SEARCY – Harding’s defense, ranked second in NCAA Division II, made four interceptions, and the offense turned them into three Cole Chancey touchdowns in a 24-10 victory over Southeastern Oklahoma Saturday in Great American Conference action at First Security Stadium.

Harding improved to 8-2 overall and in the GAC and moved into a tie with Southern Arkansas for second place in the conference standings. It was Harding’s eighth consecutive win over Southeastern and its eighth straight over Southeastern in Searcy. The Savage Storm lost its third straight and fell to 5-5.

The only points of the first half came on a 28-yard field goal by Cameron Scott with 29 seconds left in the second quarter.

Harding junior defensive back V’Onte Williams got the second half started off strong for the Bison defense. Williams intercepted a pass by Southeastern quarterback Rollin Kinsaul on the Savage Storm’s first play of the third quarter, giving Harding the ball at the HU 32.

Harding’s longest drive of the game ensued. The Bisons drove 68 yards on 13 plays with Chancey scoring from 5 yards out to give Harding a 10-0 lead with 5:39 left in the third quarter.
Southeastern kicker Joel Carlos hit a 26-yard field goal late in the third quarter to cut Harding’s lead to 10-3.

The Savage Storm had two drives early in the fourth quarter with a chance to tie the game. Harding forced a punt on the first one, and senior defensive back Dra Smith recorded his third interception of the season on the second. He stepped in front of a Southeastern receiver to make the interception at the Savage Storm 12.

Chancey carried three times with the third resulting in a 7-yard touchdown that gave the Bisons a 17-3 lead with 6:48 left.

The next Southeastern drive resulted in Harding’s third interception, this one from senior linebacker Sam Blankenship. Chancey scored his third touchdown of the game on the next play, racing in from 26 yards out. Harding led 24-3 with 5:21 left.

Southeastern’s last score came on a 2-yard run from CJ Shavers with 1:56 left.

Harding recovered an onside kick but fumbled two plays later. On Southeastern’s last drive, Williams recorded his second interception of the game and team-leading fourth this season to seal the victory.

FACTS AND FIGURES

• Harding entered the game ranked fifth nationally in rushing defense, allowing 76.7 yards per game. The Bisons held the Savage Storm to -3 rushing yards on 25 carries. It was the seventh time in program history that a Harding team held an opponent to negative rushing yards, the last coming on Sept. 24, 2016, when Arkansas-Monticello rushed for -25 in a 57-7 Harding win.
• Southeastern’s leading rusher was Kenneth Burks with 9 yards on six rushes. The Savage Storm’s longest run of the game was 7 yards.
• Cole Chancey rushed for 99 yards on 21 carries and became the eighth Harding player with more than 2,000 career rushing yards. He ranks eighth with 2,071 yards.
• Harding had seven interceptions in the first nine games of the season but had four Saturday. The last time Harding had four interceptions in a game was against Arkansas Tech on Nov. 12, 2016.
• Williams had two interceptions in a game for the first time in his career. He has seven career interceptions. The last Bison with two interceptions was Frank Herbert against Arkansas Tech in 2016.
• Cameron Scott punted five times with four downed inside the 20. It was the second time this season that Scott had four or more punts inside the 20.
• Southeastern Oklahoma quarterback Rollin Kinsaul completed 22-of-34 passes for 271 yards. Braxton Kincade had five catches for 100 yards, becoming the first Harding opponent with 100 or more receiving yards this season.
• Harding’s defense had a season-high 12 tackles for loss. Eleven different players were involved in a tackle for loss. T.J. Winslow had 2.0 tackles for loss, both sacks, and Dra Smith, Devyn Comer and Michael Gant each had 1.5 TFL.
• Harding holds a 23-7 series lead over Southeastern, including 13-1 in Searcy.

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DURANT, Okla. – Harding made 10 3-pointers but shot only 32 percent in its Great American Conference and season opener Thursday and fell 70-60 to Southeastern Oklahoma at Bloomer Sullivan Arena.

Harding (0-1, 0-1) led early, taking a 13-9 lead on Tim Wagner’s jumper with 13:12 left in the first half. Southeastern’s Markell Henderson then scored seven straight points, and the Savage Storm led the rest of the way.

Henderson scored all 23 of his points in the first half led Southeastern to a 41-34 halftime lead.

Preston Anderson hit a 3-pointer to open the second half and pull Harding within four, but Southeastern (1-2, 1-0) scored the next seven points and led by at least five the rest of the way.

Wagner made four 3-pointers and led Harding with 18 points. Adam Horn added 14 points and a team-high eight rebounds.

