ARKADELPHIA – A deflected pass on a two-point conversion attempt was the difference in the game allowing No. 2 Harding to escape Cliff Harris Stadium with a 28-27 victory over Ouachita on Saturday night.
Moments before Harding's Deion Campbell got a finger on a pass that would have given Ouachita a one-point lead with 23 seconds remaining, Ouachita quarterback
Tre Nichols scrambled out of pressure on a fourth-and-two situation to find
Carter McElhany in stride at the Harding 30-yard line. McElhany went untouched into the endzone for what ended up being a 67-yard touchdown.
Before Ouachita's final drive, the Bisons regained the lead at 28-21 on a four-yard touchdown run from Andrew Miller with 1:22 remaining to cap a three-play, 11-yard drive that was set up by a strip-sack fumble forced by Harding's Kaleb Walker.
To start Saturday night's game, Ouachita forced Harding to punt on its opening drive before marching 99 yards on 12 plays capped by a 10-yard touchdown run by Nichols for the game's first score. Harding answered back five plays later on a two-yard score from Miller, who sparked the drive with a 45-yard rush a few plays earlier.
Harding took its first lead of the game in the final seconds of the first half on another touchdown run by Miller, this time from one yard out to cap an eight-play, 50-yard drive.
Ouachita evened it up at 14-all on the first drive of the third quarter when Nichols again found the endzone with his legs, this time from three yards out to cap an 11-play, 68-yard drive.
Chris Henley, Jr. put the Tigers up 21-14 on a one-yard score with 1:56 remaining in the third quarter to cap an eight-play, 57-yard scoring drive.
The Bisons answered and tied the game on a six-yard rushing score by Jeff Regan with 11:33 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Ouachita ended up with a 358-345 edge in total offense. The Tigers limited the nation's No. 1 scoring offense and No. 1 rushing offense to half its season average in points and 150 rushing yards fewer than their average.
The Tigers had an even offensive attack with 198 pass yards and 160 rush yards. Nichols finished the game 12-for-21 through the air for 198 yards and one score. He added 48 rushing yards and two scores on 14 carries. In addition to McElhany's receiving touchdowns,
Eli Holmes-Holt and
AJ Jayroe each had three receptions in the game.
Cortavion McMillan paced the defense with 10 tackles.
Justin Crutchmer and
Kahlil Smith each had nine.
The Tigers are back in action next Saturday, October 3 on the road against Oklahoma Baptist. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. in Shawnee.
