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Football

No. 2 Harding vs. Arkansas Tech -- GAME NOTES

#2 Harding Bisons (10-0, 10-0) vs. Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys (4-6, 4-6)
Nov. 14, 2026 • 2 p.m. • Searcy, Ark. • First Security Stadium

THE MATCHUP (REGULAR SEASON FINALE / SENIOR DAY): Newly crowned 2026 Great American Conference champion and consensus No. 2-ranked Harding (10-0, 10-0 GAC) wraps up the 2026 regular season at First Security Stadium in Searcy, Arkansas, hosting in-state rival Arkansas Tech (4-6, 4-6 GAC) on Saturday, Nov. 14 at 2:00 p.m. ... the contest serves as Harding's annual Senior Day, honoring a legendary 11-member senior class that captured the 2023 NCAA Division II National Championship, finished as 2025 national runners-up, reached the 2024 national quarterfinals, and secured four consecutive GAC titles ... the Bisons enter holding the nation's second-longest active home winning streak (29 games) and the second-longest active conference winning streak (25 games), while remaining one of only six undefeated teams in NCAA Division II ... the game will be broadcast live on the Harding Sports Network via KVHU 95.3 FM and streamed on HardingSports.com.

WEEK 10 RECAP (76-0 VS. SOUTHERN NAZARENE): Second-ranked Harding clinched the 2026 Great American Conference championship in historic, record-shattering fashion, racking up 684 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns while pitching a 76-0 Homecoming shutout over Southern Nazarene before 4,000 fans in Searcy ... Harding established new school single-game records for highest average gain per play (13.5 yards on 54 plays) and highest average gain per rush (14.0 yards per carry), while tying the program single-game record with 10 rushing touchdowns ... the Bisons' 684 rushing yards and 731 total yards of offense both stand as the second-highest single-game totals in school history ... Harding never punted, went 6-for-6 on third-down conversions, and went 5-for-5 in the red zone ... Malik Young rushed 10 times for 168 yards (16.8 ypc), highlighted by an 80-yard run and a 38-yard score ... Jeff Regan scored three first-half touchdowns (runs of 69 and 5 yards, plus a 63-yard punt return TD) ... Andrew Miller plunged in for his 70th career rushing touchdown ... Jason Todd scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns (including a 70-yard run), and Barrett Miller capped the rout with a 74-yard breakaway touchdown run ... defensively, Harding held the nation's No. 5 rushing offense to 227 yards and zero points, denying all three SNU red-zone trips behind eight tackles from Jordan Mays and a red-zone strip-fumble forced by Kyle Henry.

HARDING CLINCHES OUTRIGHT GAC CHAMPIONSHIP: With the Week 10 victory over Southern Nazarene, Harding officially secured the outright 2026 Great American Conference championship with one week remaining in the regular season ... the title marks the ninth conference championship in program history, its sixth GAC championship (2016, 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026), its fifth outright league title, and its fifth GAC championship in the last six seasons ... HU has won 46 of its last 47 GAC games dating back to 2022.

ALL-TIME SERIES TIE ON THE LINE: CHANCE TO TAKE HISTORIC LEAD: Saturday marks the 63rd all-time meeting between Harding and Arkansas Tech in a rivalry that dates back to 1928 ... entering Saturday, the all-time series is tied dead-even at 31-31 ... with a victory on Saturday, Harding would take the series lead (32-31) over Arkansas Tech for the very first time in program history ... Harding has won nine consecutive meetings against Arkansas Tech dating back to 2016, outscoring the Wonder Boys 407-105 (an average margin of victory of 45.2 to 11.7) ... the Bisons are looking to win 10 straight games in the series for the first time ever ... Harding is 18-12 all-time against Arkansas Tech in Searcy and has won five straight meetings at First Security Stadium.

