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SEARCY -- Before embarking on a month's worth of tough games, Harding had an easy go of it Thursday night against Southwestern Oklahoma State.
The Bisons, ranked No. 2 in NCAA Division II, raced out to a 28-point halftime lead and coasted to a 55-0 victory at First Security Stadium.
Five players scored rushing touchdowns for Harding (2-0, 2-0 Great American Conference), which found the end zone on all four of its drives in the first half to establish a cushion that was far too much for the Bulldogs to overcome in front of a huge crowd.
"We really had a good week," Harding Coach Paul Simmons said. "I asked the guys to have a high level of urgency this week, and I thought they did. I thought they really got ready to play. But for it to be a Thursday night, that was an awesome crowd.
"The student section was jam-packed, standing-room only. Just really proud of what the atmosphere has become here."
What Harding has become is a something for its fans to be proud of as well.
Braden Jay ran just three times but finished with 91 yards to lead a punishing ground attack for the Bisons, who beat Southwestern Oklahoma State (0-2, 0-2) for the ninth straight time. Andrew Miller carried 10 times for 85 yards, and Josh Strickland Jr. scored twice for Harding, which also finished with 436 yards rushing while holding the Bulldogs without a touchdown for the third consecutive year.
However, things figure to get a bit harder for the Bisons, starting next week with a showdown at Southern Arkansas. They'll follow that game with a home date against long-time nemesis and last year's league co-champ Ouachita Baptist. Then Harding faces an improved East Central (Okla.) team that pulled a GAC shocker a week ago by beating OBU, followed by games against always tough Southeastern Oklahoma State team and stingy Henderson State.
"We've really got to get a lot better for the battles that are coming, without a doubt, and we will," Simmons said. "But I'm really, really proud of the guys right now."
Miller got the Bisons on the board with 9:49 to go in the first quarter with a 22-yard touchdown run through the middle of the line to complete a three-play, 80-yard drive. Harding got the ball back a little over two minutes later and finished that possession with another score when Jay took a pitch on the left side and ended up on the right to cap a 58-yard run.
Southwestern Oklahoma State did do something on its next series that Northwestern Oklahoma State couldn't do last week against Harding, and that's advance past midfield. But the Bulldogs were turned back on fourth down from the Bisons' 43.
Harding parlayed that stop into more points, with Josh Evans-Pickens cutting in for a 4-yard touchdown with 12:29 left in the second quarter to increase its lead to 21-0.
Another strong push by Southwestern Oklahoma State stalled inside Harding's 30 later in the quarter. The Bisons followed with another touchdown when Strickland darted in from 18 yards out with 2:17 remaining in the half.
The Bulldogs managed to keep the Bisons out of the end zone on their opening march in the second half, which was impressive considering Jay returned the third-quarter kickoff 72 yards to their 17. Magnus Lepak eventually made a 36-yard field goal to push Harding's lead to 31-0.
Brandon Hines Jr. had a 12-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter, and Strickland dove in for a 1-yard score early in the fourth. Luke Janack returned an interception for 30 yards for added measure.
M.J. Rivers did most of the work for Southwestern Oklahoma State. The transfer from Kansas completed 18 of 27 passes for 112 yards and ran 15 times for 59 yards, but it wasn't nearly enough for the Bulldogs.
"I know our coaches on defense are not going to be pleased," Simmons said. "The standard is high, and we gave up more first downs than we wanted to. We definitely have more young guys on defense that are playing for the first time and figuring it out.
"But it's really, really hard to complain about a shutout."
ARKANSAS TECH 44, NORTHWESTERN OKLAHOMA STATE 0
Jack Dawson threw three touchdowns to help Arkansas Tech (2-0, 2-0 Great American Conference) rip the Rangers at Thone Stadium in Russellville.
Dawson, a transfer from Fort Hays (Kan.) State went 13 of 24 for 193 yards and had touchdown passes to Carldell Sirmons, Bryson Roland and Austin Marshall. Roland also rushed for 85 yards on 8 carries and scored on a 63-yard run on the game's first play.
The Wonder Boys, who led 23-0 at halftime, outgained Northwestern Oklahoma State 391-252 and won for the 13th time in the past 14 games in the series. Diego Sanchez and Tyrique Jones also returned interceptions for touchdowns in the fourth quarter.