Football 11/5/2015 10:37:00 PM by Scott Goode (11/5/15)

Harding Football Hosts Northwestern Oklahoma on Senior Day

Harding Bisons (6-3, 6-3) vs. Northwestern Oklahoma State Rangers (3-6, 3-6)
Saturday, Nov. 7 • First Security Stadium • 2 p.m.

Today's Game
•   Harding will play its final home game of the season Saturday for Senior Day. The Bisons will host the Northwestern Oklahoma State Rangers in Great American Conference action at First Security Stadium. There will be a pregame ceremony honoring Harding's 15 seniors.
•   Harding enters the game 6-3 overall and in the GAC following a 21-13 loss to Southwestern Oklahoma on Saturday in Weatherford, Oklahoma. Harding scored a touchdown on its first offensive possession but managed only two field goals over its next 10 possessions.
•   Harding enters the game tied with three other teams for third place in the GAC. The Bisons are two games behind leader Henderson State.
•   Saturday's game is a matchup of the top rushing team in the GAC (Harding, 370.4 yards per game) and the top passing team in the GAC (Northwestern Okla., 322.3 yards per game).
•   Harding leads the GAC with 2.33 sacks per game, while Northwestern Oklahoma is last in the GAC with 3.89 sacks allowed per game.
•   Harding enters the game with four of the top 12 rushers in the GAC. Park Parish is fourth (77.0), Michael Latu is seventh (69.3), Zach Shelley is eighth (66.0), and Matt Tenison is 12th (62.7).
•   Harding junior quarterback Park Parish enters the game with a Harding-record 18 rushing touchdowns, the most by any quarterback in NCAA Division II and third-most of any player. Parish has at least one rushing touchdown in all nine games this season, one short of Alan Dixon's school record of 10 straight games, set in 1972. Parish has scored 110 points this season, the most ever by a Bison.
•   Harding has had six different players this season rush for more than 100 yards in a game. Prior to this season, Harding had never had more than four (2011).
•   The Northwestern Oklahoma game is the 10 of 11 games in the 2015 season, all of which are Great American Conference games. The Bisons play six road games and five home games during the regular season.
•   Harding is 33-10 in its four-plus seasons in the GAC and is 19-3 against teams from Oklahoma.
•   Harding has won 33 games over the last three-plus seasons and has reached the postseason each of the last three years. Last season, Harding went 9-2 and played in the NCAA II Playoffs for the second time.
•   Harding has completed 28 passes this season for a NCAA-best average of 26.0 yards per completion.

Last Week
•   Harding fell to 6-3 overall and in the GAC with a 21-13 loss to Southwestern Oklahoma in Weatherford. The Bisons had season lows in first downs (11), rushing yards (171), total yards (243) and third downs (2 of 13).
•   Harding junior quarterback Park Parish scored his school-record 18th rushing touchdown on the Bisons' first possession. It was his ninth straight game with at least one rushing touchdown.
•   Parish led Harding with 68 rushing yards on 14 carries. He also completed three passes for 34 yards.
•   Sophomore wide receiver Andrew Dather made two receptions for 62 yards, making receptions of 34 and 28 yards.
•   Sophomore kicker/punter Tristan Parsley made both of his field goal attempts (36 and 25 yards), punted five times for a 35.8-yard average and had one touchback on four kickoffs.
•   Junior safety Scott Middleton and junior linebacker Daylan Skidmore led the team with nine tackles each. Senior defensive lineman Matt McKeown had the Bisons' only sack.

Next Week
•   Harding will play its final game of the regular season Saturday against Arkansas Tech in Russellville. Kickoff at Thone Stadium/Buerkle Field is at 2 p.m.
•   Arkansas Tech leads the series with Harding 30-22 overall and 18-7 in Russellville. Harding has won the last four meetings.

