Harding Football Game Notes
SEARCY - Harding will host West Alabama on Saturday at 6 p.m. at First Security Stadium. The Bisons, with the top-ranked defense in the Gulf South Conference, take on the Tigers, who have the conference's most prolific offense. Harding is looking for its first GSC victory.
HOW TO FOLLOW THE GAME
- Live Streaming Video - presented by the Harding Department of Communications
- Live Streaming Audio - presented by KVHU 95.3 (Billy Morgan and Dr. Greg Harris)
- Live Stats - presented by the Harding Sports Information Office
COACHING MATCHUP
HARDING HEAD COACH RONNIE HUCKEBA
- Alma Mater: Harding, 1978
- 4th Season at Harding: 14-20 (.412)
WEST ALABAMA HEAD COACH BOBBY WALLACE
- Alma Mater: Mississippi State, 1976
- 5th Season at West Alabama: 22-28 (.440)
- 23rd Season Overall: 123-135-1 (.477)
HARDING QUICK HITTERS
West Alabama enters the game as the No. 1 offense in the Gulf South Conference and the No. 6 offense in NCAA Division II, averaging 503.60 yards per game. The Tigers have had at least 413 yards of total offense or more in each game this season.
Harding is the top-ranked team in the GSC in total defense, allowing just 231.8 yards per game. One key to its success is its ability to get off the field. Bison opponents are averaging only 55 plays per game, lowest in the GSC.
Harding leads the all-time series with West Alabama, 9-6. The Bisons are 7-1 against the Tigers in Searcy and have won six straight at home against West Alabama. Harding's only loss to West Alabama at home came in 1981 (19-0).
Harding had won six straight against West Alabama until the Tigers defeated the Bisons 33-19 in Livingston last season.
There have been 40 or more points scored between the teams in each of the last 10 meetings.
West Alabama defeated Harding 33-19 on Sept. 3, 2009 in Livingston, Ala., in a non-conference matchup.
Harding led 13-10 midway through the third quarter, but West Alabama reeled off 23 straight points to take the lead and pull away from Harding.
Harding had its best defensive effort in program history in its 27-0 victory over Lambuth last Saturday that evened the Bisons record at 2-2.
Harding broke a 20-year-old school record by allowing only 17 yards of total offense, snapping the old record of 37 yards allowed against Lane in 1990.
Harding's 27-0 shutout of Lambuth was its second straight home shutout. The Bisons had not had consecutive home shutouts since blanking three straight opponents at Alumni Field in 1965.
