 decision in Monticello. UAM has won nine of the last 13 meetings.

OBU seeks its first ever GSC-TV victory in three-appearances, while UAM looks to even its 1-2 record after posting its first-ever win a year ago against West Alabama.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. In addition to the TV coverage, the game can be heard live on the radio in Monticello at KHBM-FM 93.7. The broadcast will also be available over the Internet at uamsports.com. The pre-game show starts at approximately 6:30 p.m.