Bisons crush Wonder Boys, now 9-2
SEARCY — Harding ran for 360 yards and held Arkansas Tech under 200 total in a 28-0 triumph Saturday at First Security Stadium.
Four Bisons scored touchdowns, quarterback Preston Paden going over from six yards out with
7:40 left in the game. Paden carried 11 times for 56 yards and completed both passes he attempted for
56.
Cole Chancey ran for 126 yards and scored a third-quarter touchdown. Tristan Tucker and Jesse Honnas also scored for Harding (9-2), tallying once in each quarter and adding four extra points by Cameron Scott.
Harding had 22 first downs to Tech’s 10 and converted seven of 11 third downs, helping the Bisons control the ball for 40 minutes, 11 seconds to Tech’s 19:49. With neither team making a turnover, the game was played in a brisk two hours and 16 minutes.
The Bisons only lost at home to unbeaten Great American Conference champion Ouachita Baptist (11-0) and Southern Arkansas (8-3). Arkansas Tech capped a 3-8 season, Lake Hamilton product Chris Eastburn with a 16-yard reception for the Wonder Boys on Saturday.
Harding entered the week ranked No. 8 in the NCAA Division II’s Super Region 3. Monday’s rankings were the third of three rankings released before today’s announcement of the 28-team NCAA Division II playoffs.
The top seven teams from Super Region 3 will advance to the playoffs. The No. 7 team, Southern Arkansas, lost, 20-17, on Saturday on the road against rival Arkansas-Monticello (6-5).