Football 11/14/2019 1:48:00 PM by Scott Goode (11/14/19)

No. 14 Harding Football at Arkansas Tech -- GAME NOTES

#14 Harding Bisons (9-1, 9-1) vs. Arkansas Tech (3-7, 3-7)
Nov. 16, 2019 • 2 p.m. • Russellville, Ark. • Thone Stadium

Game Story
No. 14 Harding seeks its 10th straight win Saturday against Arkansas Tech. It would be Harding's third streak of 10 wins or more in program history. The game features the top rushing offense in College Football (Harding's 392.5 per game) against the GAC's fifth-ranked rushing defense (Tech's 171.6 per game).

Harding is tied with Henderson State for second place in the GAC, one game back of leader Ouachita Baptist. Arkansas Tech is 3-7 and part of a three-way tie for seventh.

Harding is ranked No. 14 in the AFCA Top 25 Coaches Poll. Arkansas Tech is unranked.

Harding is ranked No. 4 in the third NCAA Division II Super Region Three Rankings, released Monday. The top seven teams qualify for the Division II Playoffs.

Up Next
The NCAA Division II Playoffs selection show is Sunday at 4 p.m. on NCAA.com.

The Coaches
Paul Simmons is in his third season as head coach at Harding. He has a 29-8 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.

Kyle Shipp is in his first season at Arkansas Tech and has a 3-7 record. He graduated from Arkansas Tech in 2007.

Series History
Harding and Arkansas Tech are meeting for the 57th time with Tech leading the series 31-25. Tech leads 19-8 in Russellville. Harding has won the last three overall and seven of the last eight. HU has won two of the last three in Russellville.

Harding Series Records
Team
Points - 76, 2012
Rushing - 505, 2012
Passing - 529, 2007
Total - 674, 2007
Individual
Rushing - 257, Kale Gelles, 2010
Passing - 529, David Knighton, 2007
Receiving - 151, Santiago Collins, 2000
Tackles - 14, Said Perez, 2000

Home/Road Records
Harding is 4-1 on the road this season, 17-4 on the road under Simmons and 23-5 on the road in the last three-plus seasons. The Bisons have won 14 of their last 15 GAC road games. Arkansas Tech is 2-3 at home after going 1-4 at home last season.

Last Meeting
Harding scored a touchdown in each quarter and posted its second shutout of the season 28-0 last season against Arkansas Tech in Searcy.

Harding had rushing TD scored by Tristan Tucker, Jesse Honnas, Cole Chancey and Preston Paden. Chancey led Harding with 126 rushing yards. Paden passed for and rushed for 56 yards.

Manny Harris was 10 of 18 passing for 76 yards for Tech.

Streaks, Trends and Records
Harding is seeking its fourth 10-win season in program history and first since winning 11 games in 2017. A victory over Tech would give Harding its third winning streak of 10 games or more, all coming since 2016.

Cole Chancey has 1,217 rushing yards. He is 264 yards off Alan Dixon's school record of 1,480 yards set in 1972.

With 47 interception return yards against East Central, Jacory Nichols has 107 interception return yards this season. He and Cory Batie (152 INT return yards) are the first HU duo with 100+ INT return yards in a season since Jon Newby (122) and Lorne Latiker (117) in 1991.

Junior fullback Cole Chancey has 3,515 career rushing yards, ranking second all-time at Harding, third in GAC history (needs 108 yards to pass Bryan Allen, Arkansas Tech, 2015-18, 3,622). He is seventh among active NCAA II players in rushing yards.

Harding leads D2 with 392.5 rushing yards per game and has rushed for more than 400 yards and four or more TD in five straight games for the first time in program history.

Harding has outscored its opponents 100-16 in the first quarter in 2019. The Bisons have allowed only one first-quarter TD. Harding opponents have scored only once on their opening drive in the last 21 games.

Harding has converted 80% of its fourth downs (16 of 20), the highest percentage in D2. Only Harding and Minnesota St. have allowed only one fourth-down conversion.

A Quick Look at Arkansas Tech
Arkansas Tech has won six games in the last two seasons after winning 23 games from 2015-17.

Arkansas Tech has lost only two fumbles all season, but have allowed more passing yards than any other team in the GAC.

Team Leaders
HARDING
Rushing - Cole Chancey: 205 rushes, 1,217 yards (1st GAC/10th D2), 11 TD (5th GAC); Tristan Tucker: 68 rushes, 641 yards (8th GAC), 10 TD (6th GAC); Preston Paden: 109 rushes, 583 yards (11th GAC), 7 TD (9th GAC)
Passing - Preston Paden: 9-20, 278 yards, 3 TD
Receiving - Taylor Bissell: 3 receptions, 82 yards, 1 TD
Defense - Chris Wein: 48 tackles; Jay Marshall: 6.5 TFL, 4.0 sacks; Jacory Nichols, V'Onte Williams: 3 INT (6th GAC)

ARKANSAS TECH
Rushing - Caleb Batie: 135 rushes, 589 yards (10th GAC), 5 TD (14th GAC); Wallace Foote: 97 rushes, 497 yards, 2 TD
Passing - Carter Burcham: 54-99, 785 yards (12th GAC), 5 TD (10th GAC); Manny Harris: 44-86, 565 yards, 2 TD
Receiving - Drew Wade: 42 receptions, 563 yards (9th GAC), 3 TD; Brennon Lewis: 23 receptions, 180 yards
Defense - Chris Kale: 55 tackles; Tre Chism: 10.5 TFL (6th GAC), 5.5 sacks (2nd GAC); Darryn Cain: 4 INT

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Players Mentioned

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

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

#35 Jesse Honnas: RB; 6' 0"; Sophomore

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

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

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

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

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

#25 Chris Wein: LB; 6' 1"; Junior

Jay Marshall: DL; 6' 3"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

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

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

#35 Jesse Honnas
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: RB

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

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

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

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

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

#25 Chris Wein
: 6' 1"; Junior
: LB

Jay Marshall
: 6' 3"; Freshman
: DL