Harding Game Notes
East Central Game Notes
Great American Conference Notes
Interview with Head Coach Ronnie Huckeba
The Bisons enter the game 3-6 overall after falling 31-27 to Ouachita Baptist last Saturday on Homecoming at First Security Stadium. Harding rushed for 330 yards, but allowed more than 300 rushing yards for the first time since 2008.
Harding is 2-2 and tied for fourth place in the GAC with two conference games remaining.
Harding enters the game as the leading rushing team in Division II. The Bisons average 378.1 yards per game, 43.1 yards more than second-place Midwestern State.
East Central enters the game 6-3 overall and 4-2 in the GAC. The Tigers are still alive for a postseason berth as one of only two teams in the conference with six victories in 2011. East Central is the only team in the GAC with an undefeated record (3-0) at home. The Tigers won last week, defeating Arkansas Tech 31-16 in Russellville, Ark.
GAME NOTES
* Harding and East Central are meeting for the 10th time with the Bisons holding a 7-2 advantage in the all-time series. Harding has won the last six straight dating to 1996. The teams are meeting in Ada for the first time since 2003, a 22-19 Harding victory.
* Harding has scored 48 touchdowns in 2011, only two short of the single-season record of 50 set by the 1972 team.
* The Bisons are averaging 39.8 points per game, the highest in the GAC and 10th nationally. Harding's current record for scoring offense is 34.7 points per game in 2007.
* Harding has had 21 different players score touchdowns this season. Redshirt freshman slot back Jason Oller scored on a 16-yard run last week against Ouachita Baptist becoming the 21st touchdown scorer. The previous record was 13 players in 1972.
* The Bisons lead the GAC and rank third nationally in fourth-down conversions. Harding has converted 17-of-23 (73.9%) fourth downs in 2011.
* Harding has scored 28 touchdowns in the red zone this season, all on the ground.
* Harding enters the game as Division II's leader in rushing offense with 384.1 yards per game. The Bisons have four of the top eight rushing efforts in Division II this season.
* Harding needs 163 rushing yards against East Central to set a new school record for rushing yards in a season. The Bisons have 3,403 rushing yards, and the record of the 1972 team was 3,565 yards.
* Harding also needs only two rushing touchdowns in its last two games to break the single-season record for rushing touchdowns. The Bisons have 35. The record of the 1972 team is 36.
* Senior slot back Jeremy Holt had 112 all-purpose yards last week against Ouachita Baptist and now has 3,801 in his career, good for sixth all-time. He needs 21 yards to pass Santiago Collins (2000-03) for fifth and 166 yards to pass Jim Howard (1964-67) for fourth.
* Harding senior left guard Garrett Taylor leads the team with 309 knockout blocks this season. This week, Taylor was nominated for the Gene Upshaw Award, given annually to Division II's top offensive or defensive lineman.
* Harding leads the GAC with 25 sacks this season and has had at least one sack in each game.
* Harding has outscored its opponents by 60 points in the first quarter (94-34).
