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Football by Scott Goode (9/27/18)

No. 20 Harding at Ark.-Monticello -- GAME NOTES

#20 Harding Bisons (3-1, 3-1) at Ark.-Monticello Weevils (1-3, 1-3)
Sept. 29, 2018 • 1 p.m. • Monticello, Ark. • Convoy Leslie-Cotton Bowl Stadium

Game Story
It will be the No. 2-ranked rushing offense in Division II against the No. 2 rushing defense in the Great American Conference when Harding travels to meet Arkansas-Monticello Saturday at 1 p.m. at Convoy Leslie-Cotton Bowl Stadium. Harding averages 331.8 rushing yards, and Arkansas-Monticello allows only 103.3 yards.

Harding is ranked No. 20 in the AFCA Top 25 Coaches Poll. Arkansas-Monticello is not ranked. Harding is ranked No. 13 by MasseyRatings.com with Arkansas-Monticello at No. 89. 

Harding is coming off a 56-7 victory over Oklahoma Baptist Saturday in Searcy. Harding had three players--Tristan Tucker (119), Cole Chancey (118) and Preston Paden (100)--rush for 100 yards or more, had 457 rushing yards as a team and had 508 total yards. Oklahoma Baptist scored on its first drive but not on its next 13 drives.

Arkansas-Monticello is coming off a 21-7 home loss to Southeastern Oklahoma Saturday. The Weevils had only 195 total yards and limited the Savage Storm to only 232 total yards. The two teams combined for 16 punts and 14 penalties. UAM's touchdown came on its first drive of the fourth quarter and was one of only three drives of 30 yards or more.

Up Next
Harding returns home to host Ouachita Baptist on Saturday, Oct. 6. The game begins at 6 p.m. Harding leads the all-time series 32-23-4.

The Coaches
Paul Simmons is in his second season as head coach at Harding. He has a 14-5 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.

Hud Jackson is in his eighth season at Arkansas-Monticello and has a 24-56 record. He is a 1992 graduate of McNeese State. 

Series History
Harding leads the all-time series 29-24 and has won seven straight. Harding holds a 15-11 advantage in Monticello and has won the last three.
 
Home/Road Records
Harding is 2-0 on the road this season and has won seven consecutive regular season road games. Arkansas-Monticello is 1-1 at home and went 3-2 at home last season. Tristan Tucker is averaging 110.5 rushing yards and 11.6 yards per carry on the road.

Last Meeting
Harding rushed for 474 yards and seven touchdowns and overcame an 11-point second half deficit to defeat Arkansas-Monticello 56-46 last season at First Security Stadium.

Harding ran its winning streak to seven games over Arkansas-Monticello.

Harding's 474 rushing yards were its second-most rushing yards of the season behind only 501 at Southeastern Oklahoma.

The game was highlighted by a pair of outstanding individual efforts. Harding freshman running back Cole Chancey rushed 23 times for 157 yards and four touchdowns, and Arkansas-Monticello senior wide receiver Jalen Tolliver had 12 receptions for 245 yards and five touchdowns. His receiving yardage total was two yards short of the GAC record and his five touchdowns tied the conference mark.

Streaks, Trends and Records
Harding has outscored its opponents 45-7 in the first quarter of its first four games.

Harding's opponents are 0-for-6 on fourth down. The only other Division II team with more stops on fourth down without allowing a conversion is Central Washington, whose opponents are 0-for-9.

Harding has scored 18 rushing TD (first in D2) and allowed no rushing TD. Harding and Northwest Missouri are the only two D2 teams to play four games and not allow a rushing TD.

Sophomore fullback Cole Chancey has 17 career rushing TD and needs only three more to become the seventh Bison with 20 or more career TDs. Chancey has 1,637 career rushing yards (17th at HU) and needs 240 to move into Harding's career top 10.

In three combined games vs. UAM, Harding fullbacks Cole Chancey (1 game, 23 carries, 157 yards, 4 TD) and Romar Reades (2 games, 16 carries, 148 yards, 3 TD) have combined to rush 39 times for 305 yards and 7 TD.

