Bison Battle Harding Saturday

HARDING (0-3) at OKLAHOMA BAPTIST (0-3)

Noon | Saturday, Sept. 23 | Crain Family Stadium at the Hurt Athletic Complex

Tickets | Game Day Info | Live Stats  | Bison Radio Network | Video Coverage on BSN | Notes

SHAWNEE – Oklahoma Baptist meets Harding at Crain Family Stadium at the Hurt Memorial Athletic Complex at noon Saturday in the inaugural Hall of Fame Game.
 
OBU will recognize the 2017 Athletics Hall of Fame Class at halftime. The class includes World Class sprinter and national champion Mike Rodgers, softball All-American Katy Thurber Geist and baseball All-Americans Josh Collazo and Anthony Lopez.
 
The football game features a pair of teams looking for their first win of the season, both at 0-3.
 
The game can be seen at OBUBison.com/watch with Bison Radio Network coverage on iHeart Network and locally on KGFF (AM 1450 and FM 100.9). The game also can be heard in Oklahoma City on El Patron FM 98.5 and in Tulsa on Chrome FM 93.5. Coverage begins with an 11:30 a.m. pregame show on the Bison Radio Network.
 
OBU has had no problem while it has the ball. The Bison have the Great American Conference's leading rusher in Isaiah Mallory (117.3 yards per game) and, despite using two quarterbacks, the leading passing game with 284.7 yards per game. Dezmond Stegall and Preston Haire have combined for that total.
 
Stephan Turner has been the top target for the quarterbacks with 14 receptions (7^th in the GAC) while Alex Lewis is fifth in the GAC with 76.7 yards receiving per game.
 
None of that is possible without a strong offensive line. The Bison have allowed four sacks through three games and the Bison average a strong 5.2 yards per carry.
 
They'll be tested by a Harding defense that is No. 1 in total defense at 315.3 yards allowed per game. Sam Blakenship leads the HU defense with 23 tackles.
 
Part of the success of the Harding defense can be traced to the Harding offense. The run-dominated attack by HU gives them a No. 2 ranking in the GAC in time of possession with 33.34 minutes per game.
 
Harding leads the league with 284.3 rushing yards per game but is dead last at 71 passing yards per game, attempting about 10 passes per contest. OBU has completed twice as many passes as Harding has attempted.
 
Quarterback Terrence Dingle has rushed 45 times and passed 25 times. Zach Shelley leads the ground game with 211 yards on 27 carries.
 
Linebacker Josh Arnold leads the Bison defense with 24 tackles with Josh Redmond contributing 22 to go with a forced fumble and a sack. Bison safeties Matthew Tiger, Dante Foster and Anthony Figueroa have combined for 61 tackles in three games.
 
Figueroa has defended three passes with two break-ups and an interception.