On Thursday, October 31, 2024, history for the Crimson Storm football team was made. The storm, entering the game with a record of 0-8, made the Halloween bus ride to Arkadelphia, Arkansas to face the third-ranked team in the nation. Some are even calling it the biggest upset in D2 history. The Crimson Storm gave Ouachita Baptist their first loss of the season with a final score of 18-17. Not only was this victory completely unpredictable, but it was also the first time the SNU football team beat Ouachita Baptist in program history. The astounding defeat also gave the Crimson Storm its 100th win. This huge victory left fans and players on both sides of the ball in complete and utter shock.
The Crimson Storm trailed the Bisons for the majority of the game, but only by a dangerously small amount. Entering halftime 10-6, starting quarterback, Bryson Evans, had feelings of optimism for the remainder of the game. “We knew it would come down to the end, being in a tight game with a really good opponent. It’s optimistic when you know you have what it takes to beat a team like that.” At half-time, Head Coach Dustin Hada addressed how proud he was of his team’s effort and how he thought they were competing well. “We were within striking distance like we wanted to be, and I just told them that everything they’d wanted to do was still right in front of them. They needed to continue to play good football and stay together to stay in the fight,” recalled Hada.
Coming out of the half, Ouachita ran down the field and scored. Although the Bisons scored early in the second half, increasing the lead to 17-6, the Storm answered quickly with outstanding defense and two field goals to decrease the gap to only five points. With the clock running low in the fourth quarter, the Storm offense was able to march down the field in only 9 plays. Anticipating the most imperative touchdown of the season, Evans made a pass connecting to tight end, Dalen Smith, for the game-winning touchdown.
In moments of what would seem like extreme pressure, it was quite the opposite for the quarterback. “If you asked anyone on the outside, we had nothing to lose, so it was a really free feeling, actually,” Evans commented. Coach Hada also experienced those same feelings when he said, “There was an excitement knowing that we were playing really well on defense and were one series away from potentially taking the lead.” Those notions of relaxation and freedom led the team to victory.
Despite the monumental triumph, the Crimson Storm is not letting the highs of the previous week dictate the outcome of the rest of the season. Evans remarked, “We have to reset when we walk in on Monday. We play another team, and we can’t be riding off of a high of beating a great team. We want to finish this season with three wins. so we have to take it one day at a time.” Resetting after any game, even one as big as the matchup with Ouachita, is crucial for the games to come. “We will prepare for UAM with the same approach that we do each week. Our guys do a great job of resetting each Monday for the new opportunities ahead, and it’s nice to be able to do that after a win,” noted Hada.
The previous win is a direct reflection of determination and teamwork. “Winning is amazing and beating a team like that is the best way to do it,” expressed Evans. The game was an upset that made history, and the victory is still so sweet. The Crimson Storm hopes to continue their sweet success this Saturday, the 9th, in the homecoming battle against the University of Arkansas Monticello.
Photos by: Maddy Hada