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Audio Clip of the Kellett to Luckett Touchdown
SEARCY – Harding opened the 2013 football season with a tough road loss at Southwestern Oklahoma. Saturday night at First Security Stadium, the Bisons made sure that the 2014 season did not start the same way.
Harding's offense ran up 485 yards of total offense, and the defense limited Southwestern Oklahoma (0-1) to fewer than 3 yards per play in a 42-6 victory.
The Bisons (1-0) go on the road next Saturday to Alva, Oklahoma, where they will take on Northwestern Oklahoma at 1 p.m.
Harding got off to a great start thanks to a Southwestern Oklahoma turnover. On the Bulldogs' third play from scrimmage, Bison linebacker Jordan Cantrell recovered an errant shot-gun snap at the Southwestern 1-yard line. Three plays later, Harding's Ahmad Scott scored on a 4-yard run.
Harding went ahead 14-0 on its next drive. The Bisons used a 45-yard run from redshirt freshman Zach Shelley to set up senior Romo Westbrook's 12-yard touchdown run. It was the 20th rushing touchdown of Westbrook's career. A native of Marion, Arkansas, Westbrook was Harding's top rusher, carrying 16 times for 99 yards. He also became only the fifth Harding player ever to eclipse 2,000 career rushing yards.
Senior quarterback Keenan Kellett connected on a 25-yard touchdown pass to sophomore Eric Kelly to put the Bisons ahead 21-0 with 4:29 left in the first half.
Southwestern's only points of the game came with 1:05 left before halftime. The Bulldogs engineered an 11-play, 62-yard drive that culminated in a 3-yard Karl Hodge touchdown run. Freshman kicker Dalton Jackson missed the extra point wide left, and Harding led 21-6 at halftime.
Harding's defense controlled the second half, limiting Southwestern Oklahoma to only 98 total yards. The Bisons had two of their three interceptions in the second half, including a highlight-reel worthy, one-handed grab by senior cornerback Darious Lane in the third quarter.
Lane's interception came one drive after Harding increased its lead to 28-6 on a Kellett to Donatella Luckett 43-yard touchdown pass. Luckett raced down the home sideline and made his 11th career touchdown catch in traffic just inside the pylon.
The Bisons added two rushing touchdowns in the fourth quarter, a 5-yard score by Alapeti Magalei and a 1-yard Park Parish run. Magalei had 14 carries for 75 yards, and Parish, playing only in the fourth quarter, rushed eight times for 71 yards.
Harding gained 324 rushing yards as a team and limited Southwestern to only 39. The Bulldogs managed a paltry 2.8 yards per play overall and only 1.4 yards per rush.
Kellett was 7-of-11 passing for 161 yards and two touchdowns. Southwestern quarterback Ryley Clayborn completed 22-of-43 passes for 157 yards and three interceptions.
Cantrell led Harding with seven tackles. Senior Devonte Britt, making his first career start in place of the injured Dennis Buckner, made six tackles, including two for losses, and broke up a pass.
NOTE: With the victory, Harding now has a 298-297-18 all-time record. It is the first time Harding has had a winning percentage over .500 since the team was 2-1 three games into the 1924 season, a span of 610 games.