The Bisons were 10 of 21 from 3-point range, but 9 of 38 inside the arc. Harding had only seven field goals in the second half.

Southeastern was only 8 of 35 (23 percent) from 3-point range but had a 45-37 rebound advantage and outscored Harding 24-16 in the paint.

Harding plays its second game of the two-game Oklahoma road trip Saturday at East Central in Ada.

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On this week’s edition, we get to hear from SE football coach Bo Atterberry.

GAC Weekly Oct. 4, 2017

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SEARCY – The 6th-ranked Harding softball team swept Southeastern Oklahoma on Saturday in Great American Conference action. It marked the fifth GAC series sweep of the season. The Lady Bisons got a walk-off hit by Autumn Humes to win game one 4-3 in 12 innings and in game two, Harding won 8-0 in six innings.

Harding moves its GAC record winning streak to 25 games after the doubleheader sweep.

The Lady Bisons improves to 33-3 on the season and 23-1 in the GAC. Harding maintained its two game lead over Southern Arkansas in the GAC standings with its wins on Saturday. Southeastern Oklahoma falls to 14-18 overall and 8-14 in the GAC.
Game One (No. 6 Harding 4, Southeastern Oklahoma 3 – 12 innings) 

– After four scoreless innings, Harding got on the board first when Madi Trump walked with the bases loaded.

– Southeastern Oklahoma answered back in the top of the sixth when Destiny Riddle hit in a single through the left side to score Symphoni Shomo.

– The Savage Storm broke the 1-1 tie in the 11th when Connor Harmon scored on a ground out.

– Harding tied the game in the bottom of the inning when Kimmy Hendricks-Campbell hit single to score Courtney Derrick.

– Southeastern Oklahoma scored another run in the 12th when Thompson hit a double to center field that scored Symphoni Shomo.

–  Courtney Derrick singled in Harding’s first run in the 12th and with the bases loaded Autumn Humes hit a single to left field that scored Derrick.
Game One Key Statistics 

– Harding had 12 hits in the game with four players with two.

– Southeastern Oklahoma had 13 hits led by Symphoni Shomo who went 5-for-6 with two runs scored.

– Harding has a 4-1 record in extra innings this season.

–  Hannah Johnson picked up the win for Harding to improve to 17-1. She threw the complete game, gave up 13 hits, three earned runs, walked two, struck out four and threw 156 pitches.

– Emily Cudd received the loss and falls to 11-8 on the season. She threw 11 1/3 innings, gave up four earned runs, walked three, struck out one and threw 140 pitches.
Game Two (No. 6 Harding 8, Southeastern Oklahoma 0) 

– Harding made it a 1-0 game in the first when Courtney Derrick scored on a RBI ground out by Peyton Mills.

– The Lady Bisons made it a 5-0 game in the fourth when Kimmy Hendricks-Campbell hit a grand slam to left field. It was the fourth grand slam by Harding player this season and the first by Hendricks-Campbell.

– Harding scored another run in the fifth when Amanda Berdon walked with the bases loaded.

– The Lady Bisons made it an 8-0 game in the sixth. With one out and the bases loaded, Peyton Mills hit a double to right center that scored the winning runs.
Game Two Key Statistics

– Harding had six hits in the game with Courtney Derrick and Peyton Mills each going 2-for-3.

–  Kimmy Hendricks-Campbell‘s four RBIs was her first of the season. It was fourth by a Lady Bison.

– Southeastern Oklahoma had five hits led by Kennedy Salyers who went 2-for-3.

– It was the Lady Bisons 14th shutout of the season.

–  Autumn Humes got the win and improves to 15-1 on the season. She picked up the complete game shutout. It was her seventh of the season. She gave up five hits and struck out 11. It was the third time this season Humes has struck out 10 or more batters. She struck out a season-high 12 against Minnesota State Mankato.

– Ashley Moore received the loss for Southeastern Oklahoma. She falls to 1-5 on the season. Moore walked five and struck out two.

Up Next 

– Harding will travel to Russellville, Arkansas on Tuesday to play the first half of its four-game GAC series against Arkansas Tech. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.

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SEARCY – The 6th-ranked Harding softball team swept Southeastern Oklahoma on Friday in Great American Conference action. The Lady Bisons won 2-1 in eight innings off a walk-off double by Courtney Derrick and won the second game 7-2.

Harding moves its GAC record winning streak to 23 games after the doubleheader sweep.

