Harding Football Wins Seventh Straight; Rushes Past East Central 44-13

[Seminole Indian]

SEARCY – Harding's offense rolled up more than 500 yards, the defense had two takeaways that turned into touchdowns and the Bisons won their seventh straight game 44-13 over East Central Saturday on Senior Day at First Security Stadium.

With the win, Harding remained only one game back of Ouachita Baptist and Arkansas Tech, both winners Saturday, for the top spot in the conference. Harding (7-3) will travel to Russellville next Saturday to take on Arkansas Tech.

East Central managed only three first downs in the second half and fell to 2-8 overall. The Bisons remained perfect at 9-0 against the Tigers in games played in Searcy.

How it Happened
Harding led 23-13 with 6:57 left in the third quarter after a 43-yard TD run by East Central tailback Tre'von Jackson. The Bisons answered with a 74-yard drive, the second of three straight long scoring drives. Harding quarterback Terrence Dingle wrapped up the drive with 2:05 remaining in the third on a 7-yard TD run, his team-leading 14th TD run of the season. Harding led 30-13.

The Bisons sealed the victory on the Tigers' next drive. On 2nd-and-11 at the ECU 24, Harding defensive end T.J. Winslow deflected a pass by East Central quarterback RayJohn Austin-Ramsey, and defensive back Dra Smith made the interception and returned it 31 yards for a TD. It gave the Bisons a 37-13 lead.

Harding tacked on another long scoring drive that spanned the end of the third quarter and beginning of the fourth. The Bisons drove 65 yards on eight plays with senior slot back Colby Webb scoring his first career TD from 9 yards out to give the Bisons their 44-13 margin.

Harding took an early 7-0 lead on a 45-yard Grant Kimberlin TD run with 8:29 left in the first. The drive came after Harding recovered an East Central fumble at the HU 34. East Central tied the game on an Ontario Douglas 1-yard TD run at 13:01 in the second quarter.

Harding used a 3-yard TD run from Brandon Gates and a 19-yard Tristan Parsley field goal to take a 17-7 lead into halftime.

The teams traded long scoring runs early in the third with Harding scoring on a 49-yard scamper by Zach Shelley, and East Central reaching the end zone on a 43-yard Jackson run.

Facts and Figures
Harding eclipsed 40 points for the third straight game and for the fifth time this season and has now held its opponents to only 16 points in the last four games combined.

Harding had two takeaways and no turnovers and has now outscored its opponents off turnovers 91-0 over the last seven games.

Harding had 27 first downs and converted 9-of-11 on third down. In the last two games, Harding has 57 first downs and is 18-of-23 on third down.

Harding rushed for 445 yards, its third highest total of the season and fourth time to go over 400 yards. The Bisons had 542 total yards and have gained 1,133 yards in the last two games.

Harding held East Central to only 288 total yards and 158 passing yards, the fourth straight game Harding has held an opponent under 300 total yards and under 200 passing yards.

Harding freshman Cole Chancey led the Bisons with 118 rushing yards on 12 carries. He now has 828 rushing yards, breaking the 47-year-old record of 822 yards by Harding Hall of Famer Alan "Snake" Dixon, set in 1970.

Harding had five rushing TD by five different players and have 39 rushing TD this season.

Terrence Dingle, who made his first career start last season against East Central, was 4-of-7 passing for 97 yards and rushed eight times for 57 yards and a TD.

Brandon Gates had nine carries for 59 yards, and now has 15 carries for 181 yards in three career games against East Central.

Linebacker Sam Blankenship led Harding with nine tackles and added 2.0 tackles for loss, including a sack. Smith had four tackles and a sack to go with his interception return for a TD.

East Central's Ontario Douglas entered the game as the GAC's leading rusher with 917 yards. Douglas carried 15 times for 82 yards and a TD.

Austin-Ramsey completed 11-of-26 passes for 158 yards and an interception. Trinity Benson led ECU with three receptions for 92 yards.

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