Football 10/11/2018 10:38:00 AM by Scott Goode (10/11/18)

No. 24 Harding Football vs. Southwestern Oklahoma - GAME NOTES

#24 Harding Bisons (4-2, 4-2) vs. Southwestern Okla. Bulldogs (2-4, 2-4)
Oct. 13, 2018 • 2 p.m. • Weatherford, Okla. • ASAP Energy Field

Game Story
The top rushing team in Division II takes on one of the top passing teams in the Great American Conference on Saturday when Harding travels to meet Southwestern Oklahoma. Harding averages 326.8 yards on the ground, while Southwestern averages 231.3 in the air.

Harding is ranked No. 24 in the AFCA Top 25 Coaches Poll. Southwestern Oklahoma is not ranked. Harding is ranked No. 19 by MasseyRatings.com with Southwestern at No. 82.

Harding is coming off a 7-3 loss to No. 6 Ouachita Baptist on Saturday in Searcy. The Bisons' lone score came on a 19-yard Cameron Scott field goal in the second quarter. Harding outgained Ouachita 308-176 and had more than 40 minutes of possession.

Southwestern is coming off a 31-21 loss Saturday at home to Southeastern Oklahoma. Southeastern had 488 total yards and 32 first downs. Southwestern managed only 201 total yards and went 1 for 11 on third down.

Up Next
Harding returns to First Security Stadium for Homecoming 2018 where it will take on Northwestern Oklahoma for a 2 p.m. kickoff. Harding holds a 9-2 series lead and has won all five meetings in Searcy.

The Coaches
Paul Simmons is in his second season as head coach at Harding. He has a 15-6 overall record and led Harding to the national semifinals in 2017. He is in his 13th season at Harding and had been Harding's defensive coordinator for the previous seven seasons before becoming head coach in 2017. Simmons was a three-time All-American defensive end and linebacker at Harding from 1992-94.

Chet Pobolish is in his first season at Southwestern Oklahoma and has a 2-4 record. He is a 2000 graduate of Emporia State.

Series History
Harding leads the all-time series 8-5, but Southwestern has won the last two meetings in Weatherford.

Home/Road Records
Harding is 3-0 on the road this season and has won eight consecutive regular season road games. Southwestern Oklahoma is 1-2 at home and has lost its last two. Harding has scored more than 40 points in its three road games this season, matching the record of the 2014 team. Harding has never scored 40 or more points in four straight road games.

Last Meeting
It had been 52 years since the Harding football team shutout opponents in consecutive games, a feat Harding accomplished last season with a 42-0 blanking of Southwestern Oklahoma on Homecoming at First Security Stadium a week after its 34-0 victory at Northwestern Oklahoma.

The Bison defense accounted for 18 of Harding's 42 points with two safeties and two touchdowns, both on returns of more than 90 yards.

Additionally, Harding's defense forced six turnovers, recorded six sacks and broke up 10 passes. The Bisons had 223 yards on either interception or fumble returns and allowed only 224 total yards to Southwestern Oklahoma's offense.

Smith's 96-yard fumble return was the second longest in program history, behind only Jerry Mote's 99-yard return in 1960 against Ozarks. Brice's 99-yard interception return was the second longest in program history, behind only Bershard Tillman's 100-yard return against Northeastern State in 1999.

Streaks, Trends and Records
Harding has outscored its opponents 69-7 in the first quarter of its first six games, including 41-0 in three on the road.

Harding leads D2 in rushing yards (1,961) and rushing TD (24). The Bisons are ninth in D2 in rushing defense (81.8) and tied for second in rushing TD allowed (1).

Harding ranks fifth in D2 with an average of 35:30 time of possession. The Bisons have held at least a six-minute advantage in every game this season.

Harding is fourth in D2 in total defense (233.0). The Bisons have allowed fewer than 300 yards in each of the last five games and 14 times in their last 20 games.

Harding has allowed only one fourth-down conversion this season. Opponents are 1-for-11 (9.1 percent) on fourth down. Only Central State (OH) is better at 1-for-12 (8.3 percent).

