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ALVA, Okla. – Coming off its second win in as many weeks, the Northwestern Oklahoma State University football team heads to the state of Arkansas Saturday afternoon for a showdown with nationally ranked Harding. Kickoff in Searcy, Arkansas is scheduled for 2 p.m.
Northwestern, now 3-4 on the season after a 21-0 shutout over Arkansas Tech last week, will be tasked with facing the top scoring offense in the Great American Conference and the top team in total defense. Harding is 5-2 this season and ranked No. 23 by D2Football.com and No. 24 by the American Football Coaches Association.
The shutout the Rangers posted in week seven against ATU was the first by the program since 2007. The black-and-red defense has only allowed a touchdown in the past two contests, the first time they have allowed seven or fewer points in consecutive games since 2004.
Much of Northwestern's defensive success in recent weeks has been the play of Jimmie Pace. The senior defensive end had eight tackles against Arkansas Tech, including a sack, an interception and a forced fumble. He was honored for his play as the GAC named him Co-Defensive Player of the Week on Monday.
Maurice Wright Jr. and Dakota Driskill added to their tackle totals this season as they are now at 80 and 77, respectively.
The defense will have to shut down Harding's option attack. With a focus on the run game, the Bisons have rushed the ball 417 times this season, nearly double that of their opponents, and have only thrown the ball on 36 plays. Despite not throwing the ball, the Bisons are leading the conference with an average of 37.4 points a game.
Seven Harding runners have accumulated 145-plus yards this season, led by Tristan Tucker with 484 yards and five touchdowns, as well as Cole Chancy with 468 yards and five touchdowns.
In week seven, the Bisons dominated Southwestern Oklahoma State in a 50-10 victory.
Harding has won eight straight in the series against the Rangers, with the last Northwestern victory coming at home in 1976. HU leads the all-time series 9-2 and is 6-0 in Searcy.
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