Harding University Athletics

MONTICELLO, Ark. — Fifth-year All-American fullback Andrew Miller tied Harding's all-time career rushing touchdown record, and the second-ranked Bisons erupted for 35 unanswered points to overpower Arkansas-Monticello 56-17 on Saturday afternoon before 1,400 fans at Willis "Convoy" Leslie Cotton Bowl Stadium.

With the victory, Harding improved to 8-0 overall and 8-0 in Great American Conference play, matching the fourth 8-0 start in program history (2016, 2023, 2025, and 2026). The triumph also extended Harding's road winning streak to 11 consecutive games—tying the school record established between Oct. 8, 2022, and Oct. 19, 2024—while pushing its conference winning streak to 23 straight games and its series winning streak over UAM to 15.

Harding's national-leading flexbone attack was unstoppable, churning out 503 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on 55 attempts (9.1 yards per carry) while averaging an astounding 10.2 yards per play on 594 total yards of offense. Seven different Bison ball-carriers found the end zone on the ground, highlighted by three breakaway scoring runs of more than 40 yards.

Fifth-year signal-caller Malik Young was surgically efficient, completing all three of his pass attempts for 91 yards and a 30-yard touchdown strike to Brady Barnett while adding 56 rushing yards and a touchdown on 10 carries.

The historic milestone arrived late in the second quarter. With Harding leading 14-10, Miller capped a six-play, 73-yard drive with a 3-yard touchdown plunge with 4:40 remaining before halftime. The score marked the 66th rushing touchdown of Miller's storied collegiate career, tying Cole Chancey (2017–21) for the all-time Harding program record. Miller finished with 72 yards on 14 carries, elevating his career total to 4,598 rushing yards (active NCAA all-division leader) and moving within 20 yards of his third consecutive 1,000-yard season.

Arkansas-Monticello (1-7, 1-7 GAC) proved resilient in the opening half under first-year head coach Gary Goff. The Boll Weevils jumped out to a 3-0 lead on the game's opening possession when Charles Stinson drilled a 40-yard field goal to conclude a 13-play, 53-yard march.

Harding answered immediately. Facing 3rd-and-2 from the UAM 30-yard line, Young faked an option dive and lofted a textbook 30-yard touchdown pass to Barnett down the seam to give the Bisons a 7-3 lead with 5:50 left in the first quarter.

Young pushed the lead to 14-3 early in the second frame, punching in a 1-yard touchdown run to cap a 13-play, 70-yard drive that consumed 7:26 of clock.

The Boll Weevils countered with an aerial strike, as Drew Forkner connected with DT McCoy for a 32-yard touchdown pass on 3rd-and-2 to trim the margin to 14-10 at the 8:05 mark. After Miller's record-tying 3-yard score made it 21-10, UAM struck back on the next possession when Dave Alston broke free down the left sideline for a 56-yard touchdown sprint, pulling the Boll Weevils within 21-17 with 2:13 remaining in the half.

Harding seized complete control of the momentum in the final two minutes. Moving with urgent tempo, the Bisons marched 69 yards in just six plays and 52 seconds. First-year slotback Jeff Regan provided the dagger, turning the right corner and sprinting 15 yards to paydirt with 1:04 left before the break, sending Harding into halftime with a 28-17 advantage.

The second half belonged entirely to the Bisons, who outscored UAM 28-0 and limited the Boll Weevils to just 54 total yards after the intermission.

Harding opened the third quarter by grinding out a nine-play, 76-yard drive capped by Josh Strickland, Jr.'s 9-yard touchdown run to push the lead to 35-17.

Two possessions later, the Bison defense delivered a short field. Cornerback Corey Dean jumped a sideline route and intercepted Forkner at the Harding 20-yard line, returning it 22 yards out to the HU 42. Two snaps later, second-year slotback Jacoby Wade took an option pitch around the right perimeter and outraced the secondary for a 44-yard touchdown scamper to make it 42-17 with 5:32 left in the third.

On the final play of the third quarter, Da'Shawn Chairs delivered another explosive home run, sprinting around the right end for a 41-yard touchdown sprint to extend the lead to 49-17.

Junior running back Jason Todd capped the scoring display midway through the fourth quarter, taking a handoff around the left edge and blazing untouched for a career-long 59-yard touchdown scamper with 6:51 remaining to seal the 56-17 victory.

Todd led all rushers with 77 yards on just two carries (38.5 ypc), followed closely by Wade (4 carries, 73 yards, TD), Miller (14 carries, 72 yards, TD), Regan (6 carries, 67 yards, TD), Young (10 carries, 56 yards, TD), and Chairs (3 carries, 45 yards, TD). Ben Boehm, making his third career collegiate start at slotback, added two carries for 34 yards, including a 19-yard burst.

Through the air, Young completed all three of his attempts for 91 yards, connecting with Bodie Neal for 41 yards, Barnett for 30 yards and a score, and Cedric Hawkins for 20 yards.

Defensively, the Bisons clamped down after allowing 222 yards in the first half, pitching a second-half shutout and holding UAM to just 1-of-6 on third-down conversions over the final two quarters.

Linebacker Kyle Henry paced the defense with seven tackles (three solo), while safety Deion Campbell recorded six stops (three solo). Grayson Lewis and team captain Jordan Mays each added four tackles. Defensive lineman Kaynan Harris tallied three tackles and a solo sack for an 8-yard loss, while Tre Burch added a fourth-quarter sack for a 9-yard loss. Dean's third-quarter interception marked his team-leading fourth pick of the season.

Specialist Dean Roberts remained flawless on extra points this season, converting all eight PAT attempts to push his season total to 49-of-49 on extra points. Punter Griffin Thomas pinned both of his punts inside the UAM 20-yard line, averaging 38.5 yards.

Alston paced Arkansas-Monticello with 128 rushing yards and a touchdown on 12 carries, while McCoy hauled in 10 passes for 124 yards and a score.

Second-ranked Harding continues its season next Saturday, Oct. 31, returning to action in Great American Conference play at Oklahoma Baptist, with kickoff scheduled for 2 p.m.