After rolling over a miserable Shepherd Tech team 75-0 two weeks ago, the Bisons faced a reality check when they traveled to Florence to play nationally ranked North Alabama last Saturday.Fumbles proved costly once again as Harding gave up the ball three times to hand the North Alabama Lions a 28-20 win which secured UNA’s No. 2 ranking in Division II.
Harding (2-2) quieted the Homecoming crowd quickly with an 80-yard drive resulting in a 3-yard touchdown run by junior quarterback Chaz Rogers.The Bison defense stopped the Lions (4-0) and forced them to punt.When the Bisons fumbled on their 45-yard line, North Alabama took advantage and scored a touchdown.Bison kicker Eddy Carmona connected on a 32-yard field goal giving Harding a 10–7 halftime lead.
The Bisons came out in the third quarter, coughed up another fumble and set the Lions up for an easy touchdown, making the score 14–10.Carmona kicked another field goal for 42 yards, cutting North Alabama’s lead to 14–13.
Later in the third quarter, Harding put together an 82-yard scoring drive with an explosive 69-yard run by sophomore Colton Kamper.Rogers scored on a quarterback keeper putting the Bisons back on top, 20–14.
Hoping to catch the Lions asleep, Harding attempted an on-side kick and could not come up with the ball.North Alabama took advantage of the short field and scored, retaking the lead 21–20.
After Harding was forced to punt on their next drive, North Alabama put together their longest drive of the game.Lions quarterback Lee Chapple connected on a 61-yard touchdown pass to Jason Smith, giving the Lions a 28–20 lead.
Harding had another opportunity to score late in the game, and it looked promising with a 23-yard run by Donatella Luckett that got the Bisons into North Alabama territory.But on first down at the Lion’s 17-yard line, Rogers and Luckett fumbled the handoff and North Alabama recovered.
“Winning against a really good team is very hard when you turn the ball over three times and then let their offense make big plays,” Rogers said. “We must maintain ball control.”
Kamper and Luckett had to step it up after senior standout Kale Gelles left the game with an injury in the first half.Gelles said his prognosis is still under assessment.
“I really don’t know what my injury is just yet,” Gelles said.”We have a great staff, so I know they will take care of me and get me back on the field as soon as possible.”
In the past week a variety of issues affected the Bison defense. Three starters were dismissed for violation of team rules, forcing the Bisons to quickly reload those positions.Junior linebacker Aaron Gillaspie led the way for the Bison defense with eight tackles.
“They had an average offense with no real running game.They had good receivers who were able to make some big plays.”
The Bisons are preparing this week for Saturday nights matchup against West Alabama in Livingston at 6. West Alabama is 3-1 overall.
