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Harding University Athletics

Harding completed the 2016 regular season 11-0.
7
Arkansas Tech ATU 6-5 , 6-5
42
Winner Harding HU 11-0 , 11-0
Arkansas Tech ATU
6-5 , 6-5
7
Final
42
Harding HU
11-0 , 11-0
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
ATU Arkansas Tech 0 0 0 7 7
HU Harding 7 21 0 14 42

Game Recap: Football | | by Scott Goode (11/12/16)

No. 5 Harding Defeats Tech 42-7 to Complete Perfect Regular Season

Bisons Finish 11-0; Await Playoff Fate

SEARCY – Harding head coach Ronnie Huckeba's final regular-season home game was almost perfect.

Huckeba's 5th-ranked Bisons rushed for 425 yards and held Arkansas Tech only 85 total yards in a 42-7 victory Saturday in Great American Conference action at First Security Stadium. The victory gave Harding an 11-0 record and its first undefeated regular season.

Harding's season continues next Saturday in the NCAA Division II Playoffs. The Bisons will find out their Super Region 3 seed Sunday at 4 p.m. The team will host a watch party beginning at 3:30 p.m. in the Hammons Student Center.

Arkansas Tech, who had won four of its last five, concluded its season at 6-5.

Senior quarterback Park Parish rushed for 134 yards on 15 carries and scored Harding's first three touchdowns. It was his fourth 100-yard game of the season. Parish had touchdown runs of 28 yards, 1 yard and 64 yards, all in the first half.

With Harding leading 21-0, Arkansas Tech called timeout with 19 seconds left before halftime. On the next play, Harding junior defensive back Daylon Markham intercepted Jabyes Cross' pass and returned it 45 yards for a touchdown. It was Harding's fourth defensive touchdown of the season and gave the Bisons a 28-0 halftime lead.

Harding tacked on fourth quarter rushing touchdowns from Michael Latu (15 yards) and Brandon Gates (6 yards). Latu had 70 yards on eight carries.

Arkansas Tech's only points came on Bruce Livingston's 4-yard fumble return for a touchdown with 27 seconds left in the game.

Harding's defense, ranked second in Division II in rushing and third in total defense, completely neutralized Arkansas Tech's offense. The Bisons had 13 tackles for loss, including six sacks, and four interceptions. The Wonder Boy offense managed only 10 first downs, 14 rushing yards and 71 passing yards and had five turnovers. It was the second time this season Harding held an opponent to fewer than 100 total yards.

Senior defensive end and All-America candidate Trevon Biglow led the Bisons with nine tackles, including 4.5 tackles for loss and two sacks. His 4.5 tackles for loss tied a career high, set in 2014 against Ouachita Baptist.

Harding, the NCAA's top rushing offense, eclipsed 400 rushing yards for the fifth time this season and set new season records with 4,273 rushing yards and 54 rushing touchdowns.

Huckeba, who had many of his former players in attendance, improved to 67-39 in his career, including 45-11 in GAC games. Huckeba announced before the season that this would be his last after coaching 31 seasons at Harding, including 10 as the head coach. He and Harding's 26 seniors were honored in a pregame ceremony.












 
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