LITTLE ROCK — HARDING 17, MISSOURI SOUTHERN 15
SEARCY - Josh Powell threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Tyler O'Quinn in the final 18 seconds to give Harding a season opening victory over Missouri Southern on Saturday at First Security Stadium.
Harding (1-0) trailed 9-3 at halftime, but took the lead in the third quarter when Powell threw to Kurt Adams for a 33-yard touchdown pass followed by a two-point conversion run by Zac Ross.
Missouri Southern (0-1) went up 15-11 early in the fourth quarter when Collin Howard threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Daniel Thompson.
The Bisons, who held just one opponent to fewer than 27 points in 2007, limited Howard to 161 yards passing.
Powell, a junior college transfer making his first start, finished with 298 yards and two touchdowns, completing 32 of his 45 passes. Adams led the Bisons receivers with 81 yards on six catches.
THURSDAY'S GAMES Tarleton State 45, Arkansas-Monticello 16 Arkansas Tech 44, Northeastern State 32 SE Okla. State 54, Henderson State 38 West Alabama 47, Belhaven 3 SATURDAY'S GAMES Harding 17, Missouri Southern 15 North Alabama 41, So. Arkansas 9 West Georgia at Wingate Univ., (n) Delta State at Texas A&M-Kingsville, (n) Newberry at Valdosta State, (n) PASSING-Missouri Southern, Howard 23-35-0-161;
Harding, Powell 32-45-1-298, Ross 0-0-0-0.
RECEIVING-Missouri Southern, Johnson 10-63, Norman 5-36, Zerkel 4-44, Thompson 3-17, Hunt 1-1; Harding, Ross 7-40, Adams 6-81, Holt 5-43, O'Quin 3-32, Watson 2-40, Young 2-29, Gelles 2-15, Caton 2-7, Blood 2-5, Davis 1-6.
ARKANSAS BAPTIST 48, HIGHLAND COLLEGE 17
Arkansas Baptist quarterback Terrell Robinson threw for three touchdowns and ran for another as the Buffaloes defeated the Highland Community College Scotties at Scott Field in Little Rock.
Quinton Jacobs caught two touchdown passes as the Buffaloes rolled after holding a 17-10 lead at halftime.
Patrick Geans of Jacksonville led the Buffaloes with 130 yards on 14 carries, including a 15-yard scoring run.
Buffaloes backup quarterback James Landry threw two touchdown passes in the fourth quarter and Dominque Chinn scored on a 50-yard interception return.
Sports, Pages 32 on 08/30/2009