Game Notes: Harding Football Battles Southern Nazarene in Bethany

Harding plays its first of five road games Saturday against Southern Nazarene at the SNU Football Stadium in Bethany, Okla. The Bisons opened the season with a 38-7 home victory over Oklahoma Baptist. Southern Nazarene lost its opener 46-0 at Arkansas Tech.

In the first AFCA poll, Harding received 38 points and is one spot outside the top 25. The Bisons are not ranked in the d2football.com poll but are ranked 41st by MasseyRatings.com and 44th by HeroSports.com. Southern Nazarene is No. 159 on MasseyRatings.com and No. 167 on HeroSports.com.

With its win over Oklahoma Baptist, Harding improved to 42-21-3 in season openers and has now won 13 of its last 15. The Bisons have won nine straight when opening the season at home, last losing in 1994.

Harding was picked second in the Great American Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll. The coaches selected Southern Nazarene 12th in the 12-team conference. Henderson State was the preseason favorite.

Up Next
Harding returns to First Security Stadium to host Southern Arkansas in Great American Conference action. The Bisons have won the last 10 meetings with the Muleriders, including the last four meetings in Searcy.

The Coaches
Harding's Ronnie Huckeba is in his 10th season as head coach and 31st on the Bison staff. He has a 57-39 career record, including 48-30 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.

Andy Lambert is in his first season at Southern Nazarene and has an 0-1 overall record. He is a 1991 graduate of Trinity International in Illinois. He previously coached at Trinity International (1997-03) and Sterling (2004-15).

Series History
Harding and Southern Nazarene are meeting for the fifth time, with the Bisons holding a 4-0 lead. Harding won 42-0 last season in Searcy and has outscored Southern Nazarene 100-0 in the last two games. The Bisons won the last meeting in Bethany 58-0 in 2014.

Home/Road Records
Saturday's game against Southern Nazarene is the first of five road games. The Bisons are 23-24 on the road under coach Ronnie Huckeba and were 3-3 last season away from Searcy. Harding is 17-6 in its last 23 road games dating to the beginning of the 2012 season. Southern Nazarene was 1-5 last season at home, defeating Oklahoma Baptist 33-32 in overtime in its season finale.

Last Meeting
Quarterback Park Parish rushed for 112 yards and three TD and passed for 130 yards and another TD to lead Harding to a 42-0 win over Southern Nazarene last season in Searcy. Wide receiver Andrew Dather had four receptions for 115 yards, including a 23-yard TD. Zach Shelley had four carries for 90 yards.

Harding rushed for 287 yards and limited Southern Nazarene to only 68 yards on 38 carries. The Crimson Storm held an eight-minute time-of-possession advantage in the game but never reached the red zone.

Streaks, Trends and Records
Harding's 389 rushing yards against Oklahoma Baptist were the second-most in NCAA Division II in week one. Carson-Newman rushed for 464 yards in a loss to Humboldt State. The Bisons' 38 minutes, 23 seconds of possession was fifth.

Harding has rushed for 161 TD and allowed 29 over the last three-plus seasons.

Senior quarterback Park Parish has 25 career rushing TD and needs nine more to become Harding's career leader. He ranks 12th among active Division II players in career rushing TD.

Senior linebacker Daylan Skidmore has 223 career tackles (had eight vs. Oklahoma Baptist) and is 18th among active DII players. He ranks eighth among Harding players since 2000 in total tackles.

Against Oklahoma Baptist, Harding did not allow a rushing first down for the first time since the 2014 game against Southern Nazarene.

A Quick Look at Southern Nazarene
Southern Nazarene lost 46-0 to Arkansas Tech in its opener. The Crimson Storm allowed 491 yards and amassed 163. Southern Nazarene rushed for 133 yards and passed for 30.

Southern Nazarene freshman defensive back Noah Wells was a standout in the Tech game, recording 14 tackles, including 3.5 tackles for loss.

Team Leaders
HARDING
Rushing - Zach Shelley: 8 carries, 71 yards, 1 TD
Passing - Park Parish: 2-of-6, 50 yards, 0 TD
Receiving - Andrew Dather: 2 receptions, 50 yards, 0 TD
Tackles - Daylan Skidmore: 8 tackles

SOUTHERN NAZARENE
Rushing - Jacob Spady: 7 carries, 74 yards, 0 TD
Passing - Jacob Spady - 6-of-8, 30 yards, 0 TD
Receiving - Reese Carlson: 3 receptions, 20 yards, 0 TD
Tackles - Noah Wells: 14 tackles, 3.5 TFL

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Players Mentioned

#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

#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