CHASING PERFECTION (11-0 REGULAR SEASON): Second-ranked HU enters Saturday's regular-season finale seeking its fourth unblemished regular season in program history ... the Bisons previously completed undefeated regular seasons in 2016 (11-0), 2023 (11-0), and 2025 (11-0) ... an 11-0 finish would secure HU back-to-back undefeated regular seasons and its fourth overall.

SENIOR DAY CELEBRATION: Prior to kickoff, Harding will honor its 2026 senior class ... over the last four seasons (2023–26), this group has compiled an astonishing 48-3 (.941) overall record, a 42-1 (.977) mark in Great American Conference play, three outright GAC championships, one shared GAC title, two NCAA Division II National Championship game appearances, and the 2023 NCAA Division II National Championship ... the class features seven players who have played in 44 or more career games: Luke Martin (55), Andrew Miller (55), Deion Campbell (48), Josh Strickland, Jr. (48), Zac O'Day (46), David Gomez (46), and Jose Lopez (44).

NATION'S NO. 1 RUSHING OFFENSE: Harding enters Week 11 leading all of NCAA Division II in rushing offense (452.1 ypg), having accumulated 4,521 rushing yards and 60 rushing touchdowns through 10 games ... the Bisons average an explosive 7.85 yards per rush attempt and out-gain the nation's second-ranked rushing attack by more than 150 yards per game ... Harding also ranks fourth nationally and leads the GAC in total offense (502.6 ypg) and second in Division II in scoring offense (49.9 ppg), having outscored opponents 499 to 150.

RED-ZONE PERFECTION REACHES 43-FOR-43: Harding leads all of NCAA Division II with an unblemished 1.000 red-zone conversion rate, scoring on all 43 trips inside the 20-yard line this fall (40 touchdowns, 3 field goals) ... Harding is the only team in all of Division II that remains 100 percent in red-zone scoring ... this week, Harding's flawless red-zone offense faces an Arkansas Tech defense that ranks 145th in Division II in red-zone defense (.900).

TOP-10 SCORING & TOTAL DEFENSE: Harding ranks fourth in NCAA Division II and leads the Great American Conference in total defense (243.1 ypg allowed) ... the Bisons also rank sixth nationally and lead the league in rushing defense (81.7 ypg allowed), ninth in Division II and first in the GAC in scoring defense (15.0 ppg allowed), and second nationally in first downs defense (133 allowed, 13.3 per game) ... Harding ranks 18th in Division II in passing yards allowed (161.4 ypg) and 23rd in team passing efficiency defense (110.98 rating).

THIRD & FOURTH DOWN MASTERY: Harding ranks second in NCAA Division II and leads the Great American Conference in 3rd down conversion percentage (.596), converting 59 of 99 opportunities ... the Bisons went 6-for-6 on third downs last week against Southern Nazarene ... Harding also ranks third nationally and tops the GAC in 4th down conversion percentage (.857, 6-of-7) ... defensively, Harding ranks 40th in Division II on third downs (.341).

UNPARALLELED PASSING EFFICIENCY & BIG-PLAY METRICS: Operating the flexbone attack, Harding leads all of NCAA Division II in team passing efficiency (230.06 rating) and paces the country in passing yards per completion (28.06 yards) ... the Bisons are tied for first in all of Division II having thrown just one interception all season in 34 pass attempts.

OFFENSIVE LINE MASTERY & SACK PREVENTION: The Harding offensive line ranks second in NCAA Division II and first in the GAC in fewest sacks allowed (0.30 per game), having surrendered just three sacks in 37 drops this fall ... the Bison front also ranks second nationally and leads the league in fewest tackles for loss allowed (2.80 per game).

SPECIAL TEAMS DISCIPLINE & PERFECTION: Harding is tied for first in NCAA Division II having allowed zero blocked kicks and zero blocked punts on the season ... the Bisons rank fifth in Division II and lead the GAC in kickoff return average (27.20 yards per return) ... 3rd-year punter Griffin Thomas anchors a punt unit that ranks 13th in Division II and first in the GAC in net punting (39.14 yards) ... placekicker Dean Roberts ranks 23rd nationally and second in the GAC in total points scored (83 kicking points) and 26th in scoring (8.3 ppg).

