Box Score

LIVINGSTON, Ala. – Fumbles again proved to be Harding's kryptonite Saturday as West Alabama scored 21 points off Bison turnovers and defeated Harding 31-17 on Saturday at Tiger Stadium.

Harding (2-3) fumbled seven times in the game and lost five of them. The Bisons have lost 12 fumbles in their three losses and none in their two wins.

Harding scored on its first drive, going 82 yards on 15 plays with Chaz Rogers scoring on a 1-yard quarterback sneak. It was his seventh rushing touchdown of the season, tying current Harding assistant Clay Beason (1996) for the most rushing scores by a Harding quarterback in a season. Rogers later scored his eighth rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter to break the record.

Harding's drive came after Josh Aldridge blocked Ryan Smith's 24-yard field goal attempt on West Alabama's first possession. Aldridge has blocked three kicks in his career, including Harding's last blocked field goal last season against Arkansas-Monticello.

Then the fumbles started to take their toll.

A fumble on a sack of Harding's Kelvin Martin set up West Alabama's only touchdown of the first half. Martin was hit from the blind side at the 50-yard line and the Tigers returned it to the Harding 21. Four plays later, UWA quarterback Kyle Caldwell connected with fullback Josh Senkbeil on a 3-yard touchdown pass.

In the second half a fumbled snap at Harding's own 45 again gave West Alabama a short field. Caldwell connected on a 4-yard touchdown pass to Gerald Worsham to give the Tigers a 17-7 lead. Harding then fumbled the ensuing kickoff, and West Alabama made it 24-10 on Matthew Willis' 7-yard touchdown run.

Harding picked up a 50-yard field goal and Rogers' 1-yard sneak in the fourth, but Caldwell and Worsham hooked up again on an 11-yard touchdown pass that had West Alabama ahead by three touchdowns.

West Alabama totaled 390 yards against Harding, Division II's top-ranked defense. The Tigers rushed for 280 yards, with Willis accounting for 194 yards on 24 carries. That came a week after Harding limited North Alabama to only 25 rushing yards.

Harding averaged a Division II-best 406 rushing yards per game entering the contest but played without leading rusher Kale Gelles, who was injured last week against North Alabama. Harding rushed for a season-low 247 yards on 52 carries. Redshirt freshman Donatella Luckett led Harding with 73 rushing yards on 16 carries.

Caldwell, a true freshman making his first career start, completed 13-of-22 passes for 110 yards and three touchdowns. Worsham caught two of them and had 74 yards on nine catches.

Rogers completed only 3-of-14 passes with an interception. Tyler O'Quin had two catches for 48 yards.

The Bisons are back in action at home next week against West Georgia. Kickoff at First Security Stadium is at 6 p.m.