Game Notes: Harding Hosts Oklahoma Baptist in Season Opener

Harding Football opens its 66th season of intercollegiate competition Saturday at 6 p.m. against Oklahoma Baptist at First Security Stadium. The Bisons have won a school-record 34 games over the last four seasons. Harding could post five straight winning seasons for the first time since recording six consecutive from 1989-1994.

In the first AFCA poll, Harding received 40 votes but did not make the top 25. The Bisons are not ranked in the d2football.com poll but are ranked 33rd in the MasseyRatings.com poll. Oklahoma Baptist is not ranked in either poll and is No. 122 on MasseyRatings.com.

Harding is 41-21-3 (.654) in its previous 65 season openers. The Bisons have won 12 of their last 14 and six of their last seven openers, including a 20-19 victory last season at Oklahoma Baptist. Harding has won its last eight games when opening the season at home, last losing 15-14 to Arkansas-Pine Bluff in 1994.

Harding was picked second in the Great American Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll. The coaches selected Oklahoma Baptist 10th in the 12-team conference. Henderson State is the preseason favorite.

Harding named its six captains on Monday. They are Park Parish, Eric Mitchell, Cordell Zalenski, Daylan Skidmore, Trevon Biglow and De'Onte Garrett.

Up Next
Harding travels to Bethany, Oklahoma, for its first road game of the season against Southern Nazarene. The Bisons hold a 4-0 series lead over the Crimson Storm and have won the two games in Bethany by a combined score of 100-13. Kickoff is at 6 p.m.

The Coaches
Harding's Ronnie Huckeba is in his 10th season as head coach and 31st on the Bison staff. He has a 56-39 career record, including 47-30 in GAC games. Huckeba has announded that 2016 will be his final season. Defensive coordinator Paul Simmons will be the head coach beginning in 2017.

Chris Jensen is in his fourth season at Oklahoma Baptist and has a 14-19 overall record. He is a 1992 graduate of the University of Oklahoma.

Series History
Harding and Oklahoma Baptist are meeting for only the second time with the black-and-gold leading the series 1-0. Harding defeated Oklahoma Baptist 20-19 in overtime last season in Shawnee, Oklahoma.

Home/Road Records
Harding will play six regular season home game for the first time since the 2010 season. The Bisons were 4-1 in Searcy last season and 31-15 at home under Ronnie Huckeba. Oklahoma Baptist was 1-5 on the road last season with its lone win coming 41-38 at Northwestern Oklahoma.

Last Meeting
Zach Shelley scored on a 5-yard run in overtime and Tristan Parsley's extra point gave Harding a 20-19 victory over Oklahoma Baptist last season in Shawnee, Oklahoma. Oklahoma Baptist missed its extra point after scoring first in overtime.

Harding quarterback Park Parish rushed for 87 yards and a touchdown and completed 3-of-5 passes for 123 yards. Andrew Dather caught three passes for 108 yards. Daylan Skidmore led Harding with 10 tackles.

Streaks, Trends and Records
Harding has rushed for exactly 52 touchdowns in each of the last three seasons. During that time, the Bisons have scored 156 rushing touchdowns and allowed 28.

Harding ranked second in NCAA Division II last season at 366.9 yards per game. The Bisons had three games with more than 500 rushing yards and nine touchdowns.

Senior quarterback Park Parish has 24 career rushing touchdowns, third among active NCAA Division II quarterbacks. Daylan Skidmore is 21st among active players with 215 career tackles.

A Quick Look at Oklahoma Baptist
The Bison went 2-9 in their first season in the Great American Conference with a home win over Arkansas-Monticello (56-28) and a road win at Northwestern Oklahoma (41-38).

Oklahoma Baptist was the least-penalized team in the GAC in 2015, surrendering only 57.7 penalty yards per game.

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Players Mentioned

#19 Trevon Biglow: DL; 6' 1"; Senior

#18 Andrew Dather: WR; 6' 1"; Junior

#72 De'Onte Garrett: DL; 6' 1"; Senior

#55 Eric Mitchell: OL; 6' 0"; Senior

#15 Park Parish: QB; 5' 10"; Senior

#80 Tristan Parsley: K/P; 5' 9"; Junior

#28 Zach Shelley: RB; 5' 7"; Junior

#44 Daylan Skidmore: LB; 5' 11"; Senior

#94 Cordell Zalenski: DL; 6' 2"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#19 Trevon Biglow
: 6' 1"; Senior
: DL

#18 Andrew Dather
: 6' 1"; Junior
: WR

#72 De'Onte Garrett
: 6' 1"; Senior
: DL

#55 Eric Mitchell
: 6' 0"; Senior
: OL

#15 Park Parish
: 5' 10"; Senior
: QB

#80 Tristan Parsley
: 5' 9"; Junior
: K/P

#28 Zach Shelley
: 5' 7"; Junior
: RB

#44 Daylan Skidmore
: 5' 11"; Senior
: LB

#94 Cordell Zalenski
: 6' 2"; Senior
: DL