The Lady Bisons improves to 31-3 on the season and 21-1 in the GAC. Harding maintained its two game lead over Southern Arkansas in the GAC standings. Southeastern Oklahoma falls to 14-16 overall and 8-12 in the GAC.
Game One Key Innings (No. 6 Harding 2, Southeastern Oklahoma 1 – 8 innings) 

– After three scoreless innings, Southeastern Oklahoma took a 1-0 lead in the fourth when Destiny Riddle homered to left field.

– Harding tied the game 1-1 in the sixth inning when Katie Carney had a pitch hit single that scored Amanda Berdon from third.

– In the bottom of the eighth inning and two outs, Courtney Derrick hit a double to right center that scored Madi Trump from second for the winning run.
Game One Key Statistics 

– Harding had eight hits in the game, led by Alexus Lawellin who went 2-for-3.

– Lawellin extended her Harding record-hitting streak to 20 games when she singled in her first at bat.

– Southeastern Oklahoma had three hits by three different players.

– Harding left 12 runners on in the game.

–  Hannah Johnson picked up the win and improves to 16-1 on the season. She threw the complete game, gave up three hits, one earned run and struck out five.

– Emily Cudd got the loss for Southeastern Oklahoma and falls to 11-7 on the season.
Game Two Key Innings (No. 6 Harding 7, Southeastern Oklahoma 2) 

– Southeastern Oklahoma got on the board first in the first inning scoring two runs on three hits. Conner Harmon singled in a run and Keeshia Thompson stole home off an attempted double steal.

– Harding got a run back in the second when Lindsey Duncan hit a double to left center that scored Madi Trump.

– The Lady Bisons took a 4-2 lead in the third scoring three runs on three hits. Peyton Mills hit a triple to left center that scored Alexus Lawellin. Mills eventually scored on a wild pitch and Lindsey Duncan singled in Kimmy Hendricks-Campbell.

– Harding made it a 7-2 game in the sixth on three hits. Alexus Lawellin singled in a run and then Peyton Mills hit a two-run home run to center field that scored Lawellin. It was her fifth home run of the season.
Game Two Key Statistics

– Harding had 10 hits in the game, led by Alexus Lawellin who went 3-for-4. She extended her hitting streak to 21 games with her double in the third.

– Southeastern Oklahoma had seven hits with three players having two.

–  Autumn Humes received the win for Harding and moves to 14-1 on the season. She threw the complete game, gave up two earned runs, walked two and struck out six.

– Ashley Moore who started the game for the Savage Storm received the loss. She falls to 1-4 on the season.

Up Next 

– The two teams will wrap up their series on Saturday with a doubleheader starting at noon.

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ARKADELPHIA – The Ouachita Tigers’ baseball team swept a doubleheader against Southeastern Oklahoma State on Sunday to win the weekend series, 2-1.

The Tigers improved to 10-20 overall and 7-11 in the GAC.

The Tigers won Game One 11-10, thanks to a walk-off homerun by Preston Speers in the bottom of the ninth. J.D. Speed and Jackson Noakes drove in two runs each to give Ouachita the 7-5 win in game two. Sheldon picked up his first win of the year.

Brian Krikorian earned the Game Two victory. Justin Weigle went 5-for-8 on the day with three RBI and two runs scored.

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DURANT, Okla. – Southeastern Oklahoma’s Anton Cook scored 48 points, none more important than a 3-pointer at the end of regulation to send the game to overtime, as Harding fell 121-112 in the highest-scoring game in Great American Conference history Thursday at Bloomer Sullivan Arena.

Southeastern outscored Harding 28-19 in the overtime period, connecting on 7-of-8 shots, including two 3-pointers, and 12-of-13 free throws.

With the loss, Harding fell to 14-11 overall and 11-10 in the GAC. The Bisons are tied for fifth place with Ouachita Baptist and a game ahead of Henderson State and Southern Arkansas. Harding could still finish fifth, sixth, seventh or eighth in the final standings.

Southeastern improved to 11-16 overall and 7-14 in conference, winning its third straight home game.

The 233 total points scored were the most in a Harding game since a 131-107 loss at NCAA Division I Northwestern State on Nov. 24, 1991.

Cook’s 48 points were the most ever by a Harding opponent. Three previous players had scored 41.

Harding trailed by 15 points with 12:56 left in the game but went on a 23-3 run over the next six minutes and led 74-59 with 6:38 left.

Harding led 91-82 with just over a minute left when Filip Medjo made two free throws. Cook scored nine points in the final 55 seconds including the game-tying 3-pointer from the left wing.

Cook added 12 more in overtime.

Harding had three players with 20 points or more, led by Stefan Andelkovic with a career-high tying 29 points.

Will Francis made 7-of-9 3-pointers and scored 26 points. He became Harding’s career leader in 3-pointers made with 236, breaking the previous record of 231 by former teammate Jacob Gibson.

