Postgame Interview with Head Coach Ronnie Huckeba
SHAWNEE, Okla. – No. 21 Harding and Oklahoma Baptist both struggled terribly on special teams, and the game came down to who could make an extra point in overtime. Oklahoma Baptist missed its attempt, and Harding's Tristan Parsley made his to give Harding a 20-19 victory. The teams combined to miss three extra points and four field goals. Three of the field goals were blocked.
Records
Harding improved to 1-0 overall and in Great American Conference play. Harding is now 28-7 in GAC games, including 16-2 against Oklahoma schools, 16-7 as a nationally-ranked team, 15-1 in its last 16 regular season road games, and 41-21-3 in season openers. The win was the 50th for Harding head coach Ronnie Huckeba.
Oklahoma Baptist fell to 0-1 overall and in the GAC.
Scoring Plays
Harding 7, Oklahoma Baptist 0 – 4:47, 1st Quarter – Matt Tenison 2-yard run (Tristan Parsley kick). 10 plays, 99 yards, 5:38 (Key play: 62-yard pass play from Park Parish to Andrew Dather on third down).
Harding 13, Oklahoma Baptist 0 – 7:00, 2nd Quarter – Parish 1-yard run (kick failed). 6 plays, 48 yards, 2:36 (Key play: Parish 24-yard run on first play of the drive).
Harding 13, Oklahoma Baptist 6 – 10:20, 3rd Quarter – Stegall 40-yard run (kick failed). 6 plays, 53 yards, 2:25 (Key play: Stegall's scoring run came on 4th-and-1).
Harding 13, Oklahoma Baptist 13 – 1:31, 3rd Quarter – Serowski 15-yard pass from Stegall (Tully kick). 10 plays, 79-yards, 3:58 (Key play: Harding had 25 yards in penalties on one play giving Oklahoma Baptist great field position).
Oklahoma Baptist 19, Harding 13 – OVERTIME – Mallory 20-yard run (kick failed). (Key play: Mallory's run came on the second play of overtime).
Harding 20, Oklahoma Baptist 19 – OVERTIME – Zach Shelley 5-yard run (Tristan Parsley kick). 4 plays, 25 yards. (Key play: Shelley had a 10-yard run on first down).
Key team stats
Harding outgained Oklahoma Baptist 423-226 and had 279 rushing yards.
Harding had 94 penalty yards to Oklahoma Baptist's 36.
Harding averaged 4.9 yards per rush and 6.7 yards per play while holding Oklahoma Baptist to 2.9 yards per rush and 3.6 yards per play.
Key individual stats
Junior quarterback Park Parish rushed 13 times for 87 yards and completed 3 of 5 passes for 123 yards. Junior Eric Simmons rushed five times for 52 yards. Andrew Dather had three receptions for 108 yards, his first career 100-yard game.
Junior linebacker Daylan Skidmore led Harding with 10 tackles.
Senior Jonathan Coleman made his first career interception in the end zone with 11 seconds remaining in the first half.
Up next
Harding hosts Southern Nazarene at First Security Stadium at 6 p.m.
