Harding University Athletics

SEARCY — Behind a dominant Senior Day performance and an explosive 42-point first half, second-ranked Harding routed in-state rival Arkansas Tech 70-10 on Saturday afternoon at First Security Stadium to complete an undefeated 11-0 regular season and take the all-time series lead against the Wonder Boys for the first time in program history.

Entering Saturday with the 98-year-old rivalry deadlocked at 31-31, Harding (11-0, 11-0 Great American Conference) seized a 32-31 advantage in the all-time series while extending its winning streak against Arkansas Tech (4-7, 4-7 GAC) to 10 consecutive games.

The victory secured the fourth unblemished regular season in Harding history—and back-to-back 11-0 campaigns—joining the 2016, 2023, and 2025 squads. The Bisons also extended their home winning streak at First Security Stadium to 30 consecutive games and pushed their Great American Conference winning streak to 26 straight contests.

Prior to kickoff, Harding honored its 11-player senior class, which has compiled an extraordinary 49-3 overall record and a 43-1 mark in conference play over the past four seasons. Those seniors wasted little time taking center stage before 2,500 fans.

Fifth-year All-American fullback and William V. Campbell Trophy® finalist Andrew Miller scored three first-half rushing touchdowns on runs of 9, 1, and 6 yards, pushing his season total to 23 touchdowns and extending his NCAA all-division active career record to 73 rushing scores. Miller finished with 51 yards on 11 carries, elevating his career rushing total to 4,781 yards.

Fifth-year wide receiver Jackson Richardson delivered a memorable Senior Day showcase in the second half, recovering a fumble on the opening kickoff of the third quarter before hauling in touchdown passes of 16 and 32 yards from backup quarterback Cody Stoever—becoming the first Harding player with two receiving touchdowns in a game since Will White had two against Oklahoma Baptist on Sept. 9, 2023.

Harding's offense was virtually unstoppable from start to finish, piling up 515 total yards on 61 plays (8.4 yards per play) without committing a turnover or a single penalty. The Bisons rushed for 355 yards and six touchdowns on 55 carries (6.5 yards per rush) while completing 5-of-6 passes for 160 yards and three touchdowns—Harding's highest passing total since throwing for 161 yards at Southern Nazarene on Oct. 8, 2022. Harding also went 6-for-6 in the red zone—all touchdowns—to finish the regular season a flawless 49-for-49 inside the 20-yard line (46 touchdowns, three field goals).

After forcing a turnover on downs on Arkansas Tech's opening possession, Harding struck first midway through the opening quarter when Miller capped a seven-play, 39-yard drive with a 9-yard touchdown burst at the 6:59 mark.

First-year return specialist Jeff Regan doubled the lead less than four minutes later. Fielding an Angus Greaves punt at the Harding 4-yard line, Regan sliced through the coverage and sprinted 96 yards down the sideline for a touchdown with 3:05 left in the first quarter. It was the longest punt return touchdown in program history. It marked Regan's second consecutive game with a punt return score—and his third return touchdown of the season—making him only the second Harding player with two punt return touchdowns and three total return touchdowns in a season, joining Harry Lisle in 1966.

Harding blew the game open in the second quarter with 28 unanswered points. Miller punched in a 1-yard score early in the frame to cap an eight-play, 69-yard drive highlighted by a 28-yard keeper from senior quarterback Malik Young, then added a 6-yard touchdown plunge at the 5:42 mark following a 32-yard completion from Young to Ben Boehm.

Young took to the air again late in the half, converting a fourth-and-1 with a 4-yard keeper before firing a 45-yard touchdown strike down the right sideline to Brady Barnett with 1:25 remaining before the break.

Thirty-two seconds later, fifth-year rover Luke Martin stepped in front of a Carter Hensley pass at the Harding 45-yard line and returned the interception 54 yards down to the ATU 1-yard line. On the next snap, senior fullback Josh Strickland, Jr. powered across the goal line with 50 seconds left to send the Bisons into halftime with a commanding 42-0 cushion.

The momentum carried directly into the second half. On the opening kickoff of the third quarter, MarSean Massenburg forced a fumble on returner Tiquez Mallette that Richardson recovered at the ATU 24-yard line. Four plays later, Jacoby Wade dashed 9 yards around the right edge for a touchdown to make it 49-0.

Stoever engineered Harding's next two scoring drives through the air, connecting with Richardson on a 16-yard touchdown pass late in the third quarter and finding Richardson again for a 32-yard touchdown down the left sideline early in the fourth to stretch the margin to 63-3.

Da'Shawn Chairs capped Harding's scoring with 9:30 remaining, breaking loose around the left side for a 42-yard touchdown sprint to push the advantage to 70-3.

Strickland led a balanced Bison ground attack in which 13 different players carried the ball, rushing 11 times for 79 yards and a touchdown (7.2 ypc). Young added 64 rushing yards on 10 carries while completing 2-of-3 passes for 77 yards and a score, and Stoever finished 3-for-3 passing for 83 yards and two touchdowns. Second-year placekicker Dean Roberts converted all 10 extra-point attempts.

Defensively, Harding held Arkansas Tech to 209 total yards, 96 rushing yards on 29 attempts (3.3 ypc), and just eight first downs. Third-year defensive end Kaden Spencer paced the unit with four solo tackles and two tackles for loss (-9 yards), while edge rusher Kaleb Walker recorded a second-quarter sack to elevate his season total to 9.5 sacks—moving within two of the school single-season record.

Tracy Daniels led Arkansas Tech with 146 all-purpose yards (66 rushing, 80 receiving), while Fernando Ventura kicked a 36-yard field goal in the third quarter and Lathan Boone scored on a 5-yard touchdown run with 2:54 remaining.

Having already clinched the outright 2026 Great American Conference championship, Harding will learn its postseason seeding and path during the NCAA Division II Football Championship Selection Show on Sunday at 5 p.m. CT on NCAA.com.