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Harding University Athletics

2015 football at arkansas tech
24
Harding HU 7-4 , 7-4
27
Winner Arkansas Tech ATU 8-3 , 8-3
Harding HU
7-4 , 7-4
24
Final
27
Arkansas Tech ATU
8-3 , 8-3
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
HU Harding 3 14 7 0 24
ATU Arkansas Tech 0 7 3 17 27

Game Recap: Football | | by Scott Goode (11/14/15)

Harding Football Falls 27-24 to Arkansas Tech in Season Finale

RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – Arkansas Tech erased a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit Saturday to come from behind and defeat Harding 27-24 in the final regular-season game of the season for both teams.

A special-teams miscue jumpstarted the comeback for Arkansas Tech. Harding led 24-10 with just under 11 minutes left and lined up for a field goal that would have given the Bisons a 17-point lead. Tristan Parsley's 36-yard field goal was good, but an offside penalty forced another attempt. On the second try, the snap from center sailed over the head of holder Kohl Blickenstaff, and Tech's Nick Akins recovered the fumble and returned it 67-yards for a touchdown.

Harding's offense stalled on its next two possessions. The Bisons went three-and-out on the first possession, and the Wonder Boys' kicker Eric Perez made a 36-yard field goal with 6:38 left to cut Harding's lead to 24-20.

Harding's next drive ended on a fourth-down conversion attempt at the Tech 46. The Wonder Boys drove 54 yards with Bryan Allen scoring the game-winning touchdown with 1:26 left.

After a first-quarter field goal that gave Harding a 3-0 lead, the Bisons scored on both of their second-quarter drives. Junior fullback Michael Latu scored from 4 yards out and senior wide receiver Vanard Placide caught a 28-yard touchdown pass from Park Parish.

Harding led 17-7 at halftime.

An early Tech field goal cut the lead to 17-10, but Latu scored again on a 4-yard run on Harding's first drive of the second half to give the Bisons a 14-point lead.

Records
Harding finished its season 7-4 overall, its fourth straight winning season. The Bisons are 34-10 over that stretch.

Arkansas Tech improved to 8-3 overall and in the GAC.

Scoring Plays
Harding 3, Arkansas Tech 0 – 10:02, 1st Quarter – Tristan Parsley 34-yard field goal. 9 plays, 58 yards, 4:58
Arkansas Tech 7, Harding 3 – 9:33, 2nd Quarter – Stephen Watson 0-yard fumble recovery. 10 plays, 80 yards, 4:34
Harding 10, Arkansas Tech 7 – 3:25, 2nd Quarter – Michael Latu 4-yard run. 12 plays, 64 yards, 5:58
Harding 17, Arkansas Tech 7 – 1:07, 2nd Quarter – Vanard Placide 28-yard pass from Park Parish. 3 plays, 37 yards, 0:21
Harding 17, Arkansas Tech 10 – 12:07, 3rd Quarter – Eric Perez 40-yard field goal. 9 plays, 50 yards, 2:48
Harding 24, Arkansas Tech 10 – 9:10, 3rd Quarter – Michael Latu 4-yard run. 6 plays, 46 yards, 2:41
Harding 24, Arkansas Tech 17 – 10:25, 4th Quarter – Nick Akins 67-yard fumble return.
Harding 24, Arkansas Tech 20 – 6:38, 4th Quarter – Eric Perez 36-yard field goal. 8 plays, 39 yards, 1:54
Arkansas Tech 27, Harding 24 – 1:26, 4th Quarter – Bryan Allen 3-yard run. 7 plays, 54 yards, 2:45

Team Stats
Harding had two rushing touchdowns in the game, and for the third straight season rushed for 52 touchdowns.

Harding rushed for 269 yards to finish the season with 4,036 rushing yards. It is the second straight season the Bisons have rushed for more than 4,000 yards.

Harding's 24 points gave the Bisons 421 points for the season, marking the third straight season Harding has scored more than 400 points.

The two teams combined for 25 penalties and 196 penalty yards.

Harding's defense limited Tech to only 11 first downs and held Bryan Allen, the GAC's leading rusher, to only 55 yards on 12 carries. The Bisons also had six tackles for loss, including four sacks.

Individual Stats
Junior fullback Michael Latu rushed for 82 yards on 23 carries and scored two touchdowns. He finished with 11 rushing touchdowns. Junior quarterback Park Parish did not score a rushing touchdown for the first time this season but finished with 19 rushing scores. It is only the second time Harding has had two players with more than 10 rushing touchdowns in a season. In 2013, Keenan Kellett and Romo Westbrook both had 12 rushing touchdowns.

Junior slot back Zach Shelley rushed for 67 yards on 10 carries. He finished the season with 713 rushing yards giving Harding three 700-yard rushers for the first time in program history. Park Parish finished with 864 and Michael Latu with 803.

Junior linebacker Benjamin Shields led Harding with eight tackles. Junior linebacker Daylan Skidmore had six tackles, a sack and a forced fumble.
 
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