The Bisons won their ninth consecutive game on the road after beating East Central University Tigers (ECU) this past Saturday Nov. 8, at Norris Field in Ada, Okla.
Harding’s 41-14 victory against ECU gives them seven wins by three touchdowns of more this season, Bisons are (8-1) and tied for second in the Great American Conference standings behind only Ouachita Baptist University (9-0).
Harding opened up the game with a 15-play drive that went 75 yards and took up over seven minutes of the first quarter, helping the Bisons dominate the games time of possession by 17 minutes (HU: 38:18; ECU: 21:42).
“I credit that drive to being part of a very experienced group,” senior slot back Jason Oller said. “We are a bunch of old guys that are not easily rattled and have a lot of faith in each other.”
Oller said the offense overall executed their game plan against a tough ECU defense, and put long methodical drives together that beat down ECU’s defense helping them control the game.
Out of the 41 points Harding scored, 18 of them came from Oller who scored a career high three touchdowns against the Tigers.
“Obviously anytime you can find the end zone three times in one day it will be a lot of fun,” Oller said. “The real credit goes to great blocking on the perimeter by guys like senior Eli jones, Sophomore Andrew Dather, senior Ahmad Scott and an awesome throw by senior quarterback Keenan Kellett.”
Harding totaled 396 yards of offense on Saturday much of it coming from their run game, which totaled 318 yards and four touchdowns.
Bisons defense struggled early giving up an opening touchdown drive to ECU, which only took 1:42 of the clock and just six plays to complete. The Tigers found their success through the air, throwing 4-4 on the drive ending in a touchdown.
“They did a good job having better tempo then us,” junior Daylan Skidmore said. “We didn’t respond with any poise to be able to control them.”
After giving up an opening touchdown drive to ECU, the Bisons held ECU to just seven points the rest of the game. ECU finally scored again, but not until the fourth quarter after Harding already had the game won.
“We slowed down and took control of the game and made sure we communicated our assignments to one another,” Skidmore said. “ECU tried to duplicate the same high tempo offense OBU played against us but we studied well this week and knew their schemes.”
The No. 16 ranked Bisons will play their last game of the regular season on Nov. 15 at First Security Stadium against Arkansas Tech University at 2 p.m. Harding well also be recognizing their senior players on that Saturday.
