SEARCY – Harding senior fullbacks Romo Westbrook and Alapeti Magalei both rushed for over 100 yards to spearhead the No. 17 Bisons' 51-6 victory over Southeastern Oklahoma on Homecoming Saturday at First Security Stadium.
Harding led 27-6 at halftime, and the Bison defense held an opponent without a point in the second half for the sixth time in eight games this season.
The victory kept Harding (7-1, 7-1) one game behind Ouachita Baptist for the top spot in the Great American Conference. Southeastern Oklahoma had its four-game winning streak snapped and fell to 5-4 overall and 4-4 in the GAC.
Ranked No. 2 in Division II in rushing offense, Harding rushed for 467 yards, averaged 9.3 yards per carry, and scored six rushing touchdowns. Westbrook had 14 carries for 121 yards, and Magalei earned John Prock Homecoming MVP honors with a career-high 111 yards on eight carries.
The last time to Harding players rushed for over 100 yards in the same game was in 2011 against Northeastern State as quarterbacks Chaz Rogers (127) and Kelvin Martin (118) both eclipsed 100 yards.
The rushing onslaught started early for the Bisons. Senior Ahmad Scott scored on a 48-yard touchdown run on Harding's second play from scrimmage. Redshirt freshman Zach Shelley added a 9-yard touchdown in the first quarter and the Bisons led 14-0 after the first period.
Harding scored on the first of two 99-yard drives with 8:52 left in the second quarter. Jason Oller took a pitch from quarterback Keenan Kellett and scored from 11 yards out. Senior John Gay missed his first extra point of the season, but the Bisons led 20-0.
The dagger came at the 4:05 mark before halftime when senior Darious Lane fielded a punt at the Harding 18 and returned it 82 yards for a touchdown. It was the first Harding punt return for a touchdown in 12 seasons and the second-longest punt return in program history.
Magalei (41 yards) and Westbrook (1 yard) both scored rushing touchdowns in the third quarter. Third-string fullback Matthew Tenison, who had 79 yards on seven carries, broke a 63-yard touchdown run in the fourth, and Harding concluded its scoring with a 40-yard John Gay field goal with 5:42 left in the game.
Harding's defense was outstanding against a Southeastern team that averaged 446 yards and 37 points per game. The Bisons had four interceptions, including two by junior cornerback Frank Herbert.
Southeastern Oklahoma running back Devlon Wortham entered the game averaging 8.0 yards per carry and 92.0 rushing yards per game, but Harding held him to 33 yards on 13 carries. The Savage Storm had only 81 rushing yards on 45 carries.
Southeastern quarterback Ryan Polite completed 19-of-35 passes for 174 yards and a 6-yard touchdown to Layton Dworaczyk with 22 seconds left in the first half that accounted for the team's only points.
Harding plays its final regular-season road game next Saturday in Ada, Oklahoma. The Bisons take on East Central at 2 p.m.
NOTES: Romo Westbrook rushed for 121 yards and eclipsed Jim Howard (1964-67) for second on Harding's career rushing list. He now has 2,841 yards and trails only Alan Dixon (4,214, 1970-73) ... it was Westbrook's 11th career 100-yard game, also second-most by a Harding player.