Tim Wagner added 20 points.

Harding made 16 3-pointers and shot 51 percent from the field.

The Bisons will play their final game of the season Saturday against East Central in Ada, Oklahoma.

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Southern Arkansas 2016 senior class ends careers with impressive 16-2 home record

HOW IT HAPPENED – First Half 

• Defense dictated much of the first quarter, but an interception by SAU’s Lorenzo Watkins with 4:02 on the clock in the first set up the Muleriders’ first score of the game; a 13-yard TD pass from Barrett Renner to senior wideout Jared Brown
• A three-and-out followed on Southeastern’s ensuing possession and the Muleriders’ offense ate up the next five minutes of game clock before Bradford Grems capped a 15-play drive with a 21-yard field goal to make it 10-0 SAU
• Moments later, following another three-and-out forced by the Muleriders’ defense, SAU raced out to a 17-0 lead as Tanner Hudson turned a five-yard inside route into a 61-yard touchdown as he evaded numerous Savage Storm defenders and added a few shifty moves to break out into the open
• The Savage Storm scored their first points of the game on their next possession to cut SAU’s lead to 10 points at 17-7
• Both teams then traded three-and-outs to give SAU the ball back with 1:42 left before halftime
• After three plays on that drive, Hudson broke out again for a long score, this one from 45 yards out, and the Muleriders went into the locker room up 24-

HOW IT HAPPENED – Second Half 

• Coming out of the break, SAU received the ball after winning the toss and deferring. The Muleriders made the most of that decision as they found themselves up 31-7 at the end of lengthy drive that covered 84 yards on 12 plays, while consuming 5:21 of game time. Accounting for that Mulerider score was Hudson as he hauled in his third touchdown reception of the game
• Three plays later, it appeared as though the SAU defense forced another three-and-out, but faced with a 4th-and-3 from their 35, the Savage Storm elected to go for a fake punt as punter Joel Carlos ran for the needed three yards to keep the drive going.
• That 4th-down conversion on the fake punt sparked the Southeastern offense and two plays later, quarterback CB Cantwell found Anterric Maxey wide open from 45-yards out for the score
• An unproductive SAU drive led to another score by Southeastern as Carlos made good on a 20-yard field goal to make it 31-17, SAU with 1:10 remaining in the third quarter
• SAU’s ensuing possession took the game into the fourth quarter and eventually, the Muleriders lit up the scoreboard once more as Renner found his fullback Dalton Wright from four-yards out to make it 38-17, Muleriders
• The Savage Storm answered relatively quickly with a score of their own to make it a two-possession game at 38-24 with 9:21 left in the fourth quarter
• SAU had another unproductive offensive drive and punted the ball away to the Savage Storm with just over seven minutes left in the game
• As it has done in numerous games this year, the SAU defense came up with a game-saving turnover as Elgin Moore intercepted Cantwell, giving the Muleriders the ball back with 6:44 left on the clock
• In no hurry, the Muleriders embarked on a methodical drive that had the primary goals of ball security and first downs
• SAU got both on that drive as they held on to the ball and four first downs gained on the drive allowed the Muleriders to go in to victory formation on the game’s final two plays

TURNING POINT

• Southeastern converting a 4th-down on a fake punt about midway in the third quarter and two plays later, the Savage Storm scored their second touchdown of the game to make it 31-14 SAU
• Prior to that, SAU was firmly in control of the game and was perhaps looking to go up by five possessions if they were to have scored a TD
• Southeastern went on to score 10 more points from there and had a lot of momentum going their way as they attempted to comeback on the Muleriders, but the SAU defense stood tall once more and Elgin Moore’s INT essentially ended the game as Southeastern did not touch the football again

OF NOTE

• This game marked the final home game in the playing careers of SAU’s nine seniors and with the victory, this senior class will end their careers 16-2 at home inside Wilkins Stadium at Rip Powell Field
• SAU QB Barrett Renner tied a single-game best in touchdown passes as he threw for five in the game against Southeastern. Renner has accomplished that feat now three times in his career and the five TD tosses are tied for the second-most in a game at SAU
• On the receiving end of three of Renner’s TD passes was tight end Tanner Hudson. The three receiving TDs for Hudson are a single-game high for him and also are tied for the second-most in a game at SAU
• A dual-threat player, Hudson also had a fine game as SAU’s punter. Having to punt five times, Hudson averaged 51.8 yards per punt with two going over 50 yards including a long punt of 70 yards. Hudson now has two punts of 70 yards or longer on the season
• The Mulerider defense had two interceptions against Southeastern, making it the sixth game this season that SAU has had at least two interceptions. Coming into play, the Muleriders were leading the GAC in interceptions with 13
• Also on defense, the Muleriders managed to stop the league’s best 1-2 running combo in Devlon Wortham and Ronnie Green to just a combined 75 yards on 20 carries (3.8 yards/rush). Both backs were averaging over 100 yards per game and ranked in the top-three in the GAC in rushing. Additionally, Wortham had over 500 yards and nine touchdowns scored in his career against SAU coming into the game

UP NEXT
The Muleriders will now prepare to hit the road next weekend as they will travel to Ada, Okla. to take on East Central University on Saturday, November 5. Kick-off is scheduled for 2 p.m.

