HARDING Tough test

The East Central (Okla.) team Harding will host Saturday won’t have as gleaming of a record as some envisioned before the season.

A struggling offense has contributed to a sluggish start for the Tigers, picked in a tie for second in the Great American Conference before the season, who are 2-2, 1-1 in the GAC.

But the Tigers will bring a defense that features five returning all-conference players who, collectively, have the best shot at slowing down Harding’s triple option offense that averages an NCAA Division II best 363.7 yards per game.

“They’re a very big, long team,” Harding Coach Ronnie Huckeba said. “They’ve got a lot of team speed on defense.”

Through four games, East Central hasn’t allowed more than the 128 rushing yards Southwestern Oklahoma State gained in a victory over the Tigers two weeks ago.

Huckeba said East Central scrapped its base 4-2-5 scheme for a 4-3 in last year’s 23-16 overtime victory over Harding, but he said most defenses change their base before playing his team.

The scheme isn’t a concern to Huckeba. His concern is the players.

Defensive end Armonty Bryant, defensive tackle Erik Howell and linebackers Jason Catchings, Amos Cherry and Brian McGrew were all named allconference last year and all lead a unit that allows less than 2 yards per rush.

“I think they’re pretty good all-around,” Huckeba said.