Box Score

SEARCY – West Georgia scored all of it points off turnovers and defeated Harding 41-24 on Saturday in non-conference football action at First Security Stadium. It was the fourth of five straight non-conference games for Harding, who concludes the stretch next Saturday at Northeastern State in Tahlequah, Okla.

Harding (2-4) had six turnovers, five fumbles and an interception. Four of the fumbles came in a nightmarish second quarter that saw West Georgia (3-2) score four touchdowns in just over seven minutes and take a 28-7 lead into halftime.

Harding scored on the first play of the second quarter with junior quarterback Chaz Rogers sneaking off-guard for his Great American Conference-leading ninth rushing touchdown of the season. The play capped a 19-play, 61-yard drive that ate more than nine minutes off the clock.

The Bisons then entered the twilight zone.

With 8:36 left in the half, Jeremy Holt fumbled a punt at the goal line and West Georgia recovered. Three plays later UWG quarterback Emmanuel Taylor scored on a 1-yard run. Harding's Ahmad Scott then fumbled the ensuing kickoff and West Georgia's Yusuf Holloway scored on a 13-yard run to give the Wolves a 14-7 lead.

With 2:01 remaining before halftime, Rogers fumbled at the West Georgia 42. The Wolves drove 58 yards on eight plays and scored on an 8-yard Taylor touchdown run with only 46 seconds left. Harding took possession following the kickoff with just 40 seconds remaining. On the fourth play of the drive, Rogers' pitch on the option was knocked down by West Georgia's Will Jones. Drek Mathews recovered the loose ball at the UWG 48 and returned the fumble 52 yards for a touchdown and a 28-7 halftime lead.

A pair of interceptions in the third quarter gave Harding hope. Junior Tramaine Wilkes picked off a pass at the West Georgia goal line and returned it 48 yards. Senior linebacker Brian Maupin also made his first career interception. Both ensuing drives resulted in rushing touchdowns by Harding backup quarterback Kelvin Martin. The Bisons trailed 28-21 after three quarters and looked to be back in the game.

Then came another fumble.

Harding senior Kale Gelles, who had his third 100-yard rushing game of the season with 102 yards on 20 carries, lost the ball at the Harding 25. West Georgia drove down to the Harding 8 and kicker Davis Brackett booted a 25-yard field goal. Harding answered with a 25-yard field goal by Eddy Carmona to cut the lead to 31-24 with 5:15 left.

West Georgia was able to maintain possession down the stretch, and Brackett kicked a 28-yard field goal with 1:26 left. The Wolves scored their final touchdown on a 62-yard interception return by Waylon Kimble with 47 seconds remaining.

Harding's triple-option offense, which led Division II in rushing entering the game, totaled 280 rushing yards on 61 carries. The Bisons completed just 3-of-14 passes for 55 yards. Harding's defense, ranked second nationally entering the game, allowed 295 yards, 203 of them on the ground.

Junior Aaron Gillaspie led Harding's defense with 11 tackles, including a sack. Maupin had seven tackles, including a tackle for loss and the interception.

Gelles' 102-yard effort gave him 1,782 rushing yards in his career and moved him into seventh in career rushing at Harding.