ANDREW MILLER: ACTIVE NCAA ALL-DIVISION TOUCHDOWN KING: Fifth-year All-American fullback Andrew Miller scored from 1 yard out against Southern Nazarene for his 70th career rushing touchdown ... Miller leads all active college football players across all NCAA divisions (FBS, FCS, D-II, and D-III) in career rushing touchdowns (70) and is the all-time Harding program record-holder ... Miller enters Week 11 with 4,730 career rushing yards, ranking second among all active NCAA players behind Montana's Eli Gillman (5,034) and trailing Cole Chancey's HU school record (5,114) by 384 yards ... in 2026, Miller ranks third in Division II and leads the GAC in rushing touchdowns (20), fifth nationally in total points scored (120), fifth in scoring (12.0 ppg), fifth in total touchdowns (20), ninth in rushing yards (1,112), and 11th in rushing yards per game (111.2 ypg) ... Miller is an elite finalist for the 2026 William V. Campbell Trophy® ("Academic Heisman") and a member of the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class.

MALIK YOUNG PACES GAC IN YARDS PER CARRY: Fifth-year senior quarterback Malik Young ranks sixth in NCAA Division II and leads the Great American Conference in rushing yards per carry (7.68 ypc) on 111 attempts ... Young rushed for 168 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries against Southern Nazarene, including an 80-yard run ... Young ranks 25th in Division II and fourth in the GAC in rushing yards (853), 25th in rushing yards per game (85.3 ypg), 41st in rushing touchdowns (9), and 67th in total touchdowns (9) ... he averages 116.6 yards of total offense per game.

JEFF REGAN: ALL-PURPOSE LEADER & DUAL-THREAT RETURNER: First-year slotback Jeff Regan leads the Great American Conference and ranks 28th in NCAA Division II in all-purpose yardage (121.70 ypg, 1,217 total yards) ... Regan ranks 19th nationally and second in the GAC in total touchdowns (13), 22nd in rushing touchdowns (11), 30th in total points scored (78), and 43rd in combined kick returns (481 yards) ... Regan ranks 20th in Division II and tops the GAC in punt return average (10.5 yards), is tied for third nationally with one punt return touchdown (63 yards vs. SNU), and ranks eighth nationally with one kickoff return touchdown (98 yards at SWOSU) ... he has rushed for 715 yards on 45 carries (15.9 ypc) ... Regan is only the third player in Harding history to return both a kickoff and a punt for a touchdown in the same season, joining Harry Lisle (1966) and Corey Bassett (2016).

KALEB WALKER RANKS THIRD IN D-II IN SACKS: Third-year defensive end Kaleb Walker ranks third in NCAA Division II and leads the Great American Conference in sacks per game (1.06) ... Walker has accumulated 8.5 total sacks (-67 yards) and 11.0 tackles for loss (-70 yards) in eight games played ... Walker also ranks 19th nationally and third in the GAC in tackles for loss per game (1.38 TFL/g) and has generated nine quarterback hurries ... Walker is currently tied for eighth in an HU single season with 8.5 sacks, and needs three more to tie the school single-season record of 11.5, set by Dre Hall in 2023.

BALL-HAWKING SECONDARY & TAKEAWAYS: Harding ranks 26th in NCAA Division II and second in the GAC with 12 interceptions ... third-year cornerback Corey Dean ranks 25th in Division II and second in the GAC with 0.40 interceptions per game (4 INTs) ... third-year defensive back Connor Dean ranks 54th nationally with 0.30 interceptions per game (3 INTs, 1 TD) ... safety Grayson Lewis ranks 19th in Division II and fourth in the GAC with two fumble recoveries ... the Bisons rank 31st nationally in turnovers gained (18) and 36th in turnover margin (+0.50 per game).

