The Bisons football season ended with a 42-59 loss to Pittsburg State University Nov. 22 in the first round of Super Region three. The 2014 season was the Bisons third straight year with nine wins.
“I hate thinking about this game, even hate talking about it,” junior offensive lineman Cole Lockwood said. “It was the biggest momentum-shifting game I have ever been apart of.”
Lockwood said if there is one thing the team learned through this experience, it’s that the Bisons are on the rise in the NCAA DII conference.
The Bisons graduated 21 total seniors this year, 12 on offense, eight on defense and one special teams. Out of those 21 seniors, Harding will lose nine starters from the offensive side — four being offensive linemen.
“You can’t replace the guys we lost, but we still have guys that can bring something new and positive to a team that will be a different look than this year,” Lockwood said. “We have learned a lot from these seniors, and our job is to take what they have given us and find the heart of this team and build on that for 2015.”
Lockwood played in all 11 games for the Bisons this season and will be returning at left tackle next fall as a senior himself.
“I have to be ready and lead by example,” Lockwood said. “I can’t lead them if I need to be led myself.”
Sophomore quarterback, Park Parish will be in the discussion to take over the starting quarterback spot next season. Parish was the No. 2 quarterback behind senior Keenan Kellett all season and has played in six games over his brief two year career with the Bisons program.
“I can’t wait for game one to get here,” Parish said. “We have a lot to do from now to next August, but we are ready to strap up and get back out there.”
Parish said he is excited because of the mentality of this team and the seniors who established that mentality. He said that will help this new team go far.
The defense is more set for the 2015 season, losing only five starting seniors while returning six to the field this spring and also get back players like junior Matt Cain coming back from injury.
“I think the addition of the injured players we are getting back along with the men we are returning, makes us a very experienced group,” sophomore linebacker Daylan Skidmore said. “With experience being a factor, I believe this will allow us to be more confident in our scheme and be more sound on defense.”
Seniors Tory Day, Darious Lane and Romo Westbrook, earned all Super-Region 3 honors after their first round matchup against Pitt State The Bisons also received 14 All-GAC honors, and freshman Zach Shelley is the first Harding player in history to be named conference Freshman Player of the Year.
