Wednesday afternoon's snow outbreak snarled traffic at many locations in Arkansas, but everything was running smoothly at Harding University's First Security Stadium in Searcy.
Harding Coach Paul Simmons said the Bisons glided around the artificial turf surface without a hint of bother as they practiced in preparation for Saturday's first-round NCAA Division II playoff game against Ferris State (11-0) in Big Rapids, Mich.
Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. Central time, and one forecast is calling for conditions almost identical to what the Bisons practiced in on Wednesday: 34 degrees with a 30 percent chance of snow and a wind chill of 27.
"So bizarre," Simmons said. "Almost hard to call it an accident."
The Bisons (9-2) already received near-miraculous assistance -- from the University of Arkansas at Monticello -- just to make the field of 28.
Josh Marini's 34-yard field goal as time expired lifted UAM to a 20-17 victory over Southern Arkansas and Harding moved from No. 8 to No. 7 in the Super Region III rankings, which determine the playoff field.
The Bisons have a been-there-done-that mentality working in their favor against Ferris State after beating the Bulldogs 16-14 on Tristan Parsley's last-play field goal in a quarterfinal matchup last season.
But Simmons and the Bisons defense know there is much more in store Saturday when facing a Ferris State team that is led by quarterback Jayru Campbell, who was a redshirt a year ago.
"I'll be surprised if he's not the Division II player of the year," Simmons said.
Campbell's single-season statistics look more like career accomplishments.
Campbell, at 6-5, ranks No. 6 in the nation in total offense (320.9 yards per game), has accounted for 41 of his team's 60 offensive touchdowns, and brings a former long-striding Arkansas Razorbacks quarterback to mind.
"He reminds me of Matt Jones," Simmons said. "You got to get to him before he getting rolling downhill. ... He's the true definition of a dual threat."
The Bisons won't have to alter their approach -- offensively or defensively -- to limit Campbell's impact.
Harding's Flexbone offense is designed to churn out yards and chew up the clock, as it did when rushing for 302 yards and controlling the ball for 41:01 during last year's meeting with Ferris State.
Currently, the Bisons lead the nation in rushing (348.7 yards per game) and time of possession (36:08).
"It's made for the playoffs," Simmons said of Harding's offense, which helped limit Ferris State to nine offensive possessions last year. "It will be interesting to see what adjustments they make. It'll be a chess match early."
Nothing for net
Ouachita Baptist University punter Jake Ford led the Great American Conference and is second in NCAA Division II in net yards per punt (39.9), and that includes placing 24 of his 43 punts inside the 20 without a touchback.
"He just doesn't kick it in the end zone," Coach Todd Knight said last Saturday after OBU's 38-10 victory over arch-rival Henderson State. "It's pretty awesome."
Not awesome enough.
Ford, a redshirt junior from Victoria, Australia, was nowhere to be found when the GAC announced its 93-man postseason honor roll on Wednesday.
"He's one of the best punters in the country," Knight said. "We really feel like he was very deserving."
Ford, the latest in an ever-growing list of Australians who have found success as punters and place-kickers in college football, willingly sacrificed overall punting average to focus on landing the ball as close to an opponent's end zone as possible.
"He's been amazing," Knight said. "We are really disappointed."
It's all Arkansas
Regular-season champion Ouachita Baptist put nine players on the first team and 16 Tigers were honored overall when the Great American Conference announced its postseason awards list Wednesday.
Senior Kris Oliver, the GAC's all-time leading rusher, is the Offensive Player of the Year, quarterback Brayden Brazeal the Freshman of the Year and Todd Knight the Coach of the Year.
Harding's TJ Winslow was named the GAC's Defensive Player of the Year.
Oliver (143-893 rushing, 8 TDs) became the GAC's all-time rusher in week 8 against Southern Nazarene and sits at 3,625 yards with at least one more game to be played, on Nov. 24, in the Division II playoffs.
Brazeal (86-141 passing, 1,054 yards, 6 TDs, 1 INT; 73-478 rushing, 6 TDs) started all 11 games for the Tigers after redshirting.
Winslow, a 6-4, 250-pound senior defensive end, led the GAC with 9.5 sacks and forced 3 fumbles.
Knight, in his 20th season at OBU, is 111-94 in Arkadelphia with 4 GAC titles.
Ecstasy and agony
Josh Marini's 34-yard field goal, on the game's final play, gave the University of Arkansas at Monticello, a 20-17 victory over rival Southern Arkansas University on Saturday.
The result lifted the Boll Weevils into the postseason for the first time in 25 years while knocking SAU out of a long-sought spot in the NCAA Division II playoffs.
The Muleriders (8-3) would have earned a spot in the playoffs with a victory.
"Oh man, it's about as devastating a loss as you'd want to experience," SAU Coach Bill Keopple said. "I hate it for the seniors, I hate it for the program."
"Amazing, absolutely amazing," UAM Coach Hud Jackson said. "I hope the momentum we've built can continue."
SAU (8-3) finishes its season at Texarkana (Texas) High School in the Dec. 1 Agent Barry United Live Bowl against Missouri Western (6-5).
UAM (6-5) continues its season Dec. 1 in the second Corsicana (Texas) Bowl against Emporia State (7-4).
UAM's victory ensured Jackson of his first non-losing record in eight seasons, but the Boll Weevils will have to beat Emporia State to give Jackson his first winning season.
Sports on 11/16/2018