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Football by Scott Goode (9/12/19)

No. 22 Harding vs. Ark.-Monticello -- GAME NOTES

Harding Bisons (0-1, 0-1) vs. Ark.-Monticello Weevils (1-0, 1-0)
Sept. 14, 2019 • 6 p.m. • Searcy, Ark. • First Security Stadium

Game Story
Harding looks to even its record Saturday when it hosts Arkansas-Monticello for its first home game of the season. The Bisons are looking to snap a two-game skid in home openers, last winning 38-7 over Oklahoma Baptist in 2016. Harding and Arkansas-Monticello are playing in the Bisons's home opener for the first time since a 48-14 Harding victory in 1997.

Harding has won the last eight meetings between the teams, averaging 51.3 points and 385.8 rushing yards during the stretch.

Harding is ranked No. 22 in the AFCA Top 25 Coaches Poll. Arkansas-Monticello is not ranked. 

Harding was picked second in the Great American Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll. The coaches selected Arkansas-Monticello fourth in the 12-team conference.

Harding's 2019 captains are LB Chris Wein, DL Ben Trotter, OL Mills Bryant, OL Braden Hood, and DB Jacory Nichols.

Up Next
Harding will play its third straight in-state opponent Saturday at Southern Arkansas in Magnolia. The series is tied 27-27-1 overall with the Bisons holding a 14-12 advantage in Magnolia, including seven of the last eight.

The Coaches
Paul Simmons is in his third season as head coach at Harding. He has a 20-8 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.

Hud Jackson is in his ninth season at Arkansas-Monticello and has a 30-59 record record. His six-win season last year was his best with the Weevils. Jackson is a 1992 graduate of McNeese State.

Series History
Harding and Ark.-Monticello are meeting for the 55th time with the Bisons leading 30-24. Harding has won eight straight, its longest winning streak of the series. UAM's last win came in Monticello in 2009, and its last win in Searcy was in 2008. Harding has won the last four in Searcy, averaging 49.8 points per game.
    
Harding Series Records
Team
Points - 63, 2013
Rushing - 474, 2013 & 2017
Passing - 493, 2008
Total - 582, 2013
Individual
Rushing - 284, Joe David Smith, 1975
Passing - 493, David Knighton, 2008
Receiving - 205, Kurt Adams, 2008
Tackles - 15, Daylan Skidmore, 2013

Home/Road Records
Harding was 4-2 on the road last season, 7-4 at home under Simmons and 14-4 at home in the last three seasons. The Bisons won their final three home games last season. Arkansas-Monticello was 3-2 on the road last season, its first winning road record since going 4-2 in 2008.

Last Meeting
Harding scored 38 points in the first quarter and a half and cruised to a 47-21 victory over Arkansas-Monticello last season on Sept. 29 in Monticello.

Harding rushed for 357 yards and six TD with five different players rushing for 50 or more yards. Five different players scored rushing TD. Jesse Honnas led the team with 75 rushing yards on 16 carries.

Arkansas-Monticello passed for 235 yards and 3 TD but had three turnovers and only 56 rushing yards on 27 carries. Nine different players caught passes, and 2019 starting QB Caleb Canady completed 3 of 7 passes for 64 yards and a TD.

Streaks, Trends and Records
Harding ranked second in NCAA Division II in rushing last season at 341.1 yards per game. The Bisons have finished in the top three nationally in each of the last six seasons and led Division II in rushing in 2016 at 362.8 yards per game.

Harding led Division II last season in scoring defense with 11.3 points allowed. It was the second time in the last three seasons Harding finished in the top five. Also fifth in 2016 with 15.2 points allowed. 

Harding led Division II last season in time of possession at 36 minutes, 2 seconds per game. The Bisons have won the TOP battle in 28 consecutive games and 40 times in its last 42 games. Six times during that stretch, the Bisons have had 40+ minutes.

Junior fullback Cole Chancey has 2,370 career rushing yards, good for seventh at HU. He needs 76 yards to pass Park Parish (2,446, 2013-16) for sixth. Chancey needs one rushing TD to become only the third Bison with 30 career rushing TD, joining Parish (45, 2013-16) and Alan Dixon (34, 1970-73).

Harding has scored 321 rushing touchdowns in the last six-plus seasons and allowed 62. The Bisons have rushed for 26,601 yards and allowed 6,344 yards in that time.

Harding has outscored its opponents 240-79 in the first quarter of games over the last two-plus seasons.

A Quick Look at Ark.-Monticello
Ark.-Monticello was 6-6 overall last season and 6-5 in the GAC. The Weevils lost 30-22 to Emporia State in the Corsicana (Texas) Bowl. It was the first time UAM finished a season with a .500 record or better since going 7-4 in 2008.

Ark.-Monticello ranked third in Division II last season with five defensive touchdowns ... Weevils were last in the GAC in net punting (31.77).

Team Leaders
HARDING
Rushing - Tristan Tucker: 7 rushes, 93 yards, 1 TD; Cole Chancey: 23 rushes, 72 yards
Passing - Preston Paden: 2-5, 96 yards, 1 TD
Receiving - Bobby Green: 1 reception, 85 yards, 1 TD
Tackles - Cory Batie: 12 tackles; Dylan Hampton: 1.0 sack

ARK.-MONTICELLO
Rushing - Devontae Dean: 21 rushes, 74 yards, 1 TD
Passing - Caleb Canady: 19-35, 287 yards, 2 TD
Receiving - C.J. Parham: 8 receptions, 164 yards, 1 TD
Tackles - Christian Jefferson: 12 tackles; Easton Seidl: 2.5 TFL; Kerenzo Credit: 1 INT
 
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Players Mentioned

Cory Batie

#12 Cory Batie

DB
5' 11"
Sophomore
Mills Bryant

#58 Mills Bryant

OL
6' 1"
Sophomore
Cole Chancey

#34 Cole Chancey

RB
5' 10"
Sophomore
Bobby Green

#14 Bobby Green

WR
6' 2"
Junior
Dylan Hampton

#93 Dylan Hampton

DL
6' 4"
Junior
Jesse Honnas

#35 Jesse Honnas

RB
6' 0"
Sophomore
Braden Hood

#51 Braden Hood

OL
6' 0"
Junior
Jacory Nichols

#7 Jacory Nichols

DB
5' 6"
Junior
Preston Paden

#11 Preston Paden

QB
5' 11"
Sophomore
Ben Trotter

#89 Ben Trotter

DL
6' 6"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Cory Batie

#12 Cory Batie

5' 11"
Sophomore
DB
Mills Bryant

#58 Mills Bryant

6' 1"
Sophomore
OL
Cole Chancey

#34 Cole Chancey

5' 10"
Sophomore
RB
Bobby Green

#14 Bobby Green

6' 2"
Junior
WR
Dylan Hampton

#93 Dylan Hampton

6' 4"
Junior
DL
Jesse Honnas

#35 Jesse Honnas

6' 0"
Sophomore
RB
Braden Hood

#51 Braden Hood

6' 0"
Junior
OL
Jacory Nichols

#7 Jacory Nichols

5' 6"
Junior
DB
Preston Paden

#11 Preston Paden

5' 11"
Sophomore
QB
Ben Trotter

#89 Ben Trotter

6' 6"
Junior
DL
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Phone: 501-279-4760