Football 9/24/2015 1:35:00 PM by Scott Goode (9/24/15)

No. 12 Harding Football Hosts Arkansas-Monticello on Family Weekend

Harding Bisons (3-0, 3-0) vs. Arkansas-Monticello Weevils (0-3, 0-3)
Saturday, Sept. 26 • First Security Stadium • 6 p.m.

Today's Game
•   Harding will play its second of five home games Saturday. The Bisons will take on the Arkansas-Monticello Weevils in Great American Conference action at First Security Stadium. Kickoff is at 6 p.m.
•   Harding enters the game 3-0 overall and 3-0 in the GAC following a 70-42 victory over Southern Arkansas on Saturday in Magnolia. The Bisons set a school record with 566 rushing yards. It was also the most points ever scored by Harding in a road game, breaking the previous record of 63 at Southern Arkansas in 2011.
•   Harding enters the game tied with Arkansas Tech for the top spot in the GAC. Both teams are 3-0. Harding is one of 37 NCAA Division II teams that remains undefeated after three weeks.
•   Harding and Arkansas-Monticello are the top two teams in the GAC in yards per completion. The Bisons lead NCAA Division II at 30.27 yards per completion, and the Weevils average 16.35. Harding ranks sixth in Division II with 7.67 yards per play.
•   Harding is ranked No. 12 in the American Football Coaches Association Preseason Poll and is ranked No. 13 in the D2Football.com Poll. The Bisons have been ranked in the last 15 AFCA polls. Harding's No. 12 ranking is tied for the highest in the Bisons' NCAA era (last, Nov. 12, 2012).
•   The Arkansas-Monticello game is the fourth of 11 games in the 2015 season, all of which are Great American Conference games. The Bisons will play six road games and five home games during the regular season.
•   Harding is 30-7 in its four-plus seasons in the GAC and is 13-5 against teams from Arkansas. The Bisons have won seven straight GAC games, tied for the sixth-longest active conference winning in Division II.
•   Harding has an 18-7 (.720) record as a nationally-ranked team and has won 14 of its last 17 games as a ranked team. The Bisons are 10-2 in their last 12 games as a ranked team.
•   Harding has won 30 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.
•   Saturday's game is the second of five regular season home games in 2015. The Bisons are 14-3 (.823) at home over the last three seasons.
•   Harding enters the game ranked second in NCAA Division II in rushing offense (377.3 yards per game) and in team passing efficiency (207.15).

Last Week
•   Harding moved to 3-0 for the third time in the last four seasons and the 10th time in program history with a 70-42 victory at Southern Arkansas on Saturday. Harding rushed for a school-record 566 yards, the second-highest total in NCAA Division II this season (591, Lenoir-Rhyne vs. Tusculum). Harding also set a school record with 26 rushing first downs and tied a school record with nine rushing touchdowns (most in NCAA II this season).
•   Junior quarterback Park Parish rushed for 113 yards and three touchdowns and threw a 49-yard touchdown pass to sophomore slot back Zach Shelley. Junior Matt Tenison had his first career 100-yard rushing game with 111 yards on 12 carries and two touchdowns. It was the 15th time a Harding had two 100-yard rushers and the first since Romo Westbrook (121) and Alapeti Magalei (111) vs. Southeastern Oklahoma in 2014.
•   Harding converted 5-of-10 third downs and scored touchdowns on all seven of its trips to the red zone.

Next Week
•   Harding will return to the road to take on Ouachita in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. The game will have an 11 a.m. kickoff and will air on the American Sports Network. Harding leads the series 30-22-4 overall and 15-12-2 in Arakdelphia.

Offensive Notes
•   Harding has outscored its opponents 35-14 in the first quarter this season and 155-44 over the last two seasons. Over the last six seasons, the Bisons hold a 562-195 advantage over opponents in the first period.
•   Harding has ranked in the top five in NCAA Division II in rushing in each of the last five seasons. This season, Harding ranks second in Division II with 377.3 rushing yards per game. Harding leads Division II with 16 rushing touchdowns and ranks fourth with 6.70 yards per rush.
•   Since moving to the flexbone in 2011, Harding has rushed for 16,669 yards or a little under 9.5 miles. The Bisons need to rush for 931 more yards to reach 10 miles.
•   Harding led NCAA Division II last season in passing efficiency (188.1). The Bisons scored a passing touchdown every 7.2 pass attempts (86 passes, 12 touchdowns). Through the first three games, Harding ranks second in passing efficiency, averaging 15.1 yards per pass attempt.
•   In the last three seasons, Harding has 103 more rushing touchdowns than its opponents. The Bisons have rushed for 120 touchdowns and allowed only 17.
•   Harding had 12 plays of 20 yards or longer against Southern Arkansas, including Michael Latu's 63-yard touchdown run. It was Harding's longest touchdown run of the season. This season, Harding has 29 plays of 20 yards or more, including 15 rushing plays and nine passing plays.

Defensive Notes
•   Harding enters the fourth game of the season ranked third in the GAC in scoring defense (20.3) and rushing defense (112.7). The Bisons are sixth in passing yards allowed (209.7).
•   Harding has 28 tackles for loss in the first three games. The Bisons lead the GAC and rank 15th in NCAA Division II with 9.3 tackles for loss per game.
•   Harding had a season-high nine pass breakups vs. Southern Arkansas after breaking up only five passes in the first two games.
•   Harding's defense has a total of 109 yards on turnovers (44 on interceptions and 65 on fumbles). Opponents do not have any turnover return yards.

Opponent/Series Notes
•   Harding has won the last four games against Arkansas-Monticello and leads the series 26-24. A victory for the Bisons would even the series in Searcy at 13-13.
•   Arkansas-Monticello is 0-3 to start the season. The Weevils are 0-2 at home and 0-1 on the road. The road loss was 50-20 at Southwestern Oklahoma.
•   Arkansas-Monticello ranks ninth in the GAC in total offense (355.7) and seventh in total defense (417.0).
•   The Weevils have scored on all seven of their trips to the red zone. UAM has four touchdowns and three field goals.
•   Arkansas-Monticello have scored eight offensive touchdowns, all passing.
•   The Weevils have been outscored 41-3 in the second quarter.
•   Arkansas-Monticello kicker Jamie McGee has been perfect on all his kicks this season. He is 4-of-4 on field-goal attempts and 8-of-8 on extra points.

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Players Mentioned

#9 Alapeti Magalei: RB; 5' 9"; Senior

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

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

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

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

#9 Michael Latu: RB; 5' 11"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#9 Alapeti Magalei
: 5' 9"; Senior
: RB

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

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

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

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

#9 Michael Latu
: 5' 11"; Junior
: RB