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2016-2017 is here. Today on the GAC Weekly, we discuss a couple of the coaching changes in the GAC to start the new athletic year, including big news from Searcy.

GAC Weekly Sept. 7, 2016

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Arkadelphia – Defense was the key to the game for Henderson State as the No. 9 ranked Reddies shutout Southeastern Oklahoma in the second half to beat the Storm 13-11, Thursday at Carpenter-Haygood Stadium.

Led by key plays by Cameron Sonnier, the Reddies limited SOSU to just 109 yards of offense and three first downs in the second half.

With Henderson leading 13-11 with 5:13 left to play, the Storm began their drive form the Reddie 43 needing just a field goal to win.

The Storm overcame a big 6-yard sack by Sonnier when CB Cantwell completed a 19 yard pass to Kaymon Farmer on 4th-down moving the ball down to the Reddie 17.

On 4th-and-6 from the Reddie 13, Joel Carlos attempted a 30-yard field goal but Henderson’s Adrian Tucker got a hand on the ball and deflected it wide left to save game for Henderson.

The first half was a mistake-plagued half for the Reddies as Henderson committed a pair of turnovers, committed a 15-yard penalty that halted a potential scoring drive and a missed field goal.

The Reddies got on the board first as kicker Houston Ray kicked a 31 yard field goal with 1:15 left in the opening quarter.

Jaquan Cole set up Henderson’s score as he broke free for a 63-yard run down to the Storm 21.

The Storm knotted up the score at 3-3 early in the second quarter as Joel Carlos booted a 34-yard field goal to cap off a 9-play, 43-yard drive.

On the ensuing kickoff, Zacari Lavender got loose for a 31 yard return, bringing the ball out to the Reddie 32. After an 18 yard pick up by Cole into SOSU territory, the senior from Cedar Hill, Texas, plunged forward for eight yards but Trent Hannah forced the ball loose with Bobby Jackson recovering on the SOSU 36 to end the Reddie drive.

Henderson would force a three-and-out as Adrian Tucker and Henry Davis stopped Devlon Wortham short of the line to gain on a 3rd-and-2.

The Reddies began moving the ball, but Andrew Black was picked off by Raheen Wilson who went 32 yards down the sideline to the Reddie 33 which would set up the Savage Storm’s next score.

It took seven plays for SOSU to take the lead as CB Cantrell completed a 19 yard pass to Bryce Steele for the score. The Storm then converted the two-point conversion to take an 11-3 lead with 5:29 left in the half.

Henderson would put together a drive at the end of the half but Ray’s 27-yard field goal attempt hit the upright and the score would stand at 11-3 at the break.

In the second half, the Reddies manufactured a 12 play, 48 yard drive but had to settle for a 32-yard field goal by Ray to make the score 11-6 with 5:01 left in the third quarter.

The Reddies would finally put the ball into the end zone early in the fourth quarter when Evan Lassiter plunged in from 2-yards out to make the score 13-11.

Black completed an 11-yard pass to Austin Bennett to begin the drive, before hitting Ben Johnson for a 51-yard pick-up as the third quarter ended.

Black began the fourth quarter with an 18 yard completion to Courtney Whitehead to set up Lassiter’s score.

Henderson had a chance to put the game away when Cole broke free for an apparent 58-yard score midway through the quarter. However, the play was nullified by a tripping penalty and the Reddies would be forced to punt which set up SOSU’s last surge.

Henderson totaled 407 yards of offense while limiting Southeastern to 269 yards.

Cole ended the night with 90 yards on 13 attempts, while Jeremy Wilson had 9 carries for 54 yards. Black completed 20-of-34 passes for 237 yards using eight different receivers.

Sonnier had a career game for the Reddies defensively with 12 tackles including a pair for lost yardage. Dondre Wright had eight stops while Gary Vines had six.

Henderson will next travel to Ada, Okla. on Saturday, Sept. 10 to take on East Central with kickoff slated for 6 p.m.

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