Bison Football Wins Thriller in Triple Overtime
Harding forced nine turnovers, including a fumble on the last play of the game.
by Scott Goode
SEARCY - Harding senior Zac Ross scored on a two-yard run in triple overtime and senior Josh Jones recovered a Southwest Baptist fumble in the endzone on the next possession to give the Bisons a 49-41 victory over the Bearcats on Saturday night at First Security Stadium. It was the first three-overtime game in Harding history and lasted four hours and 27 minutes. The score was tied 34-34 at the end of regulation, and both teams missed field goals in the first overtime.
In the second overtime, Southwest Baptist quarterback Steven Gachette scored on an 11-yard run and Brock Jolly kicked the extra point to put the Bearcats ahead 41-34.Harding (2-1) answered as junior running back Dominic Blood scored his third rushing touchdown of the game from a yard out. Micah Canterbury's extra point sent the game into the third overtime. Southwest Baptist (0-3) elected to have Harding go on offense first. Senior wide receiver Zac Ross made two huge plays for the Bisons on the drive. On 3rd-and-10, Ross caught an 18-yard pass from quarterback Josh Powell, and two plays later, scored on a two-yard run to put the Bisons ahead.
NCAA rules stipulate that teams must go for a two-point conversion in the third overtime, and Harding converted on a pass from Powell to Blood to give the Bisons an eight-point lead. On the Bearcats's first play in the third overtime, Gachette, who passed for 459 yards and rushed for 114 more, raced toward the endzone before Jones knocked him out of bounds at the 3-yard line. Gachette fumbled the snap on the next play, and Jones came up with the fumble recovery in the endzone to give the Bisons the victory.
The fumble was the ninth turnover forced by Harding in the game, tying a school record last accomplished against Lane in 1980. The Bisons recovered five fumbles and intercepted four passes.Harding ran a total of 127 plays in the game, a school and Gulf South Conference record. It was only three short of the NCAA Division II record set, ironically, by Southwest Baptist against Truman State in 2007.
The Bisons rushed for 227 yards, eclipsing the 200-yard rushing plateau for the first time since 2006. Blood was Harding's leading rusher, compiling 89 yards on 18 rushes. He became the first Bison to score three rushing touchdowns since Robert Lolohea in 2002. Powell completed 31-of-57 passes for 367 yards and two touchdowns. It was his first career 300-yard game. Ross had seven catches for 83 yards, and Jordan Watson caught five for 89 yards.
Harding set a school record with 41 first downs, one short of the Division II record of 42, set by Delaware in 1973.Jones, a transfer from Minnesota-Moorhead, led the Harding defense with 15 tackles, a half-sack, two pass breakups, an interception returned for 30 yards and the game-winning fumble recovery. The teams combined for 1,248 yards of total offense, but committed 13 turnovers (SBU, 9 and HU, 4).
Harding will return to the road next Saturday, opening Gulf South Conference play at Delta State in Cleveland, Miss.
Harding forced nine turnovers, including a fumble on the last play of the game.
by Scott Goode
SEARCY - Harding senior Zac Ross scored on a two-yard run in triple overtime and senior Josh Jones recovered a Southwest Baptist fumble in the endzone on the next possession to give the Bisons a 49-41 victory over the Bearcats on Saturday night at First Security Stadium. It was the first three-overtime game in Harding history and lasted four hours and 27 minutes. The score was tied 34-34 at the end of regulation, and both teams missed field goals in the first overtime.
In the second overtime, Southwest Baptist quarterback Steven Gachette scored on an 11-yard run and Brock Jolly kicked the extra point to put the Bearcats ahead 41-34.Harding (2-1) answered as junior running back Dominic Blood scored his third rushing touchdown of the game from a yard out. Micah Canterbury's extra point sent the game into the third overtime. Southwest Baptist (0-3) elected to have Harding go on offense first. Senior wide receiver Zac Ross made two huge plays for the Bisons on the drive. On 3rd-and-10, Ross caught an 18-yard pass from quarterback Josh Powell, and two plays later, scored on a two-yard run to put the Bisons ahead.
NCAA rules stipulate that teams must go for a two-point conversion in the third overtime, and Harding converted on a pass from Powell to Blood to give the Bisons an eight-point lead. On the Bearcats's first play in the third overtime, Gachette, who passed for 459 yards and rushed for 114 more, raced toward the endzone before Jones knocked him out of bounds at the 3-yard line. Gachette fumbled the snap on the next play, and Jones came up with the fumble recovery in the endzone to give the Bisons the victory.
The fumble was the ninth turnover forced by Harding in the game, tying a school record last accomplished against Lane in 1980. The Bisons recovered five fumbles and intercepted four passes.Harding ran a total of 127 plays in the game, a school and Gulf South Conference record. It was only three short of the NCAA Division II record set, ironically, by Southwest Baptist against Truman State in 2007.
The Bisons rushed for 227 yards, eclipsing the 200-yard rushing plateau for the first time since 2006. Blood was Harding's leading rusher, compiling 89 yards on 18 rushes. He became the first Bison to score three rushing touchdowns since Robert Lolohea in 2002. Powell completed 31-of-57 passes for 367 yards and two touchdowns. It was his first career 300-yard game. Ross had seven catches for 83 yards, and Jordan Watson caught five for 89 yards.
Harding set a school record with 41 first downs, one short of the Division II record of 42, set by Delaware in 1973.Jones, a transfer from Minnesota-Moorhead, led the Harding defense with 15 tackles, a half-sack, two pass breakups, an interception returned for 30 yards and the game-winning fumble recovery. The teams combined for 1,248 yards of total offense, but committed 13 turnovers (SBU, 9 and HU, 4).
Harding will return to the road next Saturday, opening Gulf South Conference play at Delta State in Cleveland, Miss.
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