Harding has made it to the postseason in back-to-back seasons, but the Bisons don't have a Great American Conference championship to show for it because Henderson State has plowed through the league with 23 consecutive regular-season victories.
Coach Ronnie Huckeba knows he has plenty of firepower returning from last year's 9-2 team to make it back to the postseason as long as the Bisons can avoid the type of bad start they had in 2013 when they lost at Southwestern Oklahoma State.
At a glance
Harding Bisons
COACH Ronnie Huckeba (40-33 in eighth season)
LAST YEAR 9-2, 8-2 in Great American Conference
POSTSEASON Won 44-3 over Texas A&M-Commerce in Live United Texarkana Bowl
OFFENSIVE PLAYER TO WATCH RB Romo Westbrook
DEFENSIVE PLAYER TO WATCH LB Daylan Skidmore
COMMENTS The Bisons lost 14 returning starters off a 9-2 team, including 8 on offense, but they return plenty at the skill positions. Running backs Romo Westbrook (1,123 yards) and Ahmad Scott (434) and quarterback Keenan Kellett (374) combined to rush for 1,931 yards and 29 touchdowns in 2013, while Kellett threw for 1,002 more. … Receiver Donatella Luckett caught 28 passes for 570 yards and 3 touchdowns his junior season. … Harding had the third-ranked rushing offense in Division II last year at 359.7 yards per game. … The Bisons received 27 votes in the American Football Coaches Association Preseason Division II Coaches Poll, which was good enough for 36th. Henderson State (No.8) was the only GAC school ranked in the poll.
SCHEDULE
DATE;OPPONENT
Sept. 6;SW Okla. State*
Sept. 13;at NW Okla. State*
Sept. 27;at Southern Nazarene*
Oct. 4;Southern Arkansas*
Oct. 11;at Arkansas-Monticello*
Oct. 18;Ouachita Baptist*
Oct. 25;at Henderson State*
Nov. 1;SE Oklahoma State*
Nov. 8;at East Central (Okla.)*
Nov. 15;Arkansas Tech*
Now in his eighth season, Huckeba said he isn't expecting a letdown when the Bisons open the season at home against the Bulldogs next Saturday.
"Because we lost that first one last year, it's been no problem getting their focus this year," said Huckeba,who led Harding to a 44-3 victory over Texas A&M Commerce in the Live United Texarkana Bowl a year ago. "We had to battle our brains out to get back in the hunt, and we did until Henderson came in and beat us.
"I think if we hadn't lost that early game, we had a chance to have something really special when it was all over with, but winning the bowl game was pretty nice."
The Bisons return 14 starters, including eight from an offense that was third in NCAA Division II in rushing at 359.7 yards per game. Senior quarterback Keenan Kellett, 5-11, 205, of Loves Park, Ill., senior fullback Romo Westbrook, 5-9, 200, of Marion and senior receiver Donatella Luckett, 6-0, 205, of Sand Hill, Miss., lead an attack that averaged 43.5 points a game in 2013, including three games where Harding scored at least 63 points.
Romo, a second-team All-American, ran for 1,123 yards and 12 touchdowns and Kellett added 374 more and 12 rushing touchdowns. Fellow seniors Jason Oller of Rogers, who started all 11 games, rushed for 309 yards and 2 touchdowns, and Ahmad Scott of Sherwood (10 starts, 434 yards, 5 touchdowns) will get their touches, while senior Alapeti Maglei, 5-9, 215, of Tacoma, Wash., gives the Bisons added punch.
"We do have some players back familiar with the system, especially on offense," Huckeba said. "We have our backfield back with great depth."
Kellett threw for 1,002 yards and 7 touchdowns in 90 attempts last year. Luckett, who Huckeba calls "one of the best receivers in the country," was Kellett's favorite target, catching 28 passes for 570 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Huckeba said backup sophomore quarterback Park Parish, 5-9, 190, of Clinton, who played in six games last year, could play a key role.
Along the line, the Bisons rely on seniors Patrick Bingham, 6-0, 295, of Searcy and Mike Gallaway, 6-0, 255, of McRae to pave the way. Both started all 11 games in 2013. Also returning is senior Tory Day, 5-11, 260, of Memphis, who was a second-team all-conference selection as a junior in 2011 and is returning to school to finish his degree.
"Offensively I think we have a good formula," Huckeba said. "We definitely want to try to control the football and be a run-heavy offense. We averaged seven yards a snap last year. If we can continue to do that, win the time-of-possession battle and play great defense, I think we are looking at great things."
The Bisons should be fine defensively after holding opponents to 2.0 yards per rush last season.
Sophomore linebacker Daylan Skidmore, 5-11, 215, of Houston (75 tackles) and senior defensive back Dennis Buckner (53 tackles, 6 for loss), 5-9, 215, of Compton, Calif, lead a unit that held Texas A&M Commerce to 100 yards of offense in the Live United Bowl.
"Three years in a row we have led the GAC in about every defensive category," Huckeba said."Last year we did it with one returning starter. This year we have seven, so we're excited about our defense."
Huckeba said the Bisons have the ingredients to make it to the playoffs for a third consecutive season.
"Like everyone knows, Henderson is very strong," Huckeba said. "Those guys are deserving. [Quarterback] Kevin Rodgers has been a dandy for them and is surrounded by a talented supporting cast.
"If you have more than one loss you're probably out of it, but we feel strongly about what we are capable of doing."
Sports on 08/31/2014