SEARCY, Arkansas – Second-ranked Harding outscored Ouachita 17-7 in the second half to earn a 24-7 win over the Tigers on Saturday night at First Security Stadium.
The second half scoring came after a short first half that lasted just 52 minutes. Ouachita (1-3) had just four offensive drives in the first half. Harding (4-0) had just three offensive possessions and led 7-0 at the break.
Both teams went three-and-out on their first drives. Ouachita's second drive ended with a missed field goal in a possession that lasted just over five minutes. The Bisons responded with an 11-play drive that took 6:17 off the clock, culminating with the only score of the first half, which was a three-yard touchdown run in the final 30 seconds of the opening frame.
Ouachita responded with a nine-play drive that used just over four minutes, but a failed fourth-down conversion attempt gave the Bisons the ball back early in the second quarter. Harding used most of the rest of the quarter and was poised to go up by two scores, but a forced fumble by
Joey Ortego and a recovery by
Gabe Williams with the Bisons nearing the endzone kept the score 7-0 at halftime in favor of the home team.
Harding opened the second half with a touchdown after the Tigers were unsuccessful on an onside kick attempt. A targeting foul against the Tigers gave the Bisons just 33 yards to work with. Harding scored on an eight-yard touchdown run five minutes later to go up 14-0.
Ouachita responded with its first scoring drive of the game, highlighted by two long passes from quarterback
Nate TenBarge to receiver
Justice Hill, finished off with a one-yard touchdown pass from
Jordan Walker to
Garrison Jackson at the 4:10 mark of the third. That drive ended up being 12 plays for 75 yards, using 5:56.
Harding responded with its quickest scoring drive of the game at 2:53, highlighted by three long runs from three different rushers, including a 28-yard score at the 1:11 mark of the third put the Bisons up 21-7.
Ouachita got backed up on its next drive on a penalty and was forced to punt at the 13-minute mark of the fourth quarter. Harding then extended its lead seven plays later on a 48-yard field goal to go up 24-7 with 8:36 remaining for the final score of the game.
The Bisons ended up with a 336-288 edge in total offense. Harding won the time of possession battle by more than 10 minutes at 35:29-24:31. Ouachita was 6-for-13 on third downs. Harding was 4-for-9.
The Tigers are back in action next Saturday, October 4 for homecoming against Oklahoma Baptist. Kickoff is set for noon at Cliff Harris Stadium.
