The 2023 Harding Bisons football team was an
American football team that represented
Harding University in the
Great American Conference (GAC) during the
2023 NCAA Division II football season. In their sixth year under head coach
Paul Simmons, the team compiled a perfect 15–0 record (11–0 against conference opponents), outscored opponents by a total of 665 to 156, and won the GAC and NCAA Division II championships. The team also set an NCAA record for most rushing yards in a season with 6,161 rushing yards.[1]
The team finished the regular season ranked No. 2 among Division II programs and advanced to the NCAA Division II playoffs where they received a bye in the first round and defeated No. 6
Central Missouri (35–34) in the second round, No. 2
Grand Valley State (7–6) in the quarterfinals, and No. 11
Lenoir–Rhyne (55–14) in the semifinals. Through the December 16 victory over Colorado Mines, the Bison have won 18 consecutive games, the longest winning streak in program history.[2] Harding defeated No. 1
Colorado Mines in the Division II national championship game on December 16, 38–7, to win the school's first national championship.
Harding defensive end Nathaniel Wallace was selected as the 2023 GAC Defensive Player of the Year. Paul Simmons was seleced as GAC Coach of the Year.[3]
The team played its home games at First Security Stadium in
Searcy, Arkansas.[1]
Preseason
The GAC coaches preseason poll was released on August 1, 2023. The Bisons were predicted to finish second in the conference. Ouachita Baptist was favored to win the conference.[4]
UAM – Arlie Lee 4-yard run (Dylan Duhon kick), 13:42. Bisons 49–19. Drive: 3 plays, 55 yards, 1:09.
HAR – Tyler Ross 32-yard run (Grant Ennis kick), 12:46. Bisons 56–19. Drive: 2 plays, 39 yards, 0:47.
HAR – Grant Ennis 33-yard field goal, 6:30. Bisons 59–19. Drive: 5 plays, 54 yards, 3:02.
Statistics
UAM
HAR
First downs
11
24
Total yards
217
463
Rushing yards
34
424
Passing yards
183
39
Turnovers
4
4
Time of possession
26:24
33:36
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Arkansas–Monticello
Passing
Demilon Brown
18/32, 183 yards, TD, 2 INT
Rushing
Demilon Brown
12 rushes, 15 yards
Receiving
Kristian Gammage
3 receptions, 92 yards
Harding
Passing
Cole Keylon
1/3, 39 yards
Rushing
Jhalen Spicer
5 rushes, 76 yards, TD
Receiving
Braden Jay
1 reception, 39 yards
Entering the game, the Boll Weevils had the top offense in the GAC, scoring 53.5 points per game, but here weld to just 217 yards of offense against Harding.[5]
At No. 20 Henderson State
No. 10 Harding Bisons at No. 20 Henderson State Reddies – Game summary
The Mules scored a touchdown with less than 30 seconds in regulation, needing an extra point to tie the game and potentially send it into overtime. However, Harding defensive lineman Gage Price blocked the game-tying PAT, securing the 35–34 victory for the Bisons.[9]
No. 2 Grand Valley State (NCAA Division II Quarterfinal)
No. 2 Grand Valley State Lakers at No. 3 Harding Bisons (NCAA Division II Quarterfinals) – Game summary
HAR – Cole Keylon 1-yard run (Grant Ennis kick), 3:52. Bisons 7–6. Drive: 15 plays, 73 yards, 8:59.
