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Postgame Interview with Head Coach Ronnie Huckeba
 

ALVA, Okla. – Harding's defense intercepted five passes and the offense gained 425 total yards in a 45-7 road victory over Northwestern Oklahoma on Saturday in Great American Conference play at Ranger Field.

Harding now goes into its bye week 2-0 before making another trip to Oklahoma on Sept. 27 when it meets Southern Nazarene in Bethany.

The Bisons scored their first touchdown on their first play from scrimmage. Junior safety Aric Stock made his second interception of the season on Northwestern's second play and returned it to the Ranger 16-yard line. Senior Romo Westbrook scored his 21st career rushing touchdown on the next play to give Harding a 7-0 lead.

It appeared that would be the halftime score until Harding senior wide receiver Donatella Luckett struck twice in a 2-minute, 23-second span late in the second quarter.

On 3rd-and 15 from the Northwestern 45, Harding quarterback Keenan Kellett hit Luckett on a screen pass, and Luckett outran the Ranger defense for his second receiving touchdown of the season.

Harding senior linebacker Valtray Jackson delivered a crushing blow to Northwestern quarterback Cody Weinzheimer on the Rangers' next drive, forcing a fumble that Bison defensive end Kenyatta Johnson recovered at the Northwestern 35.

Four plays later, Luckett took a reverse 18 yards, running over one defender and eluding two others, to score again and give the Bisons a 21-0 halftime lead. Luckett caught five passes for 105 yards.

Redshirt freshman Zach Shelley, Harding's leading rusher in the game with 87 yards on four carries, scored the first of two long touchdown runs to open the scoring for the Bisons in the second half. Shelley scored on a 29-yard run at the 11:51 mark of the third quarter and had a 52-yard run with just over three minutes left in the game.

Harding's other second-half touchdown came on a 36-yard interception return by defensive back Dennis Buckner. It was the second of his two interceptions in the game.

John Gay added a 41-yard field goal in the fourth quarter, his first of the season.

Northwestern's only touchdown came on its only drive of more than six plays in the game. Justin Schanbacher caught a 4-yard pass from backup quarterback Ty Hooper with 12:15 left in the game to culminate an 11-play, 65-yard drive that took over five minutes off the clock.

Harding rushed for 310 yards and four touchdowns on 57 carries. Backup quarterback Park Parish gained 76 yards on seven carries, and fullback Alapeti Magalei rushed 14 times for 71 yards.

Kellett continued his accurate start to the season, completing 7-of-10 passes for 125 yards and one touchdown. He was 7-of-11 with two touchdowns in Harding's season-opening victory over Southwestern Oklahoma.

Aside from intercepting five passes, Harding's defense limited Northwestern (0-2) to only 32 rushing yards on 32 carries, had 10 tackles for loss and three sacks. It was the eighth straight opponent the Bisons held below 100 rushing yards. In two games, Harding has not allowed a rushing play of longer than 9 yards.

Northwestern's two quarterbacks combined to complete 13-of-31 passes for 108 yards, giving the Rangers only 143 total yards for the game.