Postgame Interview with Head Coach Ronnie Huckeba


MAGNOLIA, Ark. – No. 16 Harding rushed for a school-record 566 yards and scored nine rushing touchdowns in a 70-42 victory over Southern Arkansas on Saturday at Wilkins Stadium at Rip Powell Field. It was the most points Harding ever scored in a road game, breaking the previous record of 63 points at Southern Arkansas in 2011. The 566 rushing yards are the most by a team in NCAA Division II this season.

Records
Harding improved to 3-0 overall and in the GAC. The Bisons are now 30-7 in GAC games and 16-1 in their last 17 regular-season road games. Harding has won 10 straight games over Southern Arkansas and have won seven straight in Magnolia.

Southern Arkansas suffered its first loss of the season and fell to 2-1 overall and in the GAC.

Key Team Stats
Harding tied a school record with nine rushing touchdowns. It tied the record set against Arkansas Tech in 2012. Harding has scored six or more rushing touchdowns in a game 13 times since 2011.

The teams combined for 1,154 yards, with Harding gaining 625 yards and Southern Arkansas 529.

The teams combined for 58 first downs, 29 each. There were 163 plays in the game with Southern Arkansas running 91.

Harding reached the red zone seven times and scored touchdowns all seven times.

Southern Arkansas ran 21 third-down plays, converting 12.

Key Individual stats
Park Parish rushed for 113 yards on 18 carries with three touchdowns, and fullback Matt Tenison rushed for a career-high 111 yards on 12 carries with two touchdowns. It was the first time two Harding players rushed for over 100 yards in a game since Romo Westbrook (121) and Alapeti Magalei (111) against Southeastern Oklahoma in 2014.

Parish has rushed for more than 100 yards twice this season and has seven rushing touchdowns.

Michael Latu also scored two rushing touchdowns and had 94 yards on 15 carries.

Zach Shelley led Harding with 132 total yards. He had five rushes for 73 yards, a 49-yard touchdown reception and a 17-yard kickoff return.

Harding kicker/punter Tristan Parsley tied a school record by making 10 extra points. He also had eight touchbacks on 11 kickoffs and punted three times for a 42.0-yard average, placing two of the three punts inside the 20.

Daylon Markham led Harding with eight tackles and one forced fumble. Cordell Zalenski recorded his first sack of the season and has 5.5 sacks in his career.

Trendall Stevenson made his first interception of the season and fourth of his career. He also had two additional pass breakups.

Southern Arkansas quarterback Barrett Renner passed for 381 yards and five touchdowns.

Up next
Harding hosts Arkansas-Monticello at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 26.