Haire, Cornell Named to Super Region 3 Team

SHAWNEE - For the first time since joining NCAA Division II, the Oklahoma Baptist team has their first ever All-Region selections as quarterback Preston Haire and wide receiver Joshua Cornell each earned a spot on the D2CCA Super Region 3 Second Team on Friday morning.

Haire, a redshirt junior out of Trophy Club, Texas, had another remarkable season for the Bison as he led the No. 1 offense in the GAC to a school record 3,041 passing yards to go with 26 touchdowns to only eight interceptions. Haire had 255 completions on the year and an impressive 63% completion percentage. Haire threw for over 200 yards in 10 of 11 games this season, had over 250 yards passing in eight games, and threw for a touchdown in all 11 games. 

Haire also rushed for 542 yards on the year including seven touchdowns. Haire was in the Top 10 nationally in numerous categories all season long including completion percentage, total yards, passing yards, and passing touchdowns. Haire was named GAC Player of the Week three times this season and put up some monster games throughout his junior campaign. 

Maybe his most impressive showing came on October 5th against Arkansas Tech.

Haire went 20 of 37 for 267 yards and three scores while also adding five carries for 149 yards and two scores. OBU was down 24-7 before the break before Haire threw a hail mary that was answered to cut the deficit before the break. He then led OBU to a furious comeback which included 36 unanswered points to earn the win.

Haire had a 50-yard touchdown run in the fourth to take the lead before icing the game later in the fourth with an 84-yard touchdown run. It was OBU's first ever win in Arkansas.

For his efforts all season, Haire was named the GAC Offensive Player of the Year and earned a spot on the All-GAC first team.

Cornell, a redshirt sophomore out of Allen, Texas, put together one of the best seasons ever seen from an OBU wide receiver, setting school records across the board with 74 catches for 1,054 yards, and 10 scores on the year. He is the first receiver in school history to eclipse 1,000 yards in a single season. 

Cornell had five games with 100 yards or more, seven games scoring at least one touchdown, and caught at least five passes in 10 of 11 games played this season. He had a 12 catch games against Southeastern, but maybe his best contest came against nationally-ranked Harding and their No. 1 pass defense, where the sophomore caught eight passes for 150 yards and two scores.

Cornell was named to the All-GAC first team for his effort.

Oklahoma Baptist completes their most successful season since joining NCAA Division II at 7-4 under seventh year head coach Chris Jensen, has now won 11 straight games over Oklahoma schools, has completed a second consecutive perfect record against its Oklahoma counterparts (5-0).