Box Score

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Northeastern State senior wide receiver Trey McVay set an all-time NCAA receiving record but it was a special teams play by senior linebacker Chris Myers that sealed a 49-41 victory over Harding on Saturday at Doc Wadley Stadium.

Harding (2-5) trailed 43-21 early in the fourth quarter, but rallied to score three straight touchdowns and trailed 43-41 with 2.5 seconds left in the game. Bison senior kicker Eddy Carmona came on to attempt a potential game-winning field goal from 38 yards out, but Myers blocked the attempt and returned it 72 yards to give Northeastern State (4-3) its third straight victory.

McVay, a native of Fort Gibson, Okla., caught 16 passes for 425 yards and six touchdowns. It was the most receiving yards ever gained in an NCAA game by one player.

Harding used its No. 1-ranked rushing attack and two of the 10 longest passing plays in school history to spark the comeback.

Both Harding quarterbacks rushed for over 100 yards. Junior Kelvin Martin got his first career start and carried 21 times for 118 yards and a touchdown. Chaz Rogers entered in the second half and rushed for a career-high 127 yards and a touchdown. Rogers also completed an 89-yard touchdown pass, the second-longest in school history to senior Tyler O'Quin, and a 75-yard touchdown pass to senior Jeremy Holt, the 10th-longest. Holt's catch made him only the second Bison ever, joining Joe David Smith (1973-76), with over 1,000 career rushing yards and 1,000 career receiving yards.

Harding also picked up a 77-yard kickoff return for a touchdown from redshirt freshman Donatella Luckett in the third quarter.

McVay had touchdown receptions of 47, 20, 80, and 6 yards in the first half. He added a 58-yard score in the third quarter, and scored on a 55-yard pass on the first play of the fourth quarter.

Harding answered with the two passing touchdowns on its next two possessions, and Rogers scored on an 11-yard run with 8:57 left to cut the lead to 43-41. After a penalty nullified Harding's two-point conversion attempt, Northeastern State's Marquin Watts blocked Carmona's extra point attempt, foreshadowing what was to come on the game's final play.

Harding rolled up 622 yards of total offense, the third-highest figure in program history, with 458 coming on the ground and 164 coming on the two long pass plays. Kale Gelles, the Great American Conference's leading rusher, almost gave the Bisons three 100-yard rushers. He carried 21 times for 95 yards. It was the third time this season that Harding rushed for more than 450 yards.

Northeastern State quarterback Johnny Deaton, a transfer from Oklahoma State, completed 26-of-43 for 542 yards and six touchdowns.

Harding will be back in action at home next Saturday against Southwestern Oklahoma State. Kickoff at First Security Stadium is at 2 p.m.