SEARCY — On a day defined by historic milestones and relentless ground control, the No. 2 Harding Bisons broke their own all-time collegiate rushing record while grinding out a 34-28 victory over No. 10 UT Permian Basin on Saturday in the NCAA Division II Super Region 4 Final.

With the win, Harding (14-0) advances to the national semifinals for the third time in program history.

The Bisons' flexbone offense amassed 389 rushing yards, pushing their season total to 6,308 yards and eclipsing the all-division college football record of 6,160 yards set by the 2023 Harding squad. The Bisons also broke their own single-season record for rushing touchdowns, scoring four times on the ground to bring their season total to 80.

Quarterback Cole Keylon led the charge, rushing for a game-high 148 yards and a 50-yard touchdown. Slotback Braden Jay added 95 yards and two scores, including a 55-yard burst on the game's opening drive that set the tone for the record-breaking afternoon.

Despite the statistical dominance of the Bisons, UT Permian Basin (11-3), a member of the Lone Star Conference, threatened to spoil the history-making day. Falcons quarterback Kanon Gibson threw for 312 yards and a touchdown and added two short rushing scores to keep the visitors within striking distance.

Trailing 34-28 in the fourth quarter, UTPB marched 84 yards to the Harding 6-yard line. The drive stalled, however, and the Falcons missed a short field goal attempt with 8:44 remaining.

Harding took over at its own 20-yard line and executed a masterclass in clock management. The Bisons put together a 16-play, 58-yard drive that consumed the final 8 minutes and 44 seconds of regulation, denying the Falcons a final possession.

Harding built a 21-7 lead early in the second quarter before UTPB rallied to tie the game at 21-21 on a 45-yard touchdown pass from Gibson to Jace Wyatt. The Bisons responded immediately with a 10-play drive capped by a 24-yard Brady Barnett touchdown run on a reverse, followed by a 47-yard Magnus Lepak field goal as time expired in the half for a 31-21 lead.

Lepak added a 23-yard field goal in the third quarter—his second of the day—to extend the lead to 34-21 before Gibson cut the deficit to one score with a 1-yard touchdown run late in the third.

Linebacker Clark Griffin led the Harding defense with 11 tackles. Tristan Exline recorded a game-high 20 tackles for UT Permian Basin.

Harding will await its opponent for the national semifinals, scheduled for next Saturday.