Bison Offense Shines in Loss to Harding

SHAWNEE - Coming into Saturday's contest, the 22nd-ranked Harding Bisons defense came in with the No. 1 defense in the country while allowing only 32 total points this season. On a cool Saturday afternoon at Crain Family Stadium at the Hurt Complex, the Bison offense racked up nearly 300 yards through the air and put 33 points on the board.

Harding was able to outlast OBU, taking a 50-33 win thanks to a 23 point fourth quarter.

The Bison finished with 357 total yards, averaging nearly six yards per play. OBU had 20 first downs and was 7 of 12 on third down. Unfortunately, the lethal Bisons rushing attack was in full effect as they racked up 548 total yard including 492 on the ground. Harding was a staggering 11 of 13 on third down and 2 of 2 on fourth. 

Harding started the game with a seven minute drive, forcing an OBU three and out, and an eight minute drive as they jumped out to a 14-0 lead going into the second quarter. The Bison offense got rolling on their second drive of the game, going 75 yards in eight plays behind quick passes from standout quarterback Preston Haire. He capped the drive with an 11-yard score to Eli Paul to cut the deficit to 14-7.

OBU was able to get their first turnover of the game on the ensuing drive as Lane Martin fell on a fumble to give the Bison the ball back. However, the OBU offense was unable to capitalize on that takeaway and ended up punting away. Harding took advantage and got a huge run from Cole Chancey to take a 20-7 lead towards the end of the half.

But they left too much time on the clock for Haire and the Bison offense. OBU got a big first down run from Isaiah Mallory followed by a pair of big completions from Haire sophomore phenom Joshua Cornell including an incredible 29 yard catch to get deep into Bisons territory. Moments later, Haire threw a fade to Cornell from nine yards out to make it a 20-14 game with less than a minute to play in the half.

Harding got into OBU territory, but another Bison turnover, a fumble recovery by Robert Lolofie kept the game at six points going into the break.

The Bison took the opening kickoff of the second half and got a big completion from Haire to Noah McGraw deep into Harding territory. A few plays later, Haire again found Paul this time for a 13-yard score to give OBU their first lead of the game at 21-20. The lead would be short lived as Harding went on a quick six play drive and scored on the legs of Preston Paden, set up by a 39 yard run from Chancey.

OBU put another impressive drive together, getting to the Harding 25, but would turn it over on downs as Harding proceeded to march 75 yards in 11 plays and get another rushing touchdown, this time from Tristan Tucker on third and goal to increase the lead to 34-21 early in the fourth quarter.

The Bison were not done, going on a 60 yard drive in nine plays as Haire found Keilahn Harris for a 22 yard gain inside the 10. Moments later, Haire took a designed QB draw right up the gut for an eight yard score to cut it to 34-27. The PAT would change the game as the kick was blocked and returned for two points to make it a two possession game at 36-27. On the ensuing drive, Chancey took the first play 75 yards for six to make it a 43-27 game.

OBU got a score back on a 46-yard Haire to Cornell connection, but the Bisons tacked on one more to put the game out of reach at 50-33.

Haire finished 23 of 33 with 282 yards and four scores as well as 41 yards rushing and a rushing touchdown. He completed a pass to nine different receivers on the night including his main target, Cornell, who caught eight passes for 150 yards and two scores. Shae Garner added three catches for 38 yards while Paul had two catches for 24 yards and two scores.

Chancey led Harding with 19 carries for 223 yards and two scores while Paden added 14 carries for 119 yards and two scores. Taylor Bissell had nine caries for 50 yards and two scores while Tucker added a touchdown run.

Defensively, Felipe Alvear led the way with 14 tackles and two tackles for loss while Josh Arnold had nine tackles, one tackle for loss, and a forced fumble. Marcko Lucas added six tackles and 0.5 tackles for loss.

Chris Wein and Dylan Hendricks each had six tackles for the Bisons.

OBU moves to 3-3 overall and will have another stiff test this upcoming weekend as they head to Arkadelphia for a meeting with No. 5 Ouachita. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.