Written by Nic Fraraccio // Photo by Jeff Montgomery
The No. 3 Harding football team will continue their successful season after defeating No. 6 University of Central Missouri last Saturday in the second round of the NCAA Division II playoffs by a final score of 35-34.
Both teams provided key plays throughout the back-and-forth battle. However, the Bisons saved the most important play of the season for the final moments of the game.
With 22 seconds left in the fourth quarter, fifth-year defensive lineman Gage Price blocked the potential game-tying extra point.
Price collected his fourth blocked extra point of the season against the Mules.
Sophomore running back Braden Jay said he knew the Bisons had a chance at blocking the extra point attempt.
“I was honestly hoping that Central Missouri didn’t go for two,” Jay said. “When they didn’t, I knew we had a chance to block it because Gage has been blocking them all year.”
Head coach Paul Simmons said he knew the team needed to dominate the game with execution and care for one another.
“When it comes to the care factor, which team was [it] the most important to and which team would play with the most love for one another?” Simmons said. “I really believe that was the difference in that outcome.”
With this win, the Bisons extended their winning streak to 16 games.
Harding will now look ahead to the quarterfinal round Dec. 2 as they host No. 2 Grand Valley State University.
The programs have combined for eight ranked wins throughout the season.
Harding leads Division II in rushing yards per game with an average of 418.8 yards. Grand Valley State ranks third in the nation in rushing defense.
The star-studded matchup will have viewers from across the country tuning in. Billy Morgan, the voice of the Bisons for the Harding Sports Network, said he believes that no one will be disappointed if they buy a ticket to the game.
“[Grand Valley State] is a tradition-rich program that expects to win when they play, like the Bisons,” Morgan said. “This is a battle of two heavyweights Saturday that will be worth every bit of the anticipation that will go into it.”
The game against the Lakers is a historic moment for players and students of the University.
Saturday’s matchup will be the first home playoff game in program history where the full student body will be on campus.
In previous years, Harding students have been away from campus due to Thanksgiving break during the Division II playoffs.
As the quarterfinal matchup approaches, Simmons said he wants the fans to give the Bisons an “awesome home-field advantage” against the Lakers.
“Everybody’s back now, and we are getting the band back together,” Simmons said. “We want to have the biggest, loudest and most awesome crowd.”
