GREAT AMERICAN CONFERENCE

Harding moves to 5-0 with rout

MONTICELLO -- Arkansas-Monticello had a chance to hang with nationally ranked Harding, but turnovers and penalties doomed any upset chance on a gloomy Saturday afternoon at Willis "Convoy" Leslie Cotton Bowl Stadium.

Senior quarterback Keenan Kellett ran for three short touchdowns as Harding amassed 454 rushing yards in a 55-15 Great American Conference victory, the Bisons' school-record ninth overall dating to last season.

Harding, No. 14 in the American Football Coaches Association Top 25, is 5-0 for the fifth time in school history.

The first four losses this fall for UAM (1-5, 1-5) were by a combined 18 points.

The Boll Weevils trailed only 21-15 late in the first half Saturday but ultimately couldn't overcome the most potent running game in NCAA Division II -- Harding entered averaging 399.3 yards per game -- 6 lost fumbles on a misty, overcast afternoon and 14 penalties for 117 yards.

"It was very strange, but to me not totally unexpected," Harding Coach Ronnie Huckeba said. "They had 4 to 5 inches of rain here last night, and the field held up better, really, than you would expect. But it did make it tough. Obviously for us, it was not a good day to throw the football."

The Bisons didn't have to.

Kellett was 1 for 5 for minus-2 yards, but Harding still finished with at least 7 rushing touchdowns for the third consecutive game.

Senior fullback Romo Westbrook of Marion ran 22 times for 150 yards and 1 touchdown (1 yard). Eight other players rushed for at least 22 yards, including Kellett (nine carries, 37 yards). Kellett scored on runs of 2, 1 and 2 yards.

Slotback Ahmad Scott, a senior from Sylvan Hills, ran 4 times for 25 yards and 2 second-half touchdowns, both covering 6 yards.

UAM junior quarterback Hunter Leppert completed 27 of 36 passes for 199 yards and 1 touchdown. The Boll Weevils added 97 rushing yards against a defense that was allowing 45.0, tops in NCAA Division II.

Leading 27-15 at halftime, Harding outscored UAM 28-0 in the final two quarters, the third consecutive game it has held an opponent scoreless in the second half.

Harding put away the game in the third quarter with its relentless rushing attack out of the Double-Slot formation. All but one of a combined 21 plays on scoring drives of 77 and 72 yards was a run.

Scott ran 6 yards for a touchdown with 11:19 left in the third quarter. Westbrook ran 1 yard for another touchdown to make it 41-15 with 2:52 remaining in the third quarter.

Harding opened an early 21-0 lead but settled for a 27-15 halftime advantage in a sloppy opening two quarters for both teams.

There were six turnovers -- UAM lost four fumbles -- and 115 penalty yards.

The Bisons led 21-0 with 14:43 remaining in the first half after junior defensive tackle Lou Daranda returned a fumble 15 yards for a touchdown.

The Boll Weevils climbed back into the game by scoring the next 15 points.

Freshman tailback Jeremy Jackson ran 39 yards for a touchdown with 12:08 remaining in the first half. Jackson's touchdown marked the longest run Harding has allowed this fall, and only the second rush of more than 20 yards.

Leppert threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Deadrian Terry with 8:18 remaining in the first half.

UAM was within 21-15 after a snap sailed over the head of Harding freshman punter Tristan Parsley, who kicked the loose ball out of the end zone for a safety with 6:08 left in the first half.

UAM couldn't convert two subsequent chances to take the lead after losing fumbles at the Harding 20 and the Boll Weevils' 44.

Following the second turnover, Kellett's 2-yard touchdown run with 30 seconds remaining in the second quarter gave Harding a 27-15 halftime lead.

"They gave us a lot of help," Huckeba said.

HENDERSON STATE 28,

SW OKLAHOMA STATE 14

Henderson State (6-0, 5-0 GAC), whose closest margin of victory was 17 points heading into Saturday’s game at Weatherford, Okla., outscored the Bulldogs (2-4, 2-4) 14-0 in the second half to pull out a victory at Fast Lane Field. Two first-half touchdown passes by Kevin Rodgers — 3 yards to Dustin Holland and 61 yards to Darius Davis — gave the seventh-ranked Reddies a 14-7 lead, but the Bulldogs got second-quarter touchdown runs from Matt Farris and Karl Hodge in forging a 14-14 halftime tie.

Rodney Bryson’s 33-yard touchdown run with 11:27 left in the third quarter got the Reddies rolling in the third to give them a lead they never relinquished.

Rodgers, who was 25 of 38 for 266 yards with 3 touchdowns and 3 interceptions, found Mark Czaus with a 12-yard score with 8:43 left in the fourth quarter to set the the final margin after Houston Ray’s extra point.

The Bulldogs, however, had chances late to inch closer. Southwestern Oklahoma drove as deep as the Henderson State 15-yard line but turned the ball over on downs. The Reddies took over with 3:22 left in the game but was forced to punt the ball back to the Bulldogs, who saw their hopes of a comeback dashed Wesley Brady’s game-clinching interception.

Bryson led all rushers with 103 yards on 18 carries, while Davis’ 98 yards (5 receptions) led all receivers. Corey Chappell had a game-high 7 receptions for 70 yards for the Reddies.

The Reddies limited the Bulldogs to just 275 yards of total offense. Klark Ashmore completed 15 of 34 passes for 125 yards and 1 interception. Hodge carried 24 times for 88 yards while Farris rushed for 55 yards on 16 carries.

SOUTHERN ARKANSAS 21,

ARKANSAS TECH 14

Si Blackshire threw three touchdown passes to lead Southern Arkansas (3-3, 3-3 GAC) by Arkansas Tech (3-3, 3-2) at Wilkins Stadium in Magnolia.

Blackshire, who came into the game leading the GAC in total offense, threw second-quarter touchdown passes to Michael Nunnery and Zikerious Ware to give the Muleriders a 14-7 halftime advantage. He connected with Sidney Moore on a 25-yard touchdown with 2:36 left in the third quarter to give SAU a 21-7 lead.

Dennis Robertson threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Tony Adams with 6:41 left in the fourth quarter to pull the Wonder Boys to within 21-14.

The Muleriders held Arkansas Tech on fourth and 22 at the SAU 39 with seven seconds left on the Wonder Boys’ final possession.

Blackshire was 18 of 36 for 334 yards to go with his 3 touchdowns. As a team, SAU rushed for 153 yards, led by Deion Williams’ 74 yards on eight carries. Deandre Jenkins finished with 48 yards on 18 carries.

Robertson was 23 of 48 for 257 yards and 2 touchdowns, the first coming on a 24-yard completion to Jerry Anderson with 9:58 left in the first quarter to give the Wonder Boys a 7-0 lead.

Sports on 10/12/2014

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