HOME WINNING STREAK REACHES 29 GAMES: Harding puts its 29-game home winning streak on the line Saturday at First Security Stadium ... the streak stands as the second-longest active home winning streak in NCAA Division II, trailing only defending national champion Ferris State ... Harding has not lost a home game since Oct. 15, 2022.

CONFERENCE WINNING STREAK AT 25 GAMES: With the victory over Southern Nazarene, Harding extended its Great American Conference winning streak to 25 consecutive games ... the streak stands as the second-longest active conference winning streak in NCAA Division II behind CSU Pueblo (RMAC).

NATIONAL POLL STREAK: 72 CONSECUTIVE WEEKS IN AFCA TOP 25: Harding enters Week 11 ranked No. 2 nationally in both the AFCA Division II Coaches Poll and the D2Football.com Top 25 ... this week marks Harding's 72nd consecutive appearance in the AFCA national top 25 poll ... the Bisons have also been ranked in 98 of the last 100 AFCA polls, continuing one of the most sustained stretches of national prominence in NCAA Division II football.

NCAA POWER INDEX (NPI) STANDING: Harding holds the No. 1 ranking in Super Region 4 and the No. 3 overall ranking in NCAA Division II in the NCAA Power Index (NPI) with a rating of 67.461 ... the NPI is the NCAA's objective system used to select and seed the 32-team playoff field, with the top seed in Super Region 4 earning a first-round postseason bye and home-field advantage through the regional final.

SCOUTING ARKANSAS TECH: The Wonder Boys enter the season finale at 4-6 overall and 4-6 in Great American Conference play under second-year head coach Roy Thompson Jr. ... Arkansas Tech features a balanced offense that ranks 41st in NCAA Division II and third in the GAC in total offense (409.8 ypg), 29th nationally in rushing offense (200.3 ypg), 70th in passing offense (209.5 ypg), and 53rd in scoring offense (31.2 ppg) ... ATU's offensive focal point is junior quarterback Carter Hensley, who ranks fourth in Division II and leads the GAC in completion percentage (.703, 154-of-219) ... Hensley ranks 10th in Division II in yards per pass attempt (9.34), 22nd in passing efficiency (159.9 rating), 43rd in passing yards (2,045 yards, 204.5 ypg), 45th in passing yards per completion (13.28 yards), and 51st in total offense (226.0 ypg, 11 passing TDs) ... senior running back Tracy Daniels anchors the ATU backfield, ranking 54th in Division II in rushing touchdowns (8), 67th in total touchdowns (9), 72nd in rushing yards (650 yards, 65.0 ypg), and 102nd in all-purpose yardage (89.8 ypg) ... backup backs Dominic Feliciano and Kollin Robinson have each added four rushing touchdowns ... wide receiver JD DeCausmaker is Hensley's primary target, ranking ninth in the GAC in receiving yards (517 yards, 51.7 ypg) on 39 receptions (3.9 rpg) ... placekicker Fernando Ventura is one of Division II's premier specialists, ranking 16th nationally and tied for first in the GAC in field goals per game (1.20, 12-of-15 FG), 17th in field goal percentage (.800), and 58th in total points scored (68 points, 6.8 ppg) ... returner Omyry Hickson ranks 25th in Division II in combined kick returns (555 yards) and 85th in kickoff return average (21.3 yards) ... defensively, Arkansas Tech ranks 102nd in Division II in scoring defense (29.8 ppg), 122nd in rushing defense (187.6 ypg allowed), 124th in passing yards allowed (234.5 ypg), and 134th in total defense (422.1 ypg allowed) ... ATU's defensive strength is fourth-down defense, where they rank seventh in Division II and first in the GAC (.286, 4-of-14 allowed) ... however, the Wonder Boys rank 145th in red-zone defense (.900), 149th in team sacks (0.90 per game), and 139th in team tackles for loss (4.2 per game) ... linebacker Kolbey Ballowe paces the defense with 7.0 tackles per game (70 total, 38 solo), while defensive back Julien Lopez averages 6.4 tackles per game and has intercepted two passes.

