Great American Conference report

tough for somebody to go undefeated this year.”

Harding and Arkansas Tech close the regular season Nov. 14 in Russellville.

HARDING Off and running Harding climbed from No. 16 to No. 12 in the American Football Coaches Association NCAA Division II Top 25 poll following Saturday’s record-setting 70-42 victory at Southern Arkansas.

The Bisons (3-0, 3-0 GAC) rushed 64 times for a school-record 566 yards and set another school record for points scored on the road.

“They dissected us pretty good,” SAU Coach Bill Keopple said.

Harding led the GAC in rushing last fall but returned only one offensive starter, junior left tackle Eric Mitchell of Harrison, for 2015.

Harding’s Double-Slot attack still continues to pile up prodigious rushing numbers, ranking second in NCAA Division II in average yards per game (377.3). Quarterback Park Parish, a junior from Clinton, ranks second in the GAC in pergame rushing yards (104) and first in pass efficiency (203.8).

“We think our quarterback is something special,” Harding Coach Ronnie Huckeba said. “We haven’t had that phase in this offense, a quarterback that can go the distance, a home-run hitter. We’ve had guys that can throw it, but he can do it all.”

Parish, 5-10, 185 pounds, is a cousin of Auburn running backs coach Tim Horton.

Harding hosts Arkansas-Monticello (0-3, 0-3) on Saturday night.

HENDERSON STATE Dallas in Arkadelphia Somebody had to follow quarterback Kevin Rodgers, who completed his eligibility last season as one of the most decorated players in Henderson State history.

So far, the Dallas Hardison era has been a case of growing pains, Coach Scott Maxfield said.

Hardison, a junior from Bentonville, has helped Henderson to a 2-1 start. But the Reddies’ average of 25.3 points per game is a sharp decline from the previous three seasons (42.4, 53.2 and 50.4), when Rodgers triggered one of the most potent offenses in NCAA Division II.

“Dallas has performed well in spurts, but the biggest thing is we haven’t been real consistent around him,” Maxwell said. “Just following Kevin, there’s a lot of pressure. We haven’t been real consistent on offense, and that’s been our biggest issue.”

Hardison has completed 73 of 113 passes for 742 yards and 4 touchdowns this fall. He was one of the most accurate passers in Arkansas high school history.

“He’s completing a lot of passes, but we just haven’t made a lot of explosive plays,” Maxfield said. “That’s probably the biggest