DURANT, Okla. – Harding dominated possession, rushed for 501 yards, passed for 90 more, and the defense held an opponent without a touchdown for the third straight game as the Bisons defeated Southeastern Oklahoma 42-3 Saturday in Great American Conference action at Paul Laird Field.
Harding set season highs with 42 minutes 30 seconds of possession, 591 total yards, 30 first downs and 9 of 12 conversions on third downs. Southeastern had only 226 total yards and seven first downs and converted just 3-of-13 third downs.
With the victory, Harding claimed its sixth straight win and improved to 6-3 overall. It was the Bisons' seventh straight victory over the Savage Storm, who lost its third straight and fell to 6-3.
How it Happened
Harding scored on its second possession to take the lead. Zach Shelley took a pitch and outran the Savage Storm defense down the visitor sideline before cutting across the field and going down at the 1 after a 58-yard run. Quarterback Terrence Dingle scored the first of his two touchdowns on the next play to give the Bisons a 7-0 advantage with 9:38 left in the first quarter.
On Southeastern's next possession, Tony Becton ripped the ball away from Southeastern Jaylen Sims after a 31-yard reception. The lost fumble was only the second by Southeastern this season.
Southeastern's third drive of the first quarter resulted in a punt to the Harding 12. The Bisons took the ball 88 yards on 12 plays and scored on another Dingle keeper from a yard out. Harding had only one third down on the drive and led 14-0 with 11:41 left in the half.
Harding converted three third downs on a 13-play, 66-yard drive that ended with a 6-yard scoring run by Brandon Gates off left tackle to put Harding ahead 21-0 with 3:39 left.
Another SOSU 3-and-out gave Harding the ball back at the SOSU 40 with 2:33 remaining. On the first play of the drive, Dingle threw a swing pass out to Kimberlin, who raced 60 yards down the sideline to put Harding ahead 28-0 with 2:32 left in the half.
Southeastern completed a 26-yard pass and a 22-yard pass on a drive late in the half, and Joel Carlos ended Harding's attempt for its third consecutive shutout with a 33-yard field goal to cut Harding's lead to 28-3 at halftime.
Harding added to its lead after Brandon Brice forced and recovered a fumble at the Southeastern 22. Five plays later, Gates scored from 1 yard out to push the Harding lead to 35-3 with 1:03 left in the third.
With redshirt freshman Preston Paden under center, Harding started a drive later in the third quarter that stretched into the fourth. The Bisons drove 77 yards on 11 plays, and junior Matt Fuller scored on a 7-yard run with 10:12 left in the game.
Facts and Figures
Harding had six players rush for more than 50 yards, led by Cole Chancey with 99 yards on 15 carries. The others: Zach Shelley (89), Matt Fuller (77), Gates (59), Dingle (55), and Paden (53).
Dingle completed 4-of-5 passes for 90 yards.
Harding's 501 rushing yards ranked eighth in program history and was the most since rushing for 557 yards against East Central on Oct. 24, 2015.
Harding had 80 plays to Southeastern's 47 and ran the ball 75 times. Southeastern had only 17 running plays, the fewest ever in a game by a Harding opponent.
Southeastern had lost only one fumble all season but lost two Saturday.
Harding allowed three points after consecutive shutouts of Northwestern Oklahoma and Southwestern Oklahoma.
Harding now leads the series 22-7 and has won four straight in Durant.
Harding had scored 56 points in the second quarter of its last two games against Southeastern Oklahoma.
Zach Shelley now has 25 carries for 329 yards and three TD in four games against Southeastern.
Southeastern had outscored its opponents by 64 points in the first half before trailing 28-3 at halftime Saturday.
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