SEARCY — The Traveling Trophy is on the move once again.
The No. 2 Harding Bisons relied on their familiar formula of ground dominance and an elite defense to defeat rival Ouachita Baptist 24-7 on Saturday night before an overflow crowd of 5,125 at First Security Stadium, improving their record to 4-0 on the 2025 season and bring the trophy back to Searcy after Ouachita won last year's meeting. With losses by Arkansas Tech and Henderson State, Harding is alone in first place in the conference standings.
The victory came in the 66th meeting in the historic rivalry, with the Bisons extending their all-time series lead to 35-27-4. Neither team has won more than two consecutive games in the series since Harding won 10 straight from 1991 to 2000.
The game was decided by the mismatch in the trenches: Harding's top-ranked NCAA Division II rushing offense exploited Ouachita's run defense, racking up 326 net rushing yards on 54 carries and controlling the ball for more than 35 minutes.
Fullback Andrew Miller, who entered the game averaging more than 8.5 rushing yards per carry, led the Bisons' attack with 119 yards and a third-quarter touchdown on 22 attempts. Slot back Braden Jay added two rushing touchdowns, including a decisive 28-yard score late in the third quarter.
Jay finished with 82 yards on 10 carries. The victory also improved the career starting record for two-time All-GAC quarterback Cole Keylon to 40-4. Keylon added 80 yards on the ground Saturday.
The Bisons opened the scoring with Jay's 3-yard run late in the first quarter, capping an 11-play, 68-yard drive. Miller added to the lead in the third quarter with an 8-yard touchdown run to make it 14-0.
Ouachita Baptist, which entered the contest as the GAC's second preseason pick, primarily relied on the arm of quarterback Nate TenBarge (14 of 21, 181 yards) in an effort to challenge Harding's No. 2 ranked DII scoring defense. The visiting Tigers (1-3) briefly cut the deficit in half late in the third quarter when a 12-play, 75-yard drive ended with a 1-yard touchdown pass from Jordan Walker to Garrison Jackson.
However, Harding quickly delivered the immediate response that cemented the win. Just moments later, Jay broke free for a 28-yard dash that pushed the Harding lead back to 21-7.
Kicker Magnus Lepak, recently named GAC Special Teams Player of the Week, sealed the final score in the fourth quarter with a 48-yard field goal.
Harding's elite defense held Ouachita Baptist to just 99 net rushing yards for the game, far below the Tigers' season average, and recorded two sacks. The defense has now allowed just three total touchdowns across four games this season. Ty Dugger and Clark Griffin shared Harding's tackle lead with seven apiece.
Harding plays again at home next Saturday against East Central (3-1). Kickoff at First Security Stadium is at 2 p.m.