Offensive Notes
•   Harding has 45 rushing touchdowns this season, only seven short of the school record of 52 set in both 2013 and 2014. Harding is one ahead of Eastern New Mexico (44) for the lead in Division II. The Bisons have rushed for nine touchdowns three times. No other team in Division II has done it once.
•   Harding averages 6.5 yards per rush and 7.0 yards per play, both of which are the highest figures in Bison history. The Bisons' 6.47 yards per rush ranks second in NCAA II (Colorado St.-Pueblo, 6.93).
•   Harding is averaging 39.4 points per game this season, most in the GAC. The Bisons have averaged more than 30 points per game in each of the last four seasons, including a school-record 44.3 points last season.
•   Harding has outscored its opponents 69-55 off turnovers this season.
•   Harding leads the GAC and ranks third in NCAA Division II with 370.4 rushing yards per game. The Bisons have eclipsed 300 yards four times and have rushed for more than 500 yards three times.

Defensive Notes
•   Harding is ranked fifth in the GAC in total defense, allowing 355.6 yards per game. Twice the Bisons have allowed fewer than 300 yards.
•   Harding ranks third in the GAC and 24th in NCAA Division II in rushing defense. The Bisons are allowing 114.7 yards per game and have held five of their nine opponents to fewer than 100 yards. Opponents average only 3.0 yards per rush.
•   Harding ranks ninth in the GAC in passing defense, allowing 240.9 yards per game. Four of Harding's nine opponents passed for fewer than 200 yards.
•   Harding averages 7.2 tackles for loss per game, tops in the GAC. Harding had 5.0 tackles for loss against Southwestern Oklahoma.

Opponent/Series Notes
•   Northwestern Oklahoma allowed 32 points in the first half in suffering a 53-21 loss to Arkansas Tech on Saturday in Alva, Oklahoma. Arkansas Tech rushed for 372 yards, and Northwestern Oklahoma passed for 344 yards.
•   Quarterback Reid Miller completed 33-of-56 passes for 339 yards and three touchdowns. Wide receiver Horatio Smith made three receptions for 85 yards and caught touchdown passes of 70 and 9 yards.
•   Harding scored the first 35 points of a 45-7 victory over Northwestern Oklahoma last season in Alva. Wide receiver Donatella Luckett and fullback Romo Westbrook both scored two touchdowns, and Harding rushed for 310 yards while holding Northwestern to only 35 rushing yards and 143 total yards.
•   Northwestern leads NCAA Division II with 15 fumbles recovered. The Rangers have forced 28 turnovers, the most by a GAC team and fifth in Division II.
•   The Rangers rank second in the GAC and 13th in Division II in net punting (37.49). Punter Will Hawkins is second in the GAC with 42.3 yards per punt.
•   Quarterback Reid Miller leads NCAA Division II with 28.0 completions per game. He leads the GAC with 303.8 passing yards per game and is second with 28 passing touchdowns.
•   Junior wide receiver Arte' Miura is second in the conference with eight receiving touchdowns, and freshman Horatio Smith is third with seven receiving touchdowns.
•   Defensive end Theodis Williams is the only GAC player with three fumble recoveries this season. Junior defensive back Jordan Norris leads the GAC with seven interceptions and ranks second with 15 passes defended.
•   Sophomore linebacker Devin Peyton leads the GAC with 11.0 tackles per game.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#6 Donatella Luckett: WR; 6' 0"; Senior

#8 Romo Westbrook: RB; 5' 10"; Senior

#18 Andrew Dather: WR; 6' 1"; Sophomore

#90 Matt McKeown: DL; 6' 3"; Senior

#15 Park Parish: QB; 5' 10"; Junior

#80 Tristan Parsley: K/P; 5' 9"; Sophomore

#28 Zach Shelley: RB; 5' 7"; Sophomore

#44 Daylan Skidmore: LB; 5' 11"; Junior

#31 Matt Tenison: RB; 5' 8"; Junior

#2 Scott Middleton: DB; 5' 11"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#6 Donatella Luckett
: 6' 0"; Senior
: WR

#8 Romo Westbrook
: 5' 10"; Senior
: RB

#18 Andrew Dather
: 6' 1"; Sophomore
: WR

#90 Matt McKeown
: 6' 3"; Senior
: DL

#15 Park Parish
: 5' 10"; Junior
: QB

#80 Tristan Parsley
: 5' 9"; Sophomore
: K/P

#28 Zach Shelley
: 5' 7"; Sophomore
: RB

#44 Daylan Skidmore
: 5' 11"; Junior
: LB

#31 Matt Tenison
: 5' 8"; Junior
: RB

#2 Scott Middleton
: 5' 11"; Junior
: DB