Harding has scored 288 rushing touchdowns in the last six seasons and has allowed 56. The Bisons have rushed for 23,593 yards and allowed 5,752 yards in the last six seasons.

Harding ranks second in Division II in fewest penalties per game (3.00) and fewest penalty yards per game (28.75). Harding has only been penalized 12 times in four games. Walsh with eight penalties for 61 yards is the only Division II team less penalized than Harding.

A Quick Look at Arkansas-Monticello
Arkansas-Monticello is one of only three teams in the GAC averaging over 400.0 yards of total offense (409.2) ... UAM's defense has allowed only 2.9 yards per rush, second in the GAC ... UAM is one of four GAC teams with more than 1,000 passing yards this season (1,046) ... UAM has allowed a GAC-high 13 passing TD ... UAM is last in the GAC in net punting (30.0) and kickoff coverage ... UAM leads the GAC in sacks (11) and first downs per game (23.8).

Team Leaders
HARDING
Rushing - Tristan Tucker: 34 rushes, 391 yards (2nd GAC), 4 TD (6th GAC); Cole Chancey: 49 rushes, 323 yards (5th GAC), 2 TD; Preston Paden: 49 rushes, 167 yards, 6 TD (1st GAC/9th D2)
Passing - Preston Paden: 10-21, 239 yards, 3 TD
Receiving - Taylor Bissell: 3 receptions, 121 yards, 1 TD
Tackles - Sam Blankenship: 26 tackles; T.J. Winslow: 4.0 sacks (1st GAC)
Punting - Cameron Scott: 15 punts, 43.7 avg. (1st GAC/17th D2)
Kicking - Cameron Scott: 3 for 4 FG, 21 for 21 PAT

ARKANSAS-MONTICELLO
Rushing - Nigel Dora: 28 rushes, 113 yards, 1 TD; Cole Sears: 49 rushes, 102 yards, 5 TD (3rd GAC)
Passing - Cole Sears: 76-145, 1,019 yards (3rd GAC/20th D2), 5 TD (5th GAC)
Receiving - DeAndre Washington: 13 receptions, 263 yards (7th GAC), 3 TD (3rd GAC)
Tackles - Christian Jefferson: 29 tackles; Brandon Young: 6.0 TFL (2nd GAC/15th D2); Anthony Walker: 3.0 sacks
Punting - Josh Marini: 17 punts, 33.4 avg. (11th GAC)
Kicking - Angel Quiroga: 1 for 2 FG, 8 for 9 PAT
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Players Mentioned

Sam Blankenship

#42 Sam Blankenship

LB
6' 3"
Senior
Cole Chancey

#34 Cole Chancey

RB
5' 10"
Sophomore
Preston Paden

#11 Preston Paden

QB
5' 11"
Sophomore
Taylor Bissell

#26 Taylor Bissell

RB
5' 8"
Sophomore
Romar Reades

#33 Romar Reades

RB
5' 8"
Sophomore
Cameron Scott

#18 Cameron Scott

K/P
6' 1"
Junior
Tristan Tucker

#19 Tristan Tucker

RB
5' 9"
Sophomore
T.J. Winslow

#8 T.J. Winslow

DL
6' 4"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Sam Blankenship

#42 Sam Blankenship

6' 3"
Senior
LB
Cole Chancey

#34 Cole Chancey

5' 10"
Sophomore
RB
Preston Paden

#11 Preston Paden

5' 11"
Sophomore
QB
Taylor Bissell

#26 Taylor Bissell

5' 8"
Sophomore
RB
Romar Reades

#33 Romar Reades

5' 8"
Sophomore
RB
Cameron Scott

#18 Cameron Scott

6' 1"
Junior
K/P
Tristan Tucker

#19 Tristan Tucker

5' 9"
Sophomore
RB
T.J. Winslow

#8 T.J. Winslow

6' 4"
Senior
DL
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Phone: 501-279-4760