Football 10/26/2017 4:08:00 PM by Scott Goode (10/26/17)

Harding Football vs. Southeastern Okla. - GAME NOTES

Harding Bisons (5-3, 5-3) vs. Southeastern Okla. Savage Storm (6-2, 6-2)
Oct. 28, 2017 • 2 p.m. • Durant, Ark. • Paul Laird Field

Game Story
Harding will carry a five-game winning streak into Durant, Oklahoma, to take on Southeastern Oklahoma, one of four teams tied for first place in the Great American Conference. The Bisons are just one game behind that quartet.

Southeastern is 6-2 and has lost its last two after opening the season with six straight wins.

Harding enters the game as the NCAA Division II leader in rushing yards per game (333.0) and tied for second in rushing TD (29). Harding has rushed for more than 300 yards five times this season and for 200 or more yards in 55 of its last 56 GAC games, including the last 21 straight.

Harding's defense enters the game as the top unit in the GAC in rushing defense (113.0 yards per game) and second in total defense (317.8) and scoring defense (22.4). The Bisons have scored a GAC-high four defensive touchdowns.

Harding has outscored its opponents 84-14 off turnovers this season, including 70-0 in the last five games. Southeastern has outscored its opponents 74-35 off turnovers.

In the last two games, Harding's defense has two shutouts, 13 tackles for loss, nine sacks, five forced fumbles, six interceptions, 12 pass breakups, two safeties and 341 return yards (241 on interceptions and 100 on fumbles).

Up Next
Harding will play its final home game of the 2017 season on Senior Day against East Central. The Bisons have won five straight and 11 of their last 12 games against the Tigers. Kickoff at First Security Stadium will be at 2 p.m.

The Coaches
Harding's Paul Simmons is in his first season as the head coach of the Bisons. He is in his 12th season at Harding and had been Harding's defensive coordinator since 2010. Simmons was a three-time All-American defensive end and linebacker at Harding.

Bo Atterberry, a 1998 Southeastern Oklahoma graduate, is in his 10th season as head coach of the Savage Storm. He is 67-44 overall.

Series History
Harding leads the all-time series 21-7 overall and 9-6 in Durant. The Bisons have won the last six meetings overall and the last three in Durant. During the winning streak, Harding has averaged 44.3 points and allowed 18.5 points. The series began in 1978, and the teams played each year through 1999. The series resumed in 2011 and has played each year since.

Home/Road Records
Harding is 3-1 on the road this season and has averaged 36.7 points in the three wins. The Bisons have rushed for 336 yards per game and scored 14 rushing TD. Southeastern is 3-1 at home, winning its first three games and losing 20-19 to Henderson State in its most recent home game.

Last Meeting
Harding scored 35 points in the second period and defeated Southeastern Oklahoma 63-17 in 2016 at First Security Stadium.

The Savage Storm gained 204 of its 377 total yards in the first quarter and led the Bisons 17-14. Everything changed in the second quarter—Harding scored five times before halftime, and Southeastern never scored again.

Harding rushed for 431 yards and seven TD, averaging 8.3 yards per rush. Southeastern rushed for 203 yards, the most against Harding in 2016.

Streaks, Trends and Records
Zach Shelley averages 8.8 yards per carry in his career, which is the highest among active players at any level in the NCAA (min. 2,000 yards) -- Bryce Love (Stanford) is second at 8.7 ... ranks sixth at Harding in career rushing yards (2,321), 125 yards behind Park Parish (2,446, 2012-16) and fifth in career rushing TD (20) ... ranks eighth with 3,215 all-purpose yards, 111 behind Romo Westbrook (3,326, 2011-14).

Against Southeastern Oklahoma: In its last four home games against Southwestern, Harding has averaged 417.0 rushing yards and scored 22 rushing TD ... Andrew Dather has 3 receptions, 96 yards, 1 TD in 3 games ... Dylan Hampton had an interception last season ... Frank Herbert has 3 tackles, 2 interceptions in 2 games ... Grant Kimberlin had 2 rushes, 77 yards, 1 TD last season ... Zach Shelley has 20 rushes, 240 yards, 3 TD in 3 games.

