The Bisons’ football team improved to 8-1 on the season after a 31-9 victory at Southeastern Oklahoma last Saturday and improved to No. 14 in NCAA Division II rankings.
The team has won eight of its first nine games for the first time since 1972 and kept hopes alive for its first NCAA DII playoff appearance.
Harding will host Southwestern Oklahoma State in its last home game of the regular season on Saturday at First Security Stadium at 2 p.m.This one game determines if the Bisons get to keep playing this season.
“We’ve been continuing to do our normal practice,” senior quarterback Kelvin Martin said. “This game is critical because if we lose then we don’t go to the playoffs, but if we win then we’re in. So we’re going to come out Saturday and play our best so that we can continue to play.”
Sophomore starting running back Romo Westbrook is confident in the team’s ability and does not view this game as different than any other weekend. He put it simply and said that the key to the Bisons winning is “us.”
“If we just goout there and play the way we play, we’ll be fine,” Westbrook said. “We’ve just been going out there doing our regular routines at practice and working hard.”
The win Saturday continued the pattern of convincing road victories, as the Bisons remain undefeated in their away games. Harding has outscored opponents 213-73 in six away games this season.
SE Oklahoma offered little resistance as the Bisons racked up nearly 400 yards of total offense, but this game was dominated by defense and special teams.
The Bisons held the Savage Storm to just 285 yards of total offense and one interception. Though they reached the redzone four times, they came away with one field goal and no touchdowns. The Bisons special teams contributed by blocking two field goals and returning an onside kick for a touchdown.
Martin connected with sophomore wide receiver Donatella Luckett for a 28-yard touchdown pass, and sophomore running back Ahmad Scott added another score from seven yards out. Sophomore backup quarterback Keenan Kellettalso scored on a one-yard run in the fourth quarter to give the Bisons a lead.
SE Oklahoma’s only touchdown of the day came on a 32-yard touchdown pass with more than five minutes left to play, but the ensuing onside kick was returned by Bisons senior Roderick Cohn, 44 yards for a touchdown, which all but sealed the victory.
This year’s team has already cemented its legacy as one of the best in Harding’s history, and is currently ranked 14th in the AFCA poll and fourth in Super Region 3.
The top six teams from each of the four Super Regions qualify for the NCAA II playoffs. The top two teams in each region receive a “bye.”
“The possibility of us playing in the playoffs is a blessing,” junior defensive lineman Joe Calvin said. “We have worked so hard this year to achieve our goal of winning a national championship and every game we play is one step closer to accomplishing our goal and making history here at Harding … We know that we have to come out and play great, especially at home in front of our fans.”
The No. 3 seed hosts the No. 6 seed, and the No. 4 seed hosts the No. 5 seed in the first round on Nov. 17.
“We will persist without exception,” senior defenseive back Jasper Bodiford said. “Everyday we come with the attitude that this can be our last week of practice. So to win on Saturday we have to win on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.”
But assistant coach Clay Beason is focusing on Saturday.
“Right now, our entire focus is on Southwest Oklahoma, that is all,” Beason said. “The playoffs have been mentioned, but we all know that there will not be any playoffs for us if we do not beat Southwest this weekend. So, in essence, this is a playoff game. We are definitely not looking past this weekend. Our goal is to improve each week and build on the momentum we have.”
BY PAYTON HURST AND TRACY MARE’
