SEARCY — The No. 2 Harding Bisons (8-0, 8-0 GAC) solidified their perfect season and extended their dominant home winning streak to 20 games with an overpowering 55-0 shutout victory over the Arkansas-Monticello Boll Weevils (2-6, 2-6 GAC) Saturday in Great American Conference action at First Security Stadium.

The victory also marked the 100th game for Harding Head Coach Paul Simmons. With 85 career wins, Simmons ranks second among all active NCAA Division II coaches in winning percentage and is among the top 10 in winning percentage across all active NCAA coaches.

Harding, which entered the game leading NCAA Division II in rushing yards per game (413.1) and rushing touchdowns (37), exceeded those marks by exploding for a stunning 590 net rushing yards on the day, which ranks third all-time by a Bison squad. Their eight rushing touchdowns tied for the seventh most in program history. Overall, the Bisons gained 600 total yards, marking the 11th time in they have reached that plateau. Harding's offense generated 10.0 average yards per play. The Bisons have now outscored opponents 989-182 during their 20-game home run, averaging nearly 50 points per game.

The ground game was led by a quartet of prolific rushers. Fullback Andrew Miller, coming off a DII record-setting 298-yard performance, had his fourth 100-yard game of the season with 118 yards and two touchdowns, increasing his career total to 34 rushing touchdowns, tying him with Alan Dixon for the No. 5 spot in Harding history. Junior Josh Strickland, Jr. provided the biggest spark, carrying the ball seven times for a career-high 152 yards, including a 68-yard scoring run in the third quarter.

Slot back Braden Jay, DII's active career leader in yards per rush, added 86 yards on five carries, including a 40-yard touchdown to open the scoring. Jay and Miller are tied for the GAC lead with 12 rushing TD each.

Brandon Hines, Jr., provided another long run with a 59-yard touchdown run just 12 seconds into the third quarter. It was the third straight game Harding has scored on its first place of the third quarter.

Quarterback Cole Keylon, in his 48th career start, added 21 rushing yards and managed the offense to a 7-of-9 conversion rate on third downs.

Defensively, the Bisons pitched their third shutout of the season, holding the Boll Weevils to a dismal 17 net rushing yards and 165 total yards of offense. Harding's defense, which led DII with only 6.1 points allowed per game entering the contest, put immense pressure on UAM quarterback Tavion Faulk, sacking him six times and forcing a late second-quarter interception by Curtis Jackson.

Linebacker Clark Griffin, the reigning GAC Defensive Player of the Week, led the defensive effort, adding eight tackles to his NCAA DII active career lead of 364. Defensive ends Kaden Spencer and Brock Knapton both had 3.0 tackles for loss, including 1.5 sacks apiece.

The victory extends Harding's winning streak over UAM to 14 straight and pushes the Bisons to 33-1 in their last 34 conference home games. They look to continue their quest for an undefeated regular season next Saturday when they host Oklahoma Baptist for Homecoming and Senior Day.