MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / December 6, 2000

RESERVE – Colossal, enormous, huge, hulking, immense, large, massive, monstrous.

Whatever synonym you use for big, they are all synonymous with the offensive and defensive lines for Ouachita Christian. And it was thoselines that have helped Ouachita Christian advance to the Class 2A state championship game Friday for the first time since 1997 against Riverside.

The Eagles go into the game with a 11-3 overall record after defeating Many, 37-6, in the semifinals last Friday.

Those lines are anchored by two LSU signees, Rudy Niswanger and Brandon Hurley. Both are seniors. Niswanger comes in at 6-5, 295 pounds whileHurley is a step down at 6-3, 275.

“It’s going to be one of the best offensive and defensive lines we’ve faced all year,” Riverside head coach Mickey Roussel said.

Ouachita Christian will also have one of the better balanced teams the Rebels have faced in a while. The Eagles scored 482 points this season, anaverage of 34.4 points per game. Ouachita Christian has done it bothrushing (193.4 yards per game) and passing (131.3).Junior quarterback Cam Rowan enters the game having completed 111 of his 218 passes for 1,770 yards and 17 touchdowns. Dennis Burke, a senior,is the main target, having caught 52 passes for 910 yards and 13 touchdowns with a long of 68. Junior Andy Bryant has caught 19 passes for385 yards and two scores.

The ground attack is led by senior Josh Schmitt who had 282 carries for 1,662 yards and 24 touchdowns through the first 14 games, an average of 118.7 yards per game. Freshman John Laird had 102 carries for 535 yardsand five touchdowns.

“They are balanced on offense,” Roussel said. “We’ve faced a lot of teamsthat were one dimensional. Now we have to prepare for both.”Most of the Eagles go both ways. Only Burke, Rowan and kicker KeithAndrews are listed at one position on the roster.

Ouachita Christian uses the 4-3 on defense. That defense allowed 157points in 14 games, 11.2 per game. Opponents gained an average of 114.2yards running the ball and 67.4 passing. The Eagles allowed just threepassing touchdowns all season while interception 10 passes.

Junior linebacker Dustin Morris led the team with 127 tackles, 70 unassisted, including 21 for losses. Senior defensive back Wayland Durrhad 91 tackles, 36 for losses. He also had three sacks and 10 passbreakups.

Hurley, who also plays defensive tackle, had 83 tackles, 27 fpr losses, including seven sacks. Niswanger, at tackle, had a team-high eight sacksamong his 62 tackles, 21 for losses. Junior end Rick Robertson had sixsacks among his 79 tackles. Bryant, junior Neill Roshto and junior ChrisJohnson each had two interceptions.

Ouachita Christian is also solid on special teams. Andrews, a junior, madeeight of his 16 field goals, including 3-of-6 from beyond 40 yards. He seta school record with a 52-yarder against Jonesboro-Hodge this season. Healso hit on 54 of his 59 extra point attempts.

Andrews also handles the punting duties and had an average of 36.4 on his34 punts. Twelve of his punts were downed inside the 20.Ouachita Christian averaged 17.3 yards per return on kickoffs and 19.5 perpunt return. Bryant led the way on punts, returning 14 for 367 yards (26.2yard average) and three touchdowns, including a school record 92 yarder.

Bryant also returned 10 kickoffs for 210 yards with a long of 48. Johnsonwas the leader in that area, taking 13 kickoffs for an average of 18.1yards.

Ouachita Christian likes to jump on teams early, outscoring opponents 111-50 in the first quarter and 179-52 in the second quarter. Opponentsscored 23 touchdowns against the Eagles this year but failed on all seven of their field goal tries.

“It’s a good matchup,” Roussel said. “It’s going to be their size andstrength against our quickness and strength. Aside from their size, wemirror each other. They’re well-disciplined, don’t make mistakes and playsound defense and so do we. Both teams have outstanding special teams.”Ouachita Christian opened the playoffs with a 33-0 win over Opelousas Catholic. The Eagles then defeated Riverside’s District 9-2A rival, WestSt. John, 43-6, in the regionals before upending defending Class 2A statechampion, Iota, 17-8, in the quarterfinals.

In the regular season, Ouachita Christian opened with wins over Newellton (44-6) and Sterlington (13-7) before losing at Oak Grove (55-34). Afterblanking Vidalia, 58-0, the Eagles lost to Winnfield, 28-14. The Eaglesthen put together a four-game winning streak, defeating St. Frederick (38-13), Lake Providence (51-0), Rayville (48-0) and Jonesboro-Hodge (38-7), before ending the season with a 21-14 loss at Farmerville.

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