SEARCY - Harding will look to open a football season 2-0 for the first time since 2005 when it takes on West Georgia on Thursday, Sept. 18 in Carrollton. The game will be broadcast regionally on Charter/Comcast Sports Southeast as part of the GSC-TV package. Kickoff at University Stadium will be at 7 p.m. ET, 6 p.m. in Searcy.
Multimedia
Fans of Harding football can follow Thursday's game in several ways:
- Television - The game will be broadcast regionally on Charter/Comcast Sports Southeast. To find the station in your area, click HERE. The game will air live in Searcy on TV-16.
- Radio - The game will air live in Searcy on KVHU 95.3 FM. Live audio is also available.
- On the web - Live stats are also available.
GSC Openers
Thursday's game will be Harding's Gulf South Conference opener. In 10 previous seasons in the GSC, Harding has a 2-8 record, but its last win in a GSC opener was in 2004 against West Georgia (28-21). The Bisons also won their opener in 2002, 45-38 at North Alabama. Last season, Harding dropped its GSC opener 48-10 at Delta State.
Coach Huck
Harding is in its fourth season under head coach Ronnie Huckeba. Now in his 25th season as a coach at Harding, Huckeba has a 13-18 overall record as head coach. Under Coach Huck, the Bisons are 9-15 in conference games, 4-11 in road games and 1-0 against West Georgia.
Preseason GSC Poll
Harding was picked to finish 10th of 11 teams in the GSC Preseason Coaches' Poll. North Alabama is the preseason favorite in the conference. West Georgia was selected 11th.
The Series with West Georgia
Harding leads the all-time series with West Georgia 7-2. The Bisons hold a 3-2 advantage in Carrollton and have won the last two meetings overall and six of the last seven meetings. The Bisons won the last meeting in Carrollton 34-16 in 2006.
Harding vs. UWG – Last Meeting
Harding used 24 first-quarter points to cruise to a 49-31 victory over West Georgia on Oct. 4, 2007 in Searcy. The two teams combined for 987 yards of total offense and 53 first downs.
Harding starting quarterback David Knighton completed 26-of-43 passes for 401 yards and five touchdowns. Current Bison Kurt Adams had four catches for 80 yards and two touchdowns, and Jordan Watson had three receptions for 94 yards and a touchdown.
Current Harding senior tailback Kyle Young was playing defense for the Bisons in 2007 and had 13 tackles, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a pass breakup to lead the Harding defense.
Jimmy Howard stood out for West Georgia in the game. The wide receiver had six catches for 125 yards and three touchdowns.
Last Week
Using its new-look option offense and a defense with something to prove, Harding shutout Southern Arkansas 20-0 on Sept. 4 at First Security Stadium in Searcy.
It was Harding's first shutout since a 13-0 blanking of West Georgia in 2002, Harding first home shutout since pounding Langston 42-0 in 1998, and Harding's first shutout in a season opener since a 39-0 win over Lane in 1992.
Offensively, Harding rushed for 224 yards and had two 100-yard rushers in a game for the first time since 2004. Junior Kale Gelles rushed 19 times for 103 yards and a TD, and sophomore quarterback Chaz Rogers rushed 10 times for 102 yards and a TD.
Senior wide receiver Kurt Adams had a 40-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter. It was his 23rd career receiving touchdown, moving him within two scores of the Harding record.
Anatomy of a Shutout
Harding's defense went 79 games between shutouts, but its blanking of Southern Arkansas yielded these impressive numbers:
· Southern Arkansas had only 10 first downs in the game, the fewest allowed by a Harding defense since holding West Georgia to nine first downs in a 13-0 win in 2002.
· Harding allowed only 51 rushing yards on 26 carries. The Bisons had allowed fewer yards only twice since 2006 (17 vs. Valdosta State in 2009 and 30 vs. Missouri Southern in 2006).
· Southern Arkansas had 113 passing yards, the fewest by a Harding opponent since the Bisons yielded 108 to Southern Arkansas in 2007.
· Southern Arkansas gained a total of 164 yards, the fewest by a Harding opponent since West Georgia gained only 136 in 2002.
· Southern Arkansas never reached the red-zone in the game. Its deepest penetration into Harding territory was the Bison 22-yard line.
· Harding allowed only two third-down conversions on 13 third-down attempts, the fewest conversions by a Harding opponent since West Alabama was 2-of-11 in 2007.
· Southern Arkansas had only three drives of 25 yards or longer. Those drives finished with an interception, a fumble and a missed field goal.
· Harding forced six 3-and-outs, three turnovers, one missed field goal and one turnover-on-downs in Southern Arkansas' 13 possessions.
