Some kind of Saturday: 19th-ranked Harding hosts Arkansas Tech o - KAIT-Jonesboro, AR-News, weather, sports

Some kind of Saturday: 19th-ranked Harding hosts Arkansas Tech on Homecoming

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From Harding University

Harding football has a 6-1 record and is ranked 19th in Division II. The Bisons are ranked third in the Super Region 3 Rankings and have their best chance at the NCAA Playoffs in 10 years. It's Homecoming. It's Homecoming against Arkansas Tech!

It is hard to overstate what is at stake this Saturday at First Security Stadium.

Harding and Arkansas Tech kickoff at 2 p.m., in the 50th meeting between the two teams. The Bisons are in the hunt for the Great American Conference championship and their first-ever berth in the NCAA Playoffs. The Wonder Boys are 5-3 overall and 3-2 in conference and have won four straight.

The game will be broadcast live on KVHU 95.3-FM and on Harding's TV16. Billy Morgan and Jerry Mote will be on the call. Live audio, video and statistics will be available on HardingSports.com.

Harding is coming off its first road win against an NCAA top-10 team last Saturday. The Bisons defeated 10th-ranked and previously undefeated Ouachita Baptist 34-14 at A.U. Williams Field. It was Harding's fifth straight win away from home this season, its longest such streak since 1973.

The Bisons' running game, ranked seventh in Division II, returned in force against the Tigers. Harding rushed for 250 yards and two touchdowns, and the Bisons' defense limited Ouachita Baptist to only 39 rushing yards on 21 carries.

Harding's defense has held six straight opponents to less than 100 yards rushing, a feat never before accomplished in program history.

Arkansas Tech recovered an Arkansas-Monticello fumble in the Wonder Boys' end zone with 15 seconds left in the game to salvage a 24-21 victory in Russellville last Saturday.

Arkansas Tech's offense enters the game ranked fourth in the GAC and averages 407.1 yards per game. The Wonder Boys are led by senior quarterback Tanner Marsh, who has thrown 12 touchdown passes and rushed for six more.

Harding and Arkansas Tech did not play each other last season. The Bisons won the last meeting 42-7 on Homecoming 2010. Harding fullback Kale Gelles rushed for 257 yards and four touchdowns in the victory.