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Harding University Athletics

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Football

No. 2 Harding vs. Southern Ark. -- GAME NOTES

#2 Harding Bisons (2-0, 2-0) vs. Southern Ark. Muleriders (2-0, 2-0)
Sept. 20, 2025 • 6 p.m. • Magnolia, Ark. • Wilkins Stadium

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

Matchup and Rankings
  1. This Saturday's game pits two of the five remaining undefeated teams in the Great American Conference (GAC) against each other.
  2. Harding is the No. 2-ranked team in the AFCA Top 25 Coaches Poll and has been ranked for 80 consecutive polls. The Bisons were also selected first in the GAC preseason poll, with Southern Arkansas picked to finish third.
  3. This is the 61st all-time meeting between Harding and Southern Arkansas, with Harding holding the historical edge with a record of 32-27-1.
Team Performance
  1. The two teams are the top offenses in the GAC, with Harding averaging 511.5 total yards per game and Southern Arkansas right behind them at 486.0 yards per game.
  2. Harding's offense is also second in NCAA Division II in yards per play, averaging a remarkable 8.90 yards.
  3. Defensively, Harding has been nearly impenetrable, allowing only 2.73 yards per play and holding opponents scoreless for 21 straight possessions. This ranks them second in NCAA Division II for yards allowed per play.
Player Spotlight
  1. Harding's quarterback, Cole Keylon, will make his 43rd career start. He's the winningest QB in GAC history with a 38-4 record. He is also the only player in program history to have more than 2,000 rushing and 2,000 passing yards.
  2. Running back Braden Jay is the active career leader in NCAA football for yards per rush, averaging a staggering 12.5 yards per carry. That's significantly higher than the player in second place, who averages 7.1 yards.
  3. Linebacker Clark Griffin is a defensive powerhouse for the Bisons. He's the active NCAA Division II leader with 297 career tackles and is looking to become the first Harding player to lead the team in tackles for four consecutive seasons.
  4. Last year, Harding's Braden Jay had an explosive performance against SAU, rushing for 136 yards and a 73-yard touchdown on just seven carries.
  5. In their last meeting, Harding's defense was instrumental in the victory, ending four Southern Arkansas drives on fourth down and forcing key stops.
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Players Mentioned

Clark Griffin

#24 Clark Griffin

LB
5' 9"
Fifth Year
Braden Jay

#7 Braden Jay

RB
5' 9"
Senior
Cole Keylon

#15 Cole Keylon

QB
6' 0"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Clark Griffin

#24 Clark Griffin

5' 9"
Fifth Year
LB
Braden Jay

#7 Braden Jay

5' 9"
Senior
RB
Cole Keylon

#15 Cole Keylon

6' 0"
Senior
QB