2010 Coaching Staff
Harding welcomes two new full-time coaches to its 2010 coaching staff—Luke Cullins, formerly at Riverview High School in Searcy, who will coach wide receivers, and Scott Symons, a graduate assistant at Harding for the last two seasons, who will coach cornerbacks and rovers and coordinate recruiting. Below is the 2010 coaching staff:
· Ronnie Huckeba – Head Coach
· Lee Edwards – Offensive Coordinator/QB
· Paul Simmons – Defensive Coordinator/DL
· Dr. Clay Beason – Special Teams Coordinator/Strength Coach/Safeties
· Luke Cullins – Wide Receivers
· Klay Bartee – Linebackers
· Scott Symons – Secondary/Recruiting
· GA Kenny Wheaton – Running Backs
· GA Kevin Chism – Offensive Line/Video
· GA Cade Caton – Receivers
· GA Rocky Hall – Strong Safeties
· SA Vince Daugherty – Defense
· SA Kyle Evans – Offense
The Roster
Harding currently has 116 players on its roster, 75 active players and 41 red-shirts. Below is a breakdown of the 2010 Harding Football active roster:
· Class: Seniors (17), Juniors (15), Sophomores (18), True Freshmen (6), Redshirt Freshmen (19).
· Harding has eight seniors who have been with the Bisons throughout their collegiate careers: WR Jordan Watson, WR Kurt Adams, DB Steve Hudson, DL Jermaine Blanchard, LB Jason Thomasson, DL Marcus Jones, P Micah Canterbury and DL Ray Hatfield.
· Harding's six true freshmen are: DB Derrick Bradshaw, RB Colton Kamper, OL David Lee, OL Alex Guth, OL Patrick Bingham and WR Trey Gavin.
· The Bisons have 39 offensive players, 31 defensive players, and five special teams players on the opening day roster.
· Offensively, Harding has four quarterbacks, 13 running backs, eight wide receivers and 14 offensive linemen.
· Defensively, the Bisons have 11 defensive linemen, six linebackers and 14 defensive backs.
· Deep snapper Darby Palmer, K Adin Menkin, P/K Tanner Dykema, P Kris Barnes and P/K Micah Canterbury are the five special teams players.
· Harding's active roster has student-athletes from 13 different states. The leaders are Texas (19), Arkansas (16), Tennessee (16), California (7) and Florida (7).
· Harding's lone player from Georgia is Ben Kissinger, a redshirt from Douglasville.
Next Time Out
Harding plays its second straight road game, taking on Ouachita Baptist in Arkadelphia on Sept. 25. With a 7 p.m. kickoff, it will be the first time the Bisons and Tigers have played at night in Arkadelphia since 1974.
Who's Back
Harding has 38 letterwinners returning off last seasons' team that finished 5-6 overall, 3-5 (8th place) in the Gulf South Conference. Harding returned seven players who started last season on offense and seven on defense.
Home, Sweet, Home
Harding will play six home games at First Security Stadium for the second straight season. The Bisons are 35-17 (.673) at home since 2000.
Road Notes
Harding won two of its last three road games last season after losing its previous nine away from Searcy. Last season's road wins came against Southern Arkansas (26-16) and #20 Ouachita Baptist (21-7).
OFFENSIVE NOTES
Harding had three players make their first career starts as Bisons against Southern Arkansas, and all three were on the offensive line. The newcomers included redshirt freshmen Jeremiah Vivio (LT) and Dallon Hudson (C) and sophomore transfer Tory Day (RG).
Harding rushed for 224 yards on 49 carries against Southern Arkansas. It was only the second time since 2007 that Harding rushed for more than 220 yards in a game (227 vs. Southwest Baptist, 2009).
Harding completed just three passes vs. Southern Arkansas. The Last time the Bisons completed three or fewer passes in a game was Nov. 8, 1986, when the Bisons completed 3-of-9 passes in a 14-10 loss to Southern Arkansas. The last time the Bisons completed three or fewer passes in a win? Oct. 10, 1986 in a 17-0 victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff, the Bisons were 3-of-13 passing.
Senior quarterback Josh Powell made his ninth career start for the Bisons against Southern Arkansas. He completed 2-of-7 passes for 55 yards and a TD. He also rushed eight times for 11 yards. Harding is 5-4 in games Powell starts.
Harding had two 100-yard rushers vs. Southern Arkansas. Junior Kale Gelles rushed 19 times for 103 yards and a TD, and sophomore Chaz Rogers carried 10 times for 102 yards and a TD. It was the first time Harding had two 100-yard rushers in a game since Sept. 4, 2004 when Adam Lybrand and Dondtray Thomas both rushed for 107 yards vs. Missouri Southern.
