Box Score
SEARCY—West Alabama entered Saturday’s football game with Harding as the top scoring offense in the Gulf South Conference, but the Bison defense forced six turnovers, defeating the Tigers 24-16 at First Security Stadium on Saturday night. All 24 of Harding’s points came off of West Alabama miscues.
Harding senior cornerback Robert Towns collected three interceptions and broke up two additional passes, becoming the first player in Harding history with three interceptions in a game on two occasions. The last time Towns performed the feat was against Arkansas Tech on Oct. 29, 2005. Towns has 14 career interceptions, passing Jess Lanier (1995-98) for third all-time at Harding.
West Alabama found the scoreboard first when quarterback James Reiter scored on a 2-yard run. The extra-point attempt failed, and West Alabama led 6-0 with 7:05 remaining in the first quarter.
On its next drive, junior defensive back Sevohn Greer forced and recovered a fumble on West Alabama’s 29-yard line. Bison quarterback David Knighton found freshman Kurt Adams in the end zone four plays later for a 4-yard touchdown pass, giving Harding a 7-6 lead after the extra point. The touchdown reception was the first in Adams’ career.
Early in the second quarter, West Alabama quarterback broke loose on an option play for a 87-yard run. Towns pulled him down from behind at the Harding 5. On the next play, junior safety Rocky Hall forced a fumble and senior defensive lineman Kenneth Wakwe jumped on the loose ball to give Bisons the possession. Knighton then drove the Bisons 94 yards on 10 plays before completing a 36-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Devin Link to give Harding a 14-6 lead.
Kicker Mitch Warfield kicked a 28-yard field goal for West Alabama to cut the lead to 14-9 as the half came to a close.
Towns’ first interception came on UWA’s first drive of the second half. He returned it 32 yards to the UWA 3. Knighton again found Kurt Adams in the end zone on the next play, extending Harding’s lead to 21-9.
On the next West Alabama drive, Towns picked off his second pass. It led to 30-yard Ben Davis field goal, his first of the season, putting the Bisons ahead 24-9.
Towns’ record-tying third interception came with 10:08 left in the game. It marked the seventh time a Harding defender has picked off three passes.
West Alabama closed the gap to 24-16 when A.J. Holloway scored on a one-yard run with 7:07 left. The Tigers got the ball back with just under five minutes remaining and a chance to tie the game, but UWA tailback A.J. Holloway fumbled and Harding’s Logan McWilliams recovered. It was the Tigers third fumble lost and sixth turnover.
The Harding offense recorded 267 yards in the game while West Alabama racked up 426 yards in the game. When the two teams last met in 2003, West Alabama tallied 466 yards of offense but lost 26-21, thanks mostly to four turnovers.
Harding forced six turnovers for the first time since a Sept. 28, 2002 meeting against Arkansas Tech. Hall compiled a career-high 12 tackles and also forced a fumble. Towns had seven tackles in addition to his three interceptions.
The Bisons go on the road again next Saturday against West Georgia. The Braves are 0-4 overall and 0-2 in the GSC after falling 16-9 to Henderson State on Saturday.
