Interceptions key in Bisons’ victory over Muleriders

MAGNOLIA — It’s becoming perilous for opposing offenses to attempt passes against the Harding University defense.

The Bisons defeated the Southern Arkansas Muleriders 31-0 Saturday night, their second consecutive shutout in Great American Conference play, and their pass defense once again played an integral part.

Senior free safety Jacory Nichols returned one third-quarter interception 60 yards for a touchdown, and strong safety Cade Pugh returned another intercepted pass 36 yards for a score — in a span of 40 seconds — giving the Bisons three touchdowns via interception return in two games.

Junior Cory Batie, who returned 2 interceptions for 152 yards during last week’s 24-0 victory over Arkansas-Monticello, didn’t partake in the interception festival on Saturday night at Wilkins Stadium.

Harding (2-1 and ranked No. 23 in the AFCA Top 25 poll) has not allowed a point since losing its season-opener 16-14 to Ouachita Baptist on Sept. 5.

Harding didn’t dominate as much statistically — outgaining SAU 299-175 — as it did physically, building a 10-0 halftime lead before scoring 21 third-quarter points.

SAU quarterback Hayden Mallory (8-20 passing, 121 yards, 3 interceptions) was replaced by Tristan Smith after suffering back-to-back third-quarter interceptions that were returned for Harding touchdowns.

Pugh’s interception and return of a tipped Mallory pass made it 31-0 Harding with 4:31 to play in the third quarter.

Harding’s offense, which accounted for 17 of the Bisons’ points, had run more than twice as many plays (39 to 14) and had outgained SAU 212-41 before Nichols’ 60-yard interception return put the Bisons up 24-0 with 5:11 to go in the third quarter.

Nichols’ interception return for touchdown, the second in two games for Harding, came when Nichols stepped in front of Mallory’s floating attempt to Jared Lancaster at the SAU 40.

Nichols, 5-6, 150, raced untouched through traffic to the end zone.

Harding, which led 10-0 at halftime, put together its most impressive drive on the night in the third quarter after a missed field goal by Austin Wilkerson gave the Bisons the ball at their 30 with 10:56 to play in the third quarter.

SAU never drove inside the Harding 30.

A mix of up-the-gut runs by fullback Cole Chancey set up two big plays by quarterback Preston Paden.