Harding starts two of its most prolific wide receivers in school history. Kurt Adams, who missed all but two games last season with a knee injury, has 1,939 career receiving yards and ranks second in school history with 23 touchdown receptions. Watson has 1,598 career receiving yards and 14 touchdowns.
Adams scored on a 40-yard touchdown reception against Southern Arkansas to move to within two touchdown catches of Gerald Payne's school record 25. Adams also needs only 61 yards to become just the third Harding receiver with 2,000 career yards.
Harding Career Receiving Records
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Pass reception yards
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1.
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2587 - Santiago Collins (209-2587) - 2000-03
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2.
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2553 - Ronnie Peacock (201-2553) - 1968-71
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3.
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1939 - Kurt Adams (118-1939) - 2006-10
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4.
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1906 - Mike Alexander (97-1906) - 1987-89
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5.
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1705 - Marc Fager (95-1705) - 1996-99
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6.
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1690 - Gerald Payne (101-1690) - 1999-00
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7.
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1598 - Jordan Watson (110-1598) - 2007-10
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8.
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1585 - Ron Sparkman (100-1585) - 1991-93
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9.
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1548 - David Feliciano (115-1548) - 2003-05
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10.
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1437 - Zac Ross (152-1437) - 2007-09
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Pass receptions
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1.
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209 - Santiago Collins (209-2587) - 2000-03
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2.
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201 - Ronnie Peacock (201-2553) - 1968-71
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3.
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152 - Zac Ross (152-1437) - 2007-09
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4.
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121 - Joe Price (121-1404) - 2001,03-05
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5.
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118 - Kurt Adams (118-1939) - 2006-10
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6.
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115 - David Feliciano (115-1548) - 2003-05
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7.
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110 - Jordan Watson (110-1598) - 2007-10
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8.
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106 - D. Calhoun (106-1353) - 2002-03
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9.
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105 - Mark Adkison (105-1393) - 1981-84
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10.
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101 - Gerald Payne (101-1690) - 1999-00
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Pass reception TDs
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25 - Gerald Payne - 1999-00
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23 - Kurt Adams - 2006-10
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19 - Mike Alexander - 1987-89
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18 - Ronnie Peacock - 1968-71
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16 - S. Collins - 2000-03
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14 - David Feliciano - 2003-05
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14 - Jordan Watson - 2007-10
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12 - D. Calhoun - 2002-03
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11 - Marc Fager - 1996-99
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10 - Ron Sparkman - 1991-93
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DEFENSIVE NOTES
Harding senior cornerback Eddie Russ, Jr. earned GSC Defensive Player of the Week honors for his play against Southern Arkansas. Russ had four tackles, an interception, a fumble recovery returned for 18 yards and two pass breakups. It was the second time in his 12-game Harding career that he had an interception and a fumble recovery in the same game. He also achieved the feat against Henderson State in 2009.
Harding's defense had only two players make their first starts as Bisons against Southern Arkansas – senior nose guard John Ikahihifo and junior rover Daniel Bernal.
The Bisons had 8.0 tackles for loss, including 3.0 sacks, in the opener against Southern Arkansas. Senior linebacker Jermaine Blanchard had 2.5 tackles for loss, and senior defensive end Marcus Jones had 1.5 sacks.
Harding's starting defensive line includes three seniors and a sophomore. Sophomore DE Josh Aldridge, senior DT Andrew Jackson and senior DE Marcus Jones, each started all 11 games last season. Senior NG John Ikahihifo is made his first career start against Southern Arkansas.
Jones is the leading returning tackler on the defensive line with 54 tackles last season. Aldridge had 35 tackles last season and Jackson had 34.
The Bisons have sophomore Kennard Henderson and senior Jason Thomasson starting at the linebacker positions. Thomasson had 60 tackles last season, and Henderson had 48 tackles as a freshman.
Senior safety Steve Hudson is Harding's top overall returning tackler with 67 stops last season. Sophomore Jasper Bodiford is the other safety. He had 57 tackles in 2009.
Eddie Russ had 29 tackles and three interceptions last season and returns at one cornerback spot. Sophomore Terrence Davis made his first career defensive start vs. Southern Arkansas after starting at wide receiver last season. Junior Daniel Bernal, a transfer from Pasadena City College, made his Bison debut as the starting rover.
SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES
Junior Jeremy Holt had an outstanding special teams effort vs. Southern Arkansas. He returned one kickoff for 36 yards and four punts for 68 yards (17.0 yard average).
Senior punter Micah Canterbury punted six times with a 40.8-yard average. He had two land inside the 20-yard line and two touchbacks.
