#12 Harding Bisons (1-0, 1-0) vs. Oklahoma Baptist Bison (1-0, 1-0)
Sept. 9, 2023 • 7 p.m. • Searcy, Ark. • First Security Stadium

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

1. Harding is playing its home opener and first of two straight home games ... Harding has won 14 consecutive home games against opponents from Oklahoma.
2. KEY STAT: Harding forced 12 turnovers in 2022, but forced six in the opener at Southern Nazarene ... Harding and Colorado State-Pueblo were the only two Division II teams to force six turnovers in Week 1 ... Oklahoma Baptist did not have a turnover in its 23-21 win over Arkansas Tech.
3. This will be the eighth meeting between HU and OKBU with the Bisons holding a 7-0 series lead ... HU has won all three meetings in Searcy and has averaged 44.0 points and 381.7 rushing yards.
4. Fullback Will Fitzhugh rushed for 90 yards and two touchdowns, Zach Strickland returned an interception for a touchdown and Harding defeated Oklahoma Baptist 35-23 last season at First Security Stadium.
5. Harding is ranked No. 12 in the AFCA Preseason Top 25 Coaches Poll ... Harding has appeared in 53 consecutive AFCA polls, dating to the final poll of the 2017 season ... the Bisons were last ranked No. 12 in the AFCA Poll on Nov. 12, 2019 ... Harding is 13th on the D2Football.com poll and ninth at MassingRatings.com.
6. Harding carries over a five-game winning streak from last season and has won its last two home games.
7. The Bisons were the only GAC team with three interceptions in the first game of the season ... the Bisons last had three or more interceptions in the 2021 season opener at East Central when they had four picks ... Harding was also the only GAC team with three fumble recoveries in the opener ... Harding last had three fumble recoveries in the 2018 season opener at Henderson State.
8. Harding fullback Blake Delacruz was one of only three players in Division II to score four TD in game one ... it was only the eighth time in program history that a Bison scored four rushing TD in a game.
9. Kicker Grant Ennis made his 23rd career field goal last week, tying him for ninth at Harding ... his next field goal will tie John Gay (2011-14) for eighth.
10. Harding receiver Roland Wallace had a 49-yard TD reception in last season's game against Oklahoma Baptist.
11. OPPONENT WATCH: Oklahoma Baptist DL Brett Karhu recorded 3.0 sacks last week against Arkansas Tech ... he was the only D2 player with three sacks in Week 1 ... Oklahoma Baptist has lost its last three road games dating to last season.