RB Cole Chancey has 1,749 career rushing yards and needs 128 to move past Chris Gilliam (1,876, 1994-97) into 10th on Harding's career list. He needs two TD to become the seventh Bison with 20 career rushing TD.

Harding vs. SWOSU
Sam Blankenship has 16 tackles, 1 FF in 3 games ... Brandon Brice had a 99-yard interception return TD and 7 tackles last season ... Devyn Comer had 5 tackles, including 2.0 sacks last season ... Frank Herbert has 9 tackles, 2 PBU, 1 INT in 3 games ... Daylon Markham has 7 tackles and 2 INT in 3 games ... Dra Smith had 4 tackles and a 96-yard fumble return TD last season ... T.J. Winslow has 5 tackles, 4 PBU, 2.0 sacks and a FF in 3 games.

A Quick Look at Southwestern Oklahoma
SWOSU is one of only two GAC teams to have blocked three kicks this season ... one of only four GAC teams averaging more than 20.0 yards per kickoff return (21.9) ... averages 7.0 tackles for loss per game, fourth in the GAC.

CJ Jennings leads the GAC and ranks 25th with 26.5 yards per kickoff return ... TJ Harris is one of two GAC players to have blocked two kicks ... QB Casey Freeman is second in the GAC in passing efficiency (135.3) and third in completion percentage (55.8).

Team Leaders
HARDING
Rushing - Tristan Tucker: 50 rushes, 484 yards (3rd GAC), 5 TD (6th GAC); Cole Chancey: 76 rushes, 412 yards (5th GAC), 3 TD; Preston Paden: 77 rushes, 286 yards (13th GAC), 7 TD (2nd GAC)
Passing - Preston Paden: 14-30, 319 yards (12th GAC), 3 TD
Receiving - Taylor Bissell: 5 receptions, 167 yards, 1 TD
Defense - Sam Blankenship: 40 tackles; T.J. Winslow: 4.0 sacks (1st GAC); V'Onte Williams: 2 INT (5th GAC)
Punting - Cameron Scott: 25 punts, 42.4 avg. (1st GAC)
Kicking - Cameron Scott: 5 for 9 FG, 27 for 27 PAT

SOUTHWESTERN OKLA.
Rushing - Jaden Knowles: 61 rushes, 197 yards, 0 TD
Passing - Casey Freeman: 101-181, 1,361 yards (5th GAC), 12 TD (4th GAC)
Receiving - JR Omigie: 23 receptions, 461 yards (4th GAC), 4 TD (2nd GAC)
Defense - Clay Wilkerson: 33 tackles; T.J. Harris: 8.5 TFL; Jalen Carr: 1 INT, 8 PBU (3rd GAC)
Punting - Kane Bowen: 28 punts, 38.2 avg. (10th GAC)
Kicking - Jackson Wilhite: 1 for 3 FG, 10 for 10 PAT

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Players Mentioned

#42 Sam Blankenship: LB; 6' 3"; Senior

#31 Brandon Brice: DB; 6' 0"; Senior

#34 Cole Chancey: RB; 5' 10"; Sophomore

#13 Devyn Comer: DL; 6' 2"; Senior

#21 Frank Herbert: DB; 5' 11"; Senior

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

#11 Preston Paden: QB; 5' 11"; Sophomore

#26 Taylor Bissell: RB; 5' 8"; Sophomore

#18 Cameron Scott: K/P; 6' 1"; Junior

#2 Dra Smith: DB; 6' 2"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#42 Sam Blankenship
: 6' 3"; Senior
: LB

#31 Brandon Brice
: 6' 0"; Senior
: DB

#34 Cole Chancey
: 5' 10"; Sophomore
: RB

#13 Devyn Comer
: 6' 2"; Senior
: DL

#21 Frank Herbert
: 5' 11"; Senior
: DB

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

#11 Preston Paden
: 5' 11"; Sophomore
: QB

#26 Taylor Bissell
: 5' 8"; Sophomore
: RB

#18 Cameron Scott
: 6' 1"; Junior
: K/P

#2 Dra Smith
: 6' 2"; Senior
: DB