STATISTICAL MISMATCH: HARDING RUSHING VS. ATU RUN DEFENSE: Saturday presents a stark statistical contrast on the ground ... Harding enters leading the nation with 452.1 rushing yards per game (7.85 yards per carry), while Arkansas Tech ranks 122nd in NCAA Division II in rushing defense, allowing 187.6 yards per game and 223 total first downs on the season (136th in D-II).

SERIES HISTORY: 63rd all-time meeting between Harding and Arkansas Tech ... the all-time series is tied 31-31 ... Harding has won nine consecutive games in the series dating back to 2016 ... Harding is 18-12 all-time in Searcy against Arkansas Tech ... the Wonder Boys' last victory in Searcy came on Nov. 7, 2009 (52-31), and their last victory overall came on Nov. 14, 2015 (27-24 in Russellville).

LAST MEETING (NOV. 15, 2025): Top-ranked Harding defeated Arkansas Tech 47-13 at Simmons Bank Field at Thone Stadium in Russellville to complete an undefeated 11-0 regular season and capture the 2025 GAC championship ... the Bisons rushed for 498 yards and six touchdowns, getting 100-yard performances from Andrew Miller (203 yards, 3 TDs), Cole Keylon (116 yards, 1 TD), and Braden Jay (109 yards, 1 TD) ... Harding held ATU to 207 total yards and 65 yards rushing.

LAST MEETING IN SEARCY (NOV. 16, 2024): In the Wonder Boys' last visit to First Security Stadium, No. 1 Harding secured a 57-27 victory to close out a 10-1 regular season and clinch a share of the 2024 GAC championship ... the Bisons piled up 554 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on 60 carries (9.2 ypc), led by Andrew Miller's 181 yards and three touchdowns and Braden Jay's 146 yards and two scores.

GAC SUPREMACY: Harding is 98-10 (.907) in Great American Conference play since 2016 and has suffered only one conference loss by more than 10 points since 2015.
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Players Mentioned

Braden Jay

#7 Braden Jay

RB
5' 9"
Senior
Cole Keylon

#15 Cole Keylon

QB
6' 0"
Senior
Deion Campbell

#4 Deion Campbell

DB
6' 0"
4th Year
Connor Dean

#33 Connor Dean

DB
6' 2"
3rd Year
Corey Dean

#15 Corey Dean

DB
6' 0"
3rd Year
David Gomez

#56 David Gomez

OL
6' 2"
Fifth Year
Kyle Henry

#5 Kyle Henry

LB
5' 11"
3rd Year
Grayson Lewis

#1 Grayson Lewis

DB
6' 0"
4th Year
Jose Lopez

#99 Jose Lopez

DL
6' 0"
Fifth Year
Luke Martin

#6 Luke Martin

DB
6' 1"
Fifth Year

Players Mentioned

Braden Jay

#7 Braden Jay

5' 9"
Senior
RB
Cole Keylon

#15 Cole Keylon

6' 0"
Senior
QB
Deion Campbell

#4 Deion Campbell

6' 0"
4th Year
DB
Connor Dean

#33 Connor Dean

6' 2"
3rd Year
DB
Corey Dean

#15 Corey Dean

6' 0"
3rd Year
DB
David Gomez

#56 David Gomez

6' 2"
Fifth Year
OL
Kyle Henry

#5 Kyle Henry

5' 11"
3rd Year
LB
Grayson Lewis

#1 Grayson Lewis

6' 0"
4th Year
DB
Jose Lopez

#99 Jose Lopez

6' 0"
Fifth Year
DL
Luke Martin

#6 Luke Martin

6' 1"
Fifth Year
DB
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Phone: 501-279-4760