Game Story
The top two scoring offenses in the Great American Conference square off Saturday at First Security Stadium. Harding, ranked No. 20 in the AFCA Top 25 Poll, leads the conference with 48.2 points per game with Ouachita second at 42.5 points per game. 

Harding's defense enters the game ranked No. 1 in Division II in total defense, allowing only 163.5 yards per game, 44.5 yards fewer than second-place Northwest Missouri State. The Bisons are second nationally in rushing defense (37.3), passing efficiency defense (79.47) and scoring defense (8.8).

In the latest AFCA poll, Harding moved up five spots to No. 20. The Bisons appear in the poll for the 33rd time since 2002. Harding has never been ranked No. 20. Harding is ranked 22nd on MasseyRatings.com and 31st on HeroSports.com. Ouachita is No. 47 on Massey and No. 63 on Hero.

Harding has opened the season 4-0 for fourth time in the last five seasons.

Harding and Ouachita are also the top two teams in the GAC in third-down conversions. The Bisons are converting 55.6 percent of third downs with the Tigers second at 52.4 percent.

Up Next
Harding travels to Arkadelphia, Arkansas, to meet Henderson State at 2 p.m. at Carpenter-Haygood Stadium. The Bisons snapped a five-game road losing streak against the Reddies with a 28-24 victory in Arkadelphia in 2014.

The Coaches
Harding's Ronnie Huckeba is in his 10th season as head coach and 31st on the Bison staff. He has a 60-39 career record, including 51-30 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.

Todd Knight is in his 18th season at Ouachita and has an 87-88 overall record. He is in his 24th season as a collegiate head coach.

Series History
Harding leads the all-time series with Ouachita Baptist 30-23-4. The Bisons hold a 14-10-2 advantage in Searcy. Ouachita has won the last three meetings in Searcy. Harding's last win over Ouachita at First Security Stadium was a 38-36 victory in 2007. Five of the last six games have been decided by five points for fewer.
 
Home/Road Records
Saturday's game against Ouachita Baptist is the third of six home games. The Bisons are 33-15 at home under coach Ronnie Huckeba and 17-4 in their last 21 home games. Harding has outscored two opponents 73-21 at home this season. Ouachita is 1-1 on the road with a 45-38 loss at Southeastern Oklahoma and a 42-34 victory over Northwestern Oklahoma.

Last Meeting
Ouachita took advantage of a late Harding turnover and scored the game-winning touchdown with 1:40 left to defeat the 12th-ranked Bisons 26-21. Harding rushed for 368 yards on 55 carries. Ouachita converted eight of its 12 third downs and scored on four of its six trips to the red zone.

Harding junior Eric Kelly rushed four times for a career-high 114 yards. Kelly had runs of 10, 17, 51 and 36 yards, and also had a 35-yard reception.

Streaks, Trends and Records
Harding has scored at least five rushing TD in each of the first four games, and scored a season-high eight at Arkansas-Monticello.

Harding has outgained its opponents by 1,157 yards in the first four games.

The Bison defense is allowing only 1.4 yards per rush and 7.7 yards per catch,  has broken up 22 passes, and forced 11 turnovers (5 interceptions, 6 fumbles).

No Harding opponent has rushed for more than 61 yards in a game. The Bisons last held five straight opponents below 100 rushing yards from Oct. 19-Dec. 13, 2013.

Harding has rushed for 82 first downs and allowed 10 rushing first downs.

Harding has outscored its opponents 27-0 in the first quarter.

Park Parish ranks 16th at HU in career rushing yards (1,571), eight behind HU Hall of Famer Tony McCoy (1981-82) ... he has 32 rushing TD, only two behind Alan Dixon's (1970-73) school record of 34 ... Parish needs six points to become the fifth HU player with more than 200 points in a career.

Junior Zach Shelley averages 9.96 yards per carry in his career (134 carries, 1,335 yards), the current Harding record, and junior Andrew Dather averages 28.00 per reception (22 receptions, 616 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 Ouachita Baptist
Ouachita Baptist leads NCAA Division II in team passing efficiency (210.21), while Harding is second in the Division in passing efficiency defense (79.47).

The Tigers have two players averaging more than 100 rushing yards per game -- running back Kris Oliver (119.0) and quarterback Austin Warford (111.8).

Team Leaders
HARDING
Rushing - Michael Latu: 53 carries, 301 yards, 4 TD
Passing - Park Parish: 8-of-15, 161 yards, 0 INT, 0 TD
Receiving - Andrew Dather: 6 receptions, 126 yards, 0 TD
Tackles - Daylan Skidmore: 21 tackles

OUACHITA BAPTIST
Rushing - Kris Oliver: 84 carries, 476 yards, 9 TD
Passing - Austin Warford: 49-of-67, 866 yards, 2 INT, 7 TD
Receiving - Ke'Vontae Pope: 15 receptions, 328 yards, 2 TD
Tackles - Devin Price: 28 tackles, 1.0 TFL, 3 interceptions