The Bisons open up the 2014 season this weekend against Southwestern Oklahoma State University. This will be the second year in a row these two teams face off on opening night.
The Bisons finished second in the preseason poll predictions for the Great American Conference, four spots higher than SWOSU who finished in the middle of the pack.
As excitement builds for the Bisons home opener, head coach Ronnie Huckeba feels a certain anticipation when it’s time for football.
“I’ve been in organized sports since 1967, and every fall the same thing happens,” Huckeba said. “You start hearing the sounds, the smell of the smells and all of those things that bring back memories.”
The Bisons started last season with a loss, falling short in a close game to the Southwestern Bulldogs. This year they have an opportunity to redeem themselves at the start of the new season.
“I’m hoping we can get our option game established, and do the things we do out of our run game,” Huckeba said. “I’m looking for us to play great defense like we always do and get the job done.”
Huckeba said he just wants his men to compete and have fun on the field. He said that if they are prepared and not overthinking the game, the team will be able to go out there and fast and loose.
In the last meeting between the two teams, Harding’s offense was without their starting quarterback, senior Keenan Kellett, who was replaced by junior Jacob Moore. This year the Harding offense returns nine senior players and seems to have the experience that could help them moving forward.
“Our expectations are to win games and win conference,” senior offensive lineman Patrick Bingham said. “We know we have to take it one game at a time and it starts with SWOSU.”
Bingham is one of the five senior offensive linemen, a group that was recruited for the first year of the triple option offense. The offensive line has the most seniors of any group on the team.
“We have to be leaders on the field, we know it starts with the line,” Bingham said. “We are the most experienced group on the offense and it’s up to us. There are no excuses.”
The Bisons finished first statistically in overall defense and scoring defense at the end of the 2013 season. Harding will have the chance to see if they still have the best defense in conference against Southwestern this weekend.
Senior captain Romas Roberson said redemption plays a role in this upcoming game after last year’s 23-27 loss to Southwestern.
“We need to play sound assignment football and start off on the right foot this year,” Roberson said. “Key is to again, play assignment football.”
Southwestern is returning a large number of their offensive line, the same line that carved up the Bisons on the ground rushing for 150 yards in the opener last year.
“Their offensive line is back, and we weren’t ready last time,” Roberson said. “This time we will be up for the task.”
Roberson said his job is to play hard when he is on the field and be an encourager when he’s off of it.
The Bisons play this Saturday, Sept. 6 at 6 p.m. against Southwestern Oklahoma State University at First Security Stadium for the home opener.
“We have to have explosive plays on offensive and limit them on defense,” Huckeba said. “If you win in those areas, you most likely can win the football game.”
