Football 11/3/2016 1:52:00 PM by Scott Goode (11/3/16)

Game Notes: No. 5 Harding Looks to Claim GAC Title at Northwestern Oklahoma

No. 5 Harding Bisons (9-0, 9-0) vs. Northwestern Okla. Rangers (4-5, 4-5)
Nov. 5, 2016 • 2 p.m. • Alva, Okla. • Ranger Stadium

Game Story
It will be a matchup of the Great American Conference's top rushing team against its top passing team Saturday at 2 p.m. at Ranger Field in Alva. Harding leads the conference with 383.9 rushing yards per game, and Northwestern tops the GAC with 319.0 passing yards per game.

With a victory, Harding would claim its first outright football conference championship in program history. The Bisons tied for conference championships in 1972, 1976 and 1989, all in the NAIA Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference.

Harding is ranked No. 3 in the second NCAA II Central Region Rankings. The top seven teams advance to the playoffs. Teams ranked first through fourth are guaranteed to host a playoff game.

Harding averages 383.9 rushing yards, 42.0 yards per game more than second-place Sioux Falls. The Bisons are coming off a 506-yard rushing effort against Southwestern Oklahoma, its fourth game of more than 400 rushing yards this season and eighth 500-yard rushing game since 2011.

Harding's defense allows only 12.1 points per game and has allowed fewer than 10 points in five of the nine games. The Bisons have yielded 14 touchdowns, the fewest by a DII team that has played nine games.

Harding and Northwestern Oklahoma are the two highest-scoring teams in the GAC. The Bisons average 43.6 points, and the Rangers average 37.6.

In the latest AFCA poll, Harding remained at No. 5. It is the fourth straight poll that has the Bisons in the AFCA Top 10. Harding is ranked ninth in the D2football.com poll, ninth on MasseyRatings.com and 19th on HeroSports.com. Northwestern is No. 100 on Massey and No. 73 on Hero.

Harding has opened the season 9-0 for the first time and is one of only eight teams in Division II that remains undefeated.

Up Next
Harding will return home for its final regular-season game Saturday against Arkansas Tech. Kickoff on Senior Day at First Security Stadium is at 2 p.m. Harding has won four of its last five meetings with Arkansas Tech.

The Coaches
Harding's Ronnie Huckeba is in his 10th season as head coach and 31st on the Bison staff. He has a 65-39 career record, including 56-30 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.

Matt Walter is in his second season at Northwestern with a 7-13 record.

Series History
Harding holds a 7-2 series lead in the nine previous meetings. The series is tied 2-2 in Alva, with Harding winning 45-7 in 2014. Harding has won all three meetings between the teams in GAC games.

Home/Road Records
Saturday's game against Northwestern Oklahoma is the last of five road games. The Bisons are 27-24 on the road under coach Ronnie Huckeba and have won 21 of their last 27 road games. Harding has outscored its opponents 190-24 in road games. The Bisons are averaging 382.2 rushing yards and allowing only 39.0.

Last Meeting
Harding overcame a nine-point halftime deficit to defeat Northwestern Oklahoma 42-30 last season in Searcy. The Bisons had a 21-point fourth quarter.

Harding rushed for 433 yards with Michael Latu rushing for 167 yards and Park Parish gaining 128 yards.

Streaks, Trends and Records
Harding has 46 rushing TD, 11 more than any other team in Division II. The Bisons need seven rushing TD in the final two games to break the school record of 52, set each of the last three seasons. Harding also leads Division II with 3,455 rushing yards (school record: 4,089 in 2014).

Harding has 39 rushes of 20 yards or longer this season (six vs. SWOSU) and has allowed only three. Zach Shelley leads Harding with 10 rushes of 20 yards or more.

Harding has outscored its opponents 156-37 in the second quarter, 87-14 in the fourth quarter, and 93-35 off turnovers.

Park Parish ranks sixth at HU in career rushing yards (1,982) and needs 18 yards to become only the sixth player with 2,000 rushing yards. He has a school-record 38 rushing TD and ranks fourth in scoring (230 points).

Harding senior Corey Bassett leads the GAC with a 31.5 kickoff return average. Trevon Biglow leads the GAC with three forced fumbles, and Isaiah Jefferson leads the conference with three fumble recoveries.

A Quick Look at Northwestern Oklahoma
Northwestern Oklahoma has the top passing offense in the GAC with 319.0 yards per game. The Rangers are also second in scoring at 37.6 points per game.

Sophomore Horatio Smith leads the GAC with 161.2 all-purpose yards per game. He is a receiver who returns kickoffs and punts.

Team Leaders
HARDING
Rushing - Park Parish: 106 rushes, 693 yards, 14 TD
Passing - Park Parish: 18-of-36, 421 yards, 0 INT, 3 TD
Receiving - Andrew Dather: 13 receptions, 314 yards, 3 TD
Tackles - Daylan Skidmore: 53 tackles, 1 PBU

NORTHWESTERN OKLAHOMA
Rushing - Jacob Peyton: 115 carries, 658 yards, 4 TD
Passing - Reid Miller: 202-of-355, 2,871 yards, 7 INT, 34 TD
Receiving - Horatio Smith: 43 receptions, 716 yards, 9 TD
Tackles - Maurice Wright: 84 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 6 PBU, 1 INT, 2 FR, 1 FF

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Players Mentioned

#12 Corey Bassett: DB; 5' 8"; Senior

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

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

#9 Michael Latu: RB; 5' 10"; Senior

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

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

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

#24 Isaiah Jefferson: DB; 5' 9"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#12 Corey Bassett
: 5' 8"; Senior
: DB

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

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

#9 Michael Latu
: 5' 10"; Senior
: RB

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

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

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

#24 Isaiah Jefferson
: 5' 9"; Junior
: DB

Harding University Athletics

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Game Notes: No. 5 Harding Looks to Claim GAC Title at Northwestern Oklahoma

Players Mentioned

#12 Corey Bassett

#19 Trevon Biglow

#18 Andrew Dather

#9 Michael Latu

#15 Park Parish

#28 Zach Shelley

#44 Daylan Skidmore

#24 Isaiah Jefferson

Players Mentioned

#12 Corey Bassett

#19 Trevon Biglow

#18 Andrew Dather

#9 Michael Latu

#15 Park Parish

#28 Zach Shelley

#44 Daylan Skidmore

#24 Isaiah Jefferson