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Harding University Athletics

2024 Football story image vs. Southern Nazarene.jpg
0
Southern Nazarene SNU 0-1 , 0-1
59
Winner Harding HAR 1-0 , 1-0
Southern Nazarene SNU
0-1 , 0-1
0
Final
59
Harding HAR
1-0 , 1-0
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
SNU Southern Nazarene 0 0 0 0 0
HAR Harding 14 28 10 7 59

Game Recap: Football | | Scott Goode (9/5/24)

Harding Rolls to 20th Straight Win, Blanks Southern Nazarene

SEARCY – Exactly 264 days after winning the NCAA Division II national championship, the No. 1-ranked Harding Bisons picked up where they left off, dominating Southern Nazarene 59-0 at First Security Stadium on Thursday night.

Harding's rushing attack was unstoppable, amassing 554 yards and seven touchdowns, while limiting Southern Nazarene to a mere 58 all-purpose yards, the fewest ever by a Bison opponent. This marked Harding's ninth and largest shutout in a season opener.

The Bisons' total offense reached 607 yards, the ninth time in program history they've eclipsed 600 yards in a game. Their efficiency was impressive, averaging over 9 yards per play. Defensively, they were stifling, allowing just four first downs, three pass completions, and an astonishing 0-for-13 on third down conversions.

Sophomore Andrew Miller led the rushing charge with 129 yards on six carries, including an 88-yard touchdown, the sixth-longest in Bison history. Senior AP All-American Blake Delacruz added 95 yards and two touchdowns, moving into sixth place on Harding's career rushing list with 2,496 yards.

Other notable performances included sophomore backup quarterback Malik Young's career-high 74 yards and a 20-yard touchdown, while starting quarterback Cole Keylon scored twice and threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to Braden Jay, and redshirt freshman Josh Evans-Pickens notched his first career touchdown.

Harding's defense was relentless, recording 15 tackles for loss, including five sacks. Linebackers Clark Griffin and Cayden Pierce led with six tackles each, and Ty Dugger contributed two tackles for loss, including a sack.

The Bisons' convincing win extended their streaks to 20 straight overall, 16 consecutive Great American Conference victories, and 11 straight home wins.

Next, they'll face Oklahoma Baptist in Shawnee, Oklahoma, on Saturday, September 14, at 7 p.m. Oklahoma Baptist lost 44-41 in overtime to Arkansas Tech on Thursday.

 
Gallery: (9-5-2024) 2024 Football vs. Southern Nazarene
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