ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Fullback Cole Chancey rushed for 231 yards and four TD and Harding's defense forced three turnovers in a 46-21 blowout victory over No. 9-ranked Henderson State Saturday at Carpenter-Haygood Stadium.

It was Harding's second victory over a top-10 ranked team this season, also defeating then-No. 8 Ouachita Baptist. The Bisons improved to 6-1 overall and in the Great American Conference. Henderson State was previously unbeaten and fell to 6-1. It was Harding's fourth straight road victory over Henderson State dating to 2014.

Harding led 22-7 at halftime and used a 21-point third quarter to put the game away.

Harding opened the second half with a 6-play, 56-yard scoring drive that was extended by a Henderson State offsides penalty on 4th-and-4. Preston Paden connected with Kage Citty on a 33-yard TD pass, Citty's reception was his third TD of the season. Harding led 29-7 with 11:39 left in the third quarter.

After a Henderson State 3-and-out, Chancey blasted through the Reddie line and went 70 yards for his third TD of the game. The run sent Chancey over 200 yards for the game. It was Chancey's third career 200-yard rushing effort. His 231 yards ranked fifth in a Harding single game.

The Bisons led 36-7 with 9:59 left in the third quarter.

Chancey scored his fourth TD of the game on another 1-yard dive that ended a 7-play, 75-yard drive. It was his third career four-TD game.

Grant Ennis kicked a 28-yard field goal to provide Harding's final score.

Harding rolled up 471 total yards with 438 on the ground. It was the first time in 57 meetings that the Bisons eclipsed the 400-yard rushing mark against the Reddies.

Harding led 9-7 after one quarter.

Cade Pugh became the eighth different Harding defender with an interception this season, picking off Henderson State quarterback Adam Morse on a long pass down the sideline. He returned the ball 33 yards. Pugh had a fumble recovery in the second half and became the first Harding player since Jacory Nichols in 2019 to have an interception and a fumble recovery in the same game.

Harding needed only five plays to score the first points of the game. Chancey broke loose for 46 yards on 3rd-and-2 and scored two plays later on a 1-yard dive. It was his 13th straight GAC game with at least one rushing TD.

Henderson State answered with a quick scoring drive, going 75 yards in 1:28. The key play on the drive was a 44-yard pass from Morse to L'liott Curry. Morse scored on a 9-yard run with 7:45 left.

Harding took the lead with 5:25 left. Kage Citty broke through the middle of the line on a Henderson State punt, and his deflection sent the ball spiraling out the back of the end zone for a safety. It was Harding's first punt blocked for a safety since Steve Hudson's safety against Arkansas-Monticello in 2010.

Harding took advantage of a Henderson State fumble recovered by Dylan Hendricks to push its lead to 16-7. The Bisons went 68 yards on 13 plays and used seven minutes of clock before Chancey scored his second TD of the game on a 1-yard handoff with 8:20 left in the half.

Chancey went over 100 rushing yards in the first half as part of a 10-play, 61-yard drive that resulted in a 1-yard Paden quarterback sneak. The extra point missed and the Bisons led 22-7 with 24 seconds remaining.

Chancey finished the first half with 119 rushing yards on 20 carries.

Harding's Isaako Faagai blocked a long field goal on the final play of the first half. Cory Batie returned it 52 yards as time expired.

Harding totaled 196 yards in the half, all on the ground. Henderson State gained 173 yards but had two turnovers that Harding turned into touchdowns.

Harding returns to Searcy next week to take on Arkansas-Monticello for Homecoming. Kickoff is at 3 p.m. at First Security Stadium.