Postgame Interview with Ronnie Huckeba
BETHANY, Okla. – Harding's 300th victory in program history was not in doubt for long.
Harding scored three first quarter touchdowns after recording a safety on Southern Nazarene's first drive, and the Bisons dismantled the Crimson Storm 58-0 on Saturday at SNU Football Stadium.
Harding remained undefeated at 3-0 overall and in the Great American Conference and extended its winning streak to seven straight overall and six straight on the road.
Harding will look to match the school-record eight-game winning streak of the 1972 and 1973 teams next Saturday in Searcy when it hosts Southern Arkansas at 6 p.m. at First Security Stadium.
The Bison defense, ranked No. 1 in the GAC in nearly every category coming into the game, was stifling, again. Harding has held its last four opponents to fewer than 10 points, a feat last accomplished in the first four games of the 1989 season.
Southern Nazarene (0-4) gained only 42 yards in the game, including 4 yards on the ground. The Crimson Storm did not convert any of its nine third-downs and had only two first downs in the game and none after the first quarter. Southern Nazarene's longest drive of the game was 17 yards.
Harding gained 511 yards, including 464 rushing yards and scored eight rushing touchdowns, one short of the school record set against Arkansas Tech in 2012.
On Southern Nazarene's first possession, Harding scored its first safety in four seasons when safety Jonathan Coleman stuffed Crimson Storm running back Lorenzo Alexander in the end zone. The Bisons' last safety came against Arkansas-Monticello in 2010.
After the ensuing free kick, Harding scored on its second play from scrimmage on a 55-yard run on a sweep to Ahmad Scott for his second touchdown of the season and 13th of his career.
Harding made it 16-0 with 7:18 left in the first quarter. The Bisons drove 65 yards on eight plays with slot back Zach Shelley scoring on a pitch from 19 yards out. It was his third touchdown of the season.
Harding's third touchdown of the first quarter came after Darious Lane's second interception of the season. He returned it 54 yards to the SNU 3, and senior fullback Alapeti Magalei scored on the next play to give Harding a 23-0 lead. It was Magalei's third career touchdown against Southern Nazarene. He later scored his fourth.
Harding's second drive of the second quarter yielded Shelley's second touchdown of the game. He scored on a pitch from 5 yards out and gave Harding a 30-0 lead with 7:02 remaining in the half. The drive was Harding's longest of the game and covered 81 yards on 11 plays.
Harding added four more rushing touchdowns in the second half with Magalei (8 yards), Eric Kelly (6 yards), Matthew Tenison (5 yards), and Eric Simmons (9 yards) each reaching the end zone.
