Football 10/3/2019 9:43:00 AM by Scott Goode (10/3/19)

No. 22 Harding vs. Southern Nazarene -- GAME NOTES

#22 Harding Bisons (3-1, 3-1) vs. Southern Nazarene (1-3, 1-3)
Oct. 5, 2019 • 6 p.m. • Searcy, Ark. • First Security Stadium

Game Story
Harding carries Division II's top-ranked defense into action against Southern Nazarene, last in the GAC in total offense, Saturday at First Security Stadium. Harding will also pit the GAC's top rushing offense against the GAC's lowest-ranked rushing defense.

Harding has seven interceptions in the last three games and has returned them for 248 yards and three TD. Harding last had multiple interceptions in four straight games in 2001 (3 vs. Central Ark., 2 vs. Valdosta St., 2 vs. North Ala., 2 vs. West Ga.).

Harding is ranked No. 22 in the AFCA Top 25 Coaches Poll. Southern Nazarene is not ranked.

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

Up Next
Harding will make its first of three trips to Oklahoma on Oct. 12 to take on Oklahoma Baptist in Shawnee. Harding leads the series 4-0, including two wins in Shawnee.

The Coaches
Paul Simmons is in his third season as head coach at Harding. He has a 23-8 overall record and led Harding to the NCAA II Playoffs both seasons, including a spot in the national semifinals in 2017. He is in his 14th season at Harding and had been Harding's defensive coordinator for the previous seven seasons. Simmons was a three-time All-American defensive end and linebacker at Harding from 1992-94.

Andy Lambert is in his fourth season at Southern Nazarene and has a 10-27 record. He has also coached at Sterling (KS) and Trinity International. He graduated from Trinity International in 1991.

Series History
Harding and Southern Nazarene are meeting for the eighth time with the Bisons leading the series 6-1. Harding leads 2-1 in Searcy. The Bisons have averaged 48 points per game and have allowed 9.9 points.

Harding Series Records
Team
Points - 63, 2013 & 2016
Rushing - 505, 2013
Passing - 145, 2013
Total - 650, 2013
Individual
Rushing - 171, Romo Westbrook, 2013
Passing - 130, Park Parrish, 2015
Receiving - 115, Andrew Dather, 2015
Tackles - 10, Chris Sarkissian, 2015 & Romas Roberson, 2013

Home/Road Records
Harding has won its last five home games, is 9-4 at home under Simmons and 16-4 at home in the last three seasons. Southern Nazarene is 5-30 on the road since 2012.

Last Meeting
No. 21 Harding rushed for 356 yards and held Southern Nazarene to only 51 total yards in a 42-0 victory last season at SNU Football Stadium.

Harding scored six rushing touchdowns by five different players. The first two came on Harding's first two possessions. Tristan Tucker led Harding with 118 rushing yards, a career high. It was his second 100-yard rushing game of the season.

Defensively, Harding held Southern Nazarene to only five first downs, 45 rushing yards and 6 passing yards. The Crimson Storm completed only 4-of-18 passes and converted only 1-of-13 third downs.

Streaks, Trends and Records
Through four games, Harding's defense has allowed only two touchdowns and has scored three on interception returns. Harding's four opponents have scored 49 TD, only two coming against Harding. The Bisons are the only team in Division II to have allowed fewer than four TD.

Harding ranks fourth in Division II in net punting at 42.00 yards per punt. Opponents have only four return yards on 12 punts.

Harding leads Division II in total defense at 208.5 yards per game. The Bisons have held their last 15 opponents to fewer than 300 total yards.

The Bisons have won the TOP battle in 31 consecutive games and 43 times in its last 45 games. Seven times during that stretch, including Saturday's win over Henderson State, the Bisons have had 40+ minutes.

Junior fullback Cole Chancey has 2,696 career rushing yards, good for fourth at HU. He needs 128 yards to pass Jim Howard (1964-67) for third.

Harding has scored 327 rushing touchdowns in the last six-plus seasons and allowed 63. The Bisons have rushed for 27,563 yards and allowed 6,543 yards in that time.

Harding has outscored its opponents 264-82 in the first quarter of games over the last two-plus seasons, including 31-6 in 2019.

Harding has converted 11 fourth downs in 2019, the most in Division II, and has not allowed a fourth down conversion.

A Quick Look at Southern Nazarene
Southern Nazarene was 3-8 last season and has an 11-68 record since 2012. The Crimson Storm's best season was 4-7 in 2017.

Southern Nazarene's opponents have reached the red zone 15 times and scored all 15 times with nine rushing TD, three passing TD and three field goals.

Team Leaders
HARDING
Rushing - Cole Chancey: 90 rushes, 398 yards (2nd GAC/18th D2), 2 TD; Tristan Tucker: 34 rushes, 285 yards (5th GAC), 4 TD (4th GAC)
Passing - Preston Paden: 4-11, 113 yards, 1 TD
Receiving - Michael Cendrick: 2 receptions, 26 yards
Defense - Dylan Hendricks: 25 tackles; Dylan Hampton: 1.5 sacks; Jacory Nichols: 2.5 TFL; Cory Batie, V'Onte Williams: 2 INT (t-1st GAC)

SOUTHERN NAZARENE
Rushing - Gage Porter: 70 rushes, 148 yards, 2 TD
Passing - Gage Porter: 35-60, 427 yards (11th GAC), 3 TD
Receiving - Reid Roelofs: 9 receptions, 157 yards, 1 TD
Defense - Josh Jordan: 33 tackles (9th GAC); Josh Johnson: 2.5 TFL; Landon Walker: 2.0 sacks (5th GAC)

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Players Mentioned

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

#12 Cory Batie: DB; 5' 11"; Sophomore

#84 Michael Cendrick: WR; 6' 3"; Redshirt Freshman

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

#93 Dylan Hampton: DL; 6' 4"; Junior

#43 Dylan Hendricks: LB; 6' 2"; Sophomore

#7 Jacory Nichols: DB; 5' 6"; Junior

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

#19 Tristan Tucker: RB; 5' 9"; Sophomore

#5 V'Onte Williams: DB; 6' 1"; Junior

Players Mentioned

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

#12 Cory Batie
: 5' 11"; Sophomore
: DB

#84 Michael Cendrick
: 6' 3"; Redshirt Freshman
: WR

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

#93 Dylan Hampton
: 6' 4"; Junior
: DL

#43 Dylan Hendricks
: 6' 2"; Sophomore
: LB

#7 Jacory Nichols
: 5' 6"; Junior
: DB

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

#19 Tristan Tucker
: 5' 9"; Sophomore
: RB

#5 V'Onte Williams
: 6' 1"; Junior
: DB