The Harding Bisons dominated Southeastern Oklahoma State University 42-10 Saturday at Paul Laird Field, giving the Bisons a 6-2 record.
Harding lost a tough home game last week against No. 5 Henderson State University, and looking to get back on track with a win against the Southeastern Oklahoma City Storm.
“The message during the week was the fact we needed to execute better on offense going into this game,” junior quarterback Keenan Kellett said. “I think we did a whole lot better, especially in the second half against Southeastern Oklahoma.”
The Bisons managed only 14 points in the first half, but scored 21 unanswered points in the fourth to pull away from the Storm.
Kellett said running the trip option at a high level can wear defenses out by the fourth quarter, and he believes the Bisons did just that on Saturday.
Kellett combined for 171 total yards and three touchdowns in Saturday’s victory over Southeastern Oklahoma.
The Bisons were held to 267 total rushing yards against the Storm, over 100 yards less than season average, and their lowest since the season opener against Southwestern Oklahoma. Harding still managed to put up 42 points that Kellett said contributed to a good all-around team win.
“A lot of it had to with special teams, especially junior Donatello Luckett who had two big returns, giving us great field position,” Kellett said. “It gives us more confidence as an offense to only have to go 40 or 50 yards opposed to 80 or 90.”
Harding scored five rushing touchdowns on Saturday, giving the Bisons 42 rushing touchdowns for the year, breaking their previous record of 38 held in 2011.
The Bisons defense dominated the Savage Storm, holding them less than 250 total yards of offense and allowing only 28 yards rushing on 26 carries. In the second half, the Storm leaned on their passing attack, but found no such luck against the pressure Harding put on Southeastern quarterback Nick Sioson.
Harding’s defense sacked Sioson five times Saturday and brought constant to the Storm quarterback.
“We definitely created more pressure on the quarterback this week,” senior safety Philip Mion said. “When they’re able to dominate the line of scrimmage, it makes it easier on our secondary to make plays.”
The Bisons surrendered only 10 points against South Eastern Oklahoma and said they will continue to strive for improvement moving forward.
“The formula for us to continue to dominate is to play Harding defense, which consists of good communication, doing your job, pursuing the football and, most importantly, trying to knock you out,” Mion said. “If we can continue to get that done, we will dominate these last two games.”
The Bisons last home game is this Saturday versus East Central University on senior night at First Security Field. Harding will look to improve their record to 7-2 in conference and stay alive for post-season play.
