No. 15 Harding Football Opens Season Thursday vs. Henderson State

Game Story
Harding Football opens its 67th season of intercollegiate competition Thursday at 7 p.m. against Henderson State at First Security Stadium. The Bisons, defending GAC champions, have won 11 consecutive regular season games and are attempting to win their 10th straight home game for the fi rst time in program history. Harding's last home loss was Oct. 10, 2015, a 22-17 setback against Henderson State.

Harding is ranked No. 15 in the AFCA Preseason Top 25 Coaches Poll, the highest the Bisons have ever been ranked in the preseason. Harding was ranked No. 21 in the 2015 preseason poll. Henderson State received votes in the poll. Harding is No. 5 in the MasseyRatings.com preseason rankings with Henderson State at No. 29.

Harding is 42-21-3 (.659) in its previous 66 season openers. The Bisons have won 13 of their last 15 and seven of their last eight openers, including a 38-7 victory last season against Oklahoma Baptist. Harding has won its last nine games when opening the season at home, last losing 15-14 to Arkansas-Pine Bluff in 1994.

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

Harding named its five captains Friday. The 2017 captains are Bryce Bray, Gavin De Los Santos, Daylon Markham, Zach Shelley and Christian Witt.

Up Next
Harding travels to Magnolia, Arkansas, to take on Southern Arkansas in its first of six road games this season. Harding leads the series 27-25-1 and has won 11 straight overall and seven straight in Magnolia. Kickoff is at 6 p.m.

The Coaches
Harding's Paul Simmons will be coaching his fi rst game 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.

Scott Maxfield is in his 13th season at Henderson State and has an 88-43 overall record. He is a 1984 graduate of Louisiana Tech.

Series History
Harding and Henderson State are meeting for the 53rd time with the Reddies leading 32-19-1. Harding has won two of the last three meetings, but Henderson State has won the last four meetings in Searcy. Harding's last home win over Henderson State came in 2009.

Home/Road Records
Harding was 7-0 at home last season and has won nine straight at First Security Stadium beginning with a 62-20 victory over East Central Oct. 24, 2015. The Bisons are 23-5 (.821) in GAC home games.

Last Meeting
Already leading by 21 points, 16th-ranked Harding scored two touchdowns in the final five seconds of the first half and cruised to a 35-3 victory over fifth-ranked Henderson State Oct. 8, 2016, at Carpenter-Haygood Stadium.

Harding scored 28 points in the second quarter with Michael Latu rushing for a 2-yard touchdown and Arthur Akers scoring on a 17-yard fumble return. Quarterback Park Parish connected with Bobby Green on a 51-yard touchdown pass with five seconds left, and Scott Middleton added the fourth touchdown of the quarter on a 27-yard interception return as time expired.

Streaks, Trends and Records
Harding has won 11 consecutive regular season games.

Paul Simmons is looking to become only the second Harding football coach to win his first game. Larry Richmond's Bisons won his first game as head coach in 1988, a 22-7 victory at Lane.

Harding has scored 217 rushing touchdowns in the last four seasons and has allowed 40. The Bisons have rushed for 17,161 yards and allowed 3,790 yards in the last four seasons.

A Quick Look at Henderson State
Henderson State was 8-3 last season and finished third in the GAC. The Reddies are 49-9 over the last five seasons. Last season, Henderson State led the GAC in sacks (2.36) and tackles for loss (8.3) per game. The Reddies were last in time of possession (26:01).

Returning Team Leaders
HU (2016 stats)
Rushing - Zach Shelley: 80 rushes, 688 yards, 6 TD
Passing - Terrence Dingle: 8-of-10, 127 yards, 1 TD
Receiving - Andrew Dather: 22 receptions, 566 yards, 4 TD
Tackles - Daylon Markham: 76 tackles

HSU (2016 stats)
Rushing - Andrew Black: 81 rushes, 460 yards, 3 TD
Passing - Andrew Black: 145-of-223, 2,000 yards, 13 TD
Receiving - Ben Johnson: 15 receptions, 380 yards, 2 TD
Tackles - Cameron Sonnier: 87 tackles

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#47 Arthur Akers: DL; 6' 3"; Senior

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

#2 Scott Middleton: DB; 5' 11"; Senior

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

#73 Bryce Bray: OL; 5' 11"; Junior

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

#56 Gavin De Los Santos: OL; 6' 3"; Senior

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

#14 Bobby Green: WR; 6' 2"; Sophomore

#32 Daylon Markham: DB; 5' 10"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#47 Arthur Akers
: 6' 3"; Senior
: DL

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

#2 Scott Middleton
: 5' 11"; Senior
: DB

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

#73 Bryce Bray
: 5' 11"; Junior
: OL

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

#56 Gavin De Los Santos
: 6' 3"; Senior
: OL

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

#14 Bobby Green
: 6' 2"; Sophomore
: WR

#32 Daylon Markham
: 5' 10"; Senior
: DB