Game Notes: Harding Meets Henderson State in Clash of Nationally-Ranked, Undefeated Teams

No. 16 Harding Bisons (5-0, 5-0) vs. No. 5 Henderson St. Reddies (5-0, 5-0)
Oct. 8, 2016 • 2 p.m. • Arkadelphia, Ark. • Carpenter-Haygood Stadium

Game Story
The only two nationally-ranked and undefeated teams in the Great American Conference meet each other Saturday as 5th-ranked Henderson State hosts 16th-ranked Harding at Carpenter-Haygood Stadium. Harding will attempt to defeat Ouachita Baptist and Henderson State for the first time in the same season since 2004.

Harding's defense enters the game ranked No. 1 in Division II in total defense, allowing only 199.0 yards per game, and scoring defense, allowing only 11.0 points per game. The Bisons also lead Division II with 369.0 rushing yards per game.

In the latest AFCA poll, Harding moved up four spots to No. 16. The Bisons appear in the poll for the 34th time since 2002. Harding was last ranked No. 16 on Sept. 14, 2015. Harding is ranked 18th on MasseyRatings.com and 31st on HeroSports.com. Henderson is No. 14 on Massey and No. 19 on Hero.

Harding has opened the season 5-0 for third time in the last five seasons.

Harding and Henderson State are the two top defenses in the GAC. The Bisons lead the conference in scoring defense (11.0) and total defense (199.0), with the Reddies second in scoring defense (15.6) and total defense (328.0).

Up Next
Harding returns to Searcy to take on Southeastern Oklahoma at 6 p.m. The Bisons have won their last five over the Savage Storm and has a 20-7 all-time record in the series. The teams played the longest game in HU history last season, a 63-60 Bison victory in four overtimes.

The Coaches
Harding's Ronnie Huckeba is in his 10th season as head coach and 31st on the Bison staff. He has a 61-39 career record, including 52-30 in GAC games. Huckeba has announded that 2016 will be his final season. Defensive coordinator Paul Simmons will be the head coach beginning in 2017.

Scott Maxfield is in his 12th season at Henderson State and has an 85-40 record.

Series History
Harding and Henderson State are playing for the 52nd time with the Reddies leading the series 32-18-1. Henderson has won 21 of the 26 games played in Arkadelphia. Harding won the last game at Carpenter-Haygood Stadium 28-24 in 2014. The average margin of victory in the last four games in Arkadelphia is 3.3 points.

Home/Road Records
Saturday's game against Henderson State is the third of five road games. The Bisons are 25-24 on the road under coach Ronnie Huckeba and have won 19 of their last 25 road games. Henderson State has won home games against Southeastern Oklahoma (13-11) and Northwestern Oklahoma (62-23).

Last Meeting
Henderson State's Andrew Black scored the game-winning 10-yard TD run with 7:45 left in the game to give the Reddies a 22-17 victory over Harding last season in Searcy.

Harding had 245 rushing yards, led by Park Parish with 86, and 33 minutes, 7 seconds of possession.

Streaks, Trends and Records
Harding has 27 rushing TD, six more than any other team in Division II. The Bisons are one of only seven teams averaging more than 6.0 yards per rush.

Among Division II teams that have played five games, only Harding and three other teams have allowed seven TD or fewer.

The Bison defense is allowing only 2.12 yards per rush (3rd in DII) and 9.1 yards per catch, has broken up 24 passes, and forced 13 turnovers (6 interceptions, 7 fumbles).

Harding has 20 rushes of 20 yards or longer this season and has not allowed a rushing play longer than 20 yards.

Harding has rushed for 94 first downs and allowed 24 rushing first downs.

Harding has outscored its opponents 66-7 in the fourth quarter and 51-21 off turnovers.

Park Parish ranks 10th at HU in career rushing yards (1,715), 31 yards behind Ronnie Huckeba's former teammate Allen Grieb (1974-77) ... he has 33 rushing TD, only one behind Alan Dixon's (1970-73) school record of 34 ... Parish (200 points) is only the fifth HU player with 200 or more points in a career.

Junior Zach Shelley averages 9.52 yards per carry in his career (140 carries, 1,333 yards), the current Harding record, and junior Andrew Dather averages 29.78 per reception (23 receptions, 685 yards), also the current record.

Trevon Biglow needs one sack to join Josh Aldridge (2009-12) as the only two Bisons with 20 or more sacks in Harding's NCAA era (since '97).

A Quick Look at Henderson State
Henderson State leads the GAC and ranks fourth in Division II in net punting at 40.86 yards per punt. The Reddies have forced 15 turnovers, seventh in Division II.

Junior defensive end Sam Johnson leads the GAC with 5.0 sacks.

Team Leaders
HARDING
Rushing - Park Parish: 67 carries, 426 yards, 9 TD
Passing - Park Parish: 10-of-22, 236 yards, 0 INT, 1 TD
Receiving - Andrew Dather: 7 receptions, 195 yards, 1 TD
Tackles - Daylan Skidmore: 32 tackles

HENDERSON STATE
Rushing - Jeremy Wilson: 61 carries, 369 yards, 6 TD
Passing - Andrew Black: 63-of-96, 798 yards, 4 INT, 3 TD
Receiving - Courtney Whitehead: 26 receptions, 398 yards, 2 TD
Tackles - Dondre Wright: 39 tackles, 1.0 TFL, 1 interception

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Players Mentioned

#19 Trevon Biglow: DL; 6' 1"; Senior

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

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

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

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

Players Mentioned

#19 Trevon Biglow
: 6' 1"; Senior
: DL

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

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

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

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