Harding Game Notes
West Alabama Game Notes
GAC Weekly Notes
Pregame interview with Head Coach Ronnie Huckeba
The game will air live on KVHU 95.3 FM in Searcy with live stats and live audio links on HardingSports.com.
The Bisons enter the game 2-2 after falling 28-20 to second-ranked North Alabama in Florence on Saturday. Harding rushed for 381 yards in the game and had the ball for nearly 37 minutes. The Bisons limited North Alabama to only 25 rushing yards on 24 carries.
Harding enters the week as the nation's leader in three statistical categories. The Bisons lead Division II in rushing offense (402.2), total defense (194.2), and first downs allowed per game (11.8).
GAME NOTES
Harding and West Alabama will be playing for the 17th time with Harding leading the series 9-7. The Tigers have won the last two, including a 22-17 victory in Searcy last season. Harding has won twice in seven meetings in Livingston, last winning 36-35 in 2007.
Harding leads the Great American Conference in scoring with 44.8 points per game. The Bisons have scored 24 touchdowns, seven more than the next-highest team, East Central (17).
Harding is averaging a GAC-best 6.9 yards per play on offense.
Harding has scored 13 touchdowns in its 17 times in the red zone this season (76.5%), the highest percentage among GAC teams. In fact, all 13 of Harding's red zone touchdowns have come on the ground.
The Bisons have two of the top 10 rushers in the GAC with Kale Gelles second at 107.2 yards per game and Chaz Rogers eighth at 49.8 yards per game.
Harding enters the game as the leader in Division II in rushing offense at 402.2 rushing yards per game. The Bisons also lead D2 with 59.5 rushes per game and 6.76 yards per carry. Harding's 17 rushing touchdowns is tied for second nationally behind Nebraska-Kearney's 18 rushing scores.
Senior Kale Gelles ranks second in the GAC and 20th nationally with 107.2 rushing yards per game. He has two 100-yard rushing games this season. Gelles had 42 yards on 11 carries vs. North Alabama and missed much of the second half with a leg injury.
Harding junior quarterback Chaz Rogers has six rushing touchdowns this season after scoring twice against North Alabama. Rogers' six rushing touchdowns are the second-most ever by a Bison quarterback, trailing only current Harding special teams coach Dr. Clay Beason, who rushed for seven touchdowns in 1996.
Harding sophomore Colton Kamper rushed for 109 yards on seven carries against North Alabama for his first career 100-yard game. He also had a career-long 69-yard run in the game. His previous highs were 56 rushing yards and a 31-yard long at Henderson State in 2010.
Kamper became only the second Harding player ever to rush for over 100 yards in a game on seven or fewer carries and the first since Ted Walters rushed for 103 yards on seven carries at Arkansas Tech in 1973.
Harding has scored five defensive touchdowns this season, returning three interceptions and two fumbles for touchdowns. The only other time Harding has scored five defensive touchdowns was in 1996, when the Bisons returned five interceptions for touchdowns.
Harding enters the game as the Division II leader in total defense, allowing only 194.2 yards per game. The Bisons allow only 3.3 yards per play, the second best figure in Division II, behind only West Virginia Wesleyan (2.99).
Harding leads Division II in fewest 1st Downs allowed, averaging only 11.8 first downs allowed per game. North Alabama managed only 13 first downs against Harding.
Harding's opponents have reached the red zone only six times through the first four games, the fewest of any team in the GAC.
Harding leads the GAC in scoring defense, allowing only 19.2 points per game. The Bisons have yielded only 11 touchdowns, the fewest by a GAC team who has played four games. Harding is the only team in the GAC that has not allowed a field goal.
Harding leads the GAC and ranks third in Division II in rushing defense at 47.8 yards per game. The Bisons are allowing just 1.5 yards per carry and are one of only six Division II teams allowing less than 2.0 yards per carry.
Harding leads the GAC and ranks 13th nationally in passing defense. Opponents have completed a conference-low 53.2 percent of their passes against the Bisons, and Harding allows a conference-low 5.4 yards per pass. The Bisons also lead the conference in pass defense efficiency.
The Bisons lead the GAC and rank 12th nationally with 3.5 sacks per game. Junior defensive end Josh Aldridge leads the team with 2.5 sacks, and B.J. Jones and Daniel Riley have 2.0 sacks each.
Harding's leading tackler is junior linebacker Aaron Gillaspie with 25. He is tied for 15th in the GAC with 6.2 tackles per game.
Eddy Carmona has connected on 22-of-22 extra points and has made 4-of-4 field goals, with a long of 52 yards. Carmona leads all GAC kickers in scoring with 8.5 points per game.
Carmona has punted 13 times for a 35.6-yard average. He has landed six punts inside the 20 and forced six fair catches. Of Carmona's 13 punts, only two have been returned for a total of 12 yards.
Junior James Feher leads Harding in special teams tackles with six, all on kickoff returns. Sophomore Phillip Mion is second with four special teams tackles.
Harding has outscored its opponents 59-7 in the first quarter and 97-27 in the first half.
