#9 Harding vs. Northwestern Okla. -- GAME NOTES

#9 Harding Bisons (5-0, 5-0) vs. Northwestern Okla. Rangers (0-5, 0-5)
Oct. 7, 2023 • 4 p.m. • Alva, Okla. • Ranger Field

Starting 11 for Harding vs. Northwestern Okla.
Below are 11 Facts and Stats about this week's game. You can read the full game notes by clicking on the link.

Harding enters the game with a nine-game winning streak, currently the longest winning streak in Division II ... it is Homecoming weekend at Northwestern Oklahoma.
KEY STAT: Harding leads the nation with 381.2 rushing yards per game, and Northwestern Oklahoma ranks 158th of 161 Division II teams with 257.8 rushing yards allowed per game ... the last time Harding played at Northwestern Oklahoma, the Bisons rushed for a school-record 685 yards.
This will be the 16th meeting between HU and NWOSU with the Bisons leading 13-2 ... Harding has won the last 11 straight overall and the last five in Alva ... NWOSU's last win came in 1976, 24-21 in Alva.
21st-ranked Harding scored four rushing touchdowns and limited Northwestern Oklahoma to only one score in four red-zone attempts in a 28-7 Great American Conference victory on Homecoming last year at First Security Stadium ... Cole Keylon led Harding with 118 rushing yards on 14 carries, and Braden Jay had two rushing TD.
Harding is ranked No. 9 in the AFCA Top 25 Coaches Poll ... Harding has appeared in 57 consecutive AFCA polls ... Harding is 9th in the D2Football.com poll and No. 5 at MassingRatings.com.
Harding's current nine-game winning streak is tied for the fifth-longest in program history ... the Bisons last had a 10-game winning streak from Sept. 18-Nov. 27, 2021 ... the longest winning streak in program history was 13 games from Sept. 3-Dec. 3, 2016.
Harding is one of only three Division II teams this season with four defensive touchdowns (Glenville St. and Tex. Permian Basin) ... Harding has two fumble return TD and two interception return TD.
Harding fullback Blake Delacruz is tied for the Division II lead with 11 rushing TD ... ranks 7th in the GAC with 363 rushing yards ... rushed for a career-high 179 yards on 31 carries and 3 TD at Henderson State, earning GAC Player of the Week honors ... tied for 7th at HU with 22 career rush TD.
Harding slot back Braden Jay rushed for 25 yards, had a 13-yard reception and blocked a punt to earn GAC Special Teams Player of the Week vs. Southwestern Oklahoma.
Harding return specialist Kendale Allen ranks 5th in GSC with 241 combined return yards, 3rd in kickoff return avg. (25.8) and 5th in punt return avg. (7.0) ... ranks 2nd at HU in kickoff return avg. (28.16) and 5th in kickoff return yards (1,042) ... needs 16 kickoff return yards to move into 3rd at HU in career kick return yards ... ranks 9th among active D2 players with 1,227 combined return yards.
OPPONENT WATCH: Northwestern Oklahoma enters on a 10-game losing streak overall and has lost its last seven home games ... sophomore LB Antoine Martin leads Division II with three fumble recoveries ... freshman Julian Jackson leads the GAC with 467 combined return yards.

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Players Mentioned

#1 Kendale Allen: DB; 5' 9"; Junior

#26 Blake Delacruz: RB; 5' 8"; Junior

#7 Braden Jay: RB; 5' 9"; Sophomore

#15 Cole Keylon: QB; 6' 0"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#1 Kendale Allen
: 5' 9"; Junior
: DB

#26 Blake Delacruz
: 5' 8"; Junior
: RB

#7 Braden Jay
: 5' 9"; Sophomore
: RB

#15 Cole Keylon
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: QB