The Bison football team left no doubt in their 51-6 win over Great American Conference (GAC) opponent Southeast Oklahoma State University Storm (SEOSU) last Saturday. The homecoming win helped the team move from No. 17 to No. 16 in the American Football Coaches Association Top 25 Poll. The Bisons 7-1 overall record is second best in the conference, behind the 8-0 Ouachita Baptist University Tigers.
Head coach Ronnie Huckeba was particularly proud of the team’s performance on Saturday against a SEOSU team that was on a four game winning streak.
“I was really proud of our guys because we came out there and made a strong statement in the first quarter that showed we were there to take care of business,” Huckeba said.
The team outscored SEOSU 14-0 in the first quarter. In the second quarter, senior Darious Lane fielded a punt at the 18-yard line and returned it 82 yards for a touchdown. It was the first Harding punt return for a touchdown in 12 seasons.
“That was a tremendous punt return. He accelerated so well through the crease,” Huckeba said. “It was a huge momentum boost.”
The game went to halftime with Harding squarely on top, 17-6. Soon after the third quarter began, the Bisons intercepted SEOSU at the 1-yard line. They then marched 99 yards down the field and went up 24-6. They never looked back.
Harding racked up 467 yards of rushing and the defense only allowed 281 total yards in the 51-6 victory. SEOSU, whose offense is one of the best in the GAC, couldn’t seem to find an answer against the impermeable Harding defense.
“Our defense did a great job of shutting SEOSU down and making them one-dimensional,” Huckeba said. “That gave us a chance for pressure sacks and interceptions. And that’s exactly what we did.”
Senior fullback Alapeti Magalei was named the John Prock Homecoming Most Valuable Player with a career-high 111 yards on eight carries.
“The offensive linemen deserve that honor just as much as I do,” Magalei said. “I’m just so proud of our team. We came out with great intensity and all had a good game.”
The Bisons play tomorrow at 3 p.m. at GAC opponent East Central University, whose overall record is 6-2.