With nine more PATs made, Tristan Parsley will become Harding's career leader. He has 159, behind only John Gay (167, 2011-14).

Harding has won the time-of-possession battle in all seven games and ranks third in Division II at 34:59 per game. Harding has won TOP in 22 of its last 24 games.

A Quick Look at Southeastern Oklahoma
Southeastern opened the season with six straight wins but has lost its last two ... Southeastern went 7-4 last season, its best in the GAC era ... SOSU is 30-36 all-time in GAC games ... Southeastern leads D2 in turnover margin at +15, with 21 takeaways and six giveaways ... the Savage Storm have lost only one fumble all season, fewest in D2 ... Southeastern averages 9.38 penalties per game, most in the GAC ... Southeastern has outscored its opponents by 64 points in the first half but only three points in the second half.

Team Leaders (GAC Rank in parenthesis)
HARDING
Rushing - Cole Chancey: 106 rushes, 611 yards (3rd), 8 TD (3rd); Zach Shelley: 70 rushes, 510 yards (10th), 3 TD; Grant Kimberlin: 41 rushes, 484 yards, 2 TD; Terrence Dingle: 102 rushes, 359 yards, 11 TD (2nd)
Passing - Terrence Dingle: 19-of-49, 358 yards, 3 TD
Receiving - Andrew Dather: 8 receptions, 160 yards, 1 TD
Tackles - Sam Blankenship: 73 tackles (4th); Devyn Comer: 8.5 TFL (6th), 4.5 sacks (5th)

SOUTHEASTERN OKLAHOMA STATE
Rushing - Rashod Polk: 108 rushes, 566 yards (7th), 6 TD (10th)
Passing - Austin Skinner: 69-of-131, 846 yards (10th), 5 TD; Rollin Kinsaul: 47-of-77, 561 yards, 6 TD (10th)
Receiving - Jaylen Sims: 32 receptions, 440 yards (7th), 3 TD; Drake White: 19 receptions, 363 yards, 3 TD; Codey McElroy: 12 receptions, 154 yards, 5 TD (4th)
Tackles - Hunter Powell: 50 tackles

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Players Mentioned

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

#42 Sam Blankenship: LB; 6' 2"; Junior

#13 Devyn Comer: DL; 6' 1"; Junior

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

#1 Terrence Dingle: QB; 5' 10"; Junior

#93 Dylan Hampton: DL; 6' 3"; Sophomore

#21 Frank Herbert: DB; 5' 10"; Junior

#5 Grant Kimberlin: RB; 5' 8"; Senior

#80 Tristan Parsley: K/P; 5' 9"; Senior

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

Players Mentioned

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

#42 Sam Blankenship
: 6' 2"; Junior
: LB

#13 Devyn Comer
: 6' 1"; Junior
: DL

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

#1 Terrence Dingle
: 5' 10"; Junior
: QB

#93 Dylan Hampton
: 6' 3"; Sophomore
: DL

#21 Frank Herbert
: 5' 10"; Junior
: DB

#5 Grant Kimberlin
: 5' 8"; Senior
: RB

#80 Tristan Parsley
: 5' 9"; Senior
: K/P

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

Harding University Athletics

Schedule

Events

Harding Football vs. Southeastern Okla. - GAME NOTES

Players Mentioned

#15 Park Parish

#42 Sam Blankenship

#13 Devyn Comer

#18 Andrew Dather

#1 Terrence Dingle

#93 Dylan Hampton

#21 Frank Herbert

#5 Grant Kimberlin

#80 Tristan Parsley

#28 Zach Shelley

Players Mentioned

#15 Park Parish

#42 Sam Blankenship

#13 Devyn Comer

#18 Andrew Dather

#1 Terrence Dingle

#93 Dylan Hampton

#21 Frank Herbert

#5 Grant Kimberlin

#80 Tristan Parsley

#28 Zach Shelley