Statistics
GVS
HAR
First downs
10
15
Total yards
222
225
Rushing yards
62
205
Passing yards
160
20
Turnovers
0
0
Time of possession
19:31
39:14
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Grand Valley State
Passing
Cade Peterson
10/19, 123 yards
Rushing
Khalil Eichelberger
2 rushes, 31 yards
Receiving
Darrell Johnson
5 receptions, 63 yards
Harding
Passing
Cole Keylon
1/3, 20 yards
Rushing
Blake Delacruz
28 rushes, 70 yards
Receiving
Braden Jay
1 reception, 20 yards
In the quarterfinal round of the NCAA division II playoffs, Harding hosted no. 2 Grand Valley State from the
Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The Lakers entered the game with one of the best defenses in all of division II, holding opponents to an average of 17 points per game. The Lakers' defense held the Bisons scoreless for just over 56 minutes of game time before Harding quarterback Cole Keylon scored a 1-yard rushing touchdown.[10]
No. 11 Lenoir–Rhyne (NCAA Division II Semifinals)
No. 11 Lenoir–Rhyne Bears at No. 3 Harding Bisons (NCAA Division II Semifinals) – Game summary
On offense, Harding prioritizes the run game, averaging over 400 rushing yards per game. In a game against
Southern Arkansas on October 21, the team rushed for 631 yards and had two players (Braden Jay and Blake Delacruz) each tally over 200 rushing yards.[11]
On defense, the team has recorded four shutouts and has allowed per-game averages of 10.92 points, 74.2 rushing yards, and 158.62 passing yards.[12]
The team's individual statistical leaders include:
Blake Delacruz with 1,149 rushing yards and 114 points scored;
The 2023 Harding Bisons football team was an
American football team that represented
Harding University in the
Great American Conference (GAC) during the
2023 NCAA Division II football season. In their sixth year under head coach
Paul Simmons, the team compiled a perfect 15–0 record (11–0 against conference opponents), outscored opponents by a total of 665 to 156, and won the GAC and NCAA Division II championships. The team also set an NCAA record for most rushing yards in a season with 6,161 rushing yards.[1]
The team finished the regular season ranked No. 2 among Division II programs and advanced to the NCAA Division II playoffs where they received a bye in the first round and defeated No. 6
Central Missouri (35–34) in the second round, No. 2
Grand Valley State (7–6) in the quarterfinals, and No. 11
Lenoir–Rhyne (55–14) in the semifinals. Through the December 16 victory over Colorado Mines, the Bison have won 18 consecutive games, the longest winning streak in program history.[2] Harding defeated No. 1
Colorado Mines in the Division II national championship game on December 16, 38–7, to win the school's first national championship.
Harding defensive end Nathaniel Wallace was selected as the 2023 GAC Defensive Player of the Year. Paul Simmons was seleced as GAC Coach of the Year.[3]
The team played its home games at First Security Stadium in
Searcy, Arkansas.[1]
Preseason
The GAC coaches preseason poll was released on August 1, 2023. The Bisons were predicted to finish second in the conference. Ouachita Baptist was favored to win the conference.[4]
UAM – Arlie Lee 4-yard run (Dylan Duhon kick), 13:42. Bisons 49–19. Drive: 3 plays, 55 yards, 1:09.
HAR – Tyler Ross 32-yard run (Grant Ennis kick), 12:46. Bisons 56–19. Drive: 2 plays, 39 yards, 0:47.
HAR – Grant Ennis 33-yard field goal, 6:30. Bisons 59–19. Drive: 5 plays, 54 yards, 3:02.
Statistics
UAM
HAR
First downs
11
24
Total yards
217
463
Rushing yards
34
424
Passing yards
183
39
Turnovers
4
4
Time of possession
26:24
33:36
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Arkansas–Monticello
Passing
Demilon Brown
18/32, 183 yards, TD, 2 INT
Rushing
Demilon Brown
12 rushes, 15 yards
Receiving
Kristian Gammage
3 receptions, 92 yards
Harding
Passing
Cole Keylon
1/3, 39 yards
Rushing
Jhalen Spicer
5 rushes, 76 yards, TD
Receiving
Braden Jay
1 reception, 39 yards
Entering the game, the Boll Weevils had the top offense in the GAC, scoring 53.5 points per game, but here weld to just 217 yards of offense against Harding.[5]
At No. 20 Henderson State
No. 10 Harding Bisons at No. 20 Henderson State Reddies – Game summary
The Mules scored a touchdown with less than 30 seconds in regulation, needing an extra point to tie the game and potentially send it into overtime. However, Harding defensive lineman Gage Price blocked the game-tying PAT, securing the 35–34 victory for the Bisons.[9]
No. 2 Grand Valley State (NCAA Division II Quarterfinal)
No. 2 Grand Valley State Lakers at No. 3 Harding Bisons (NCAA Division II Quarterfinals) – Game summary
HAR – Cole Keylon 1-yard run (Grant Ennis kick), 3:52. Bisons 7–6. Drive: 15 plays, 73 yards, 8:59.
Statistics
GVS
HAR
First downs
10
15
Total yards
222
225
Rushing yards
62
205
Passing yards
160
20
Turnovers
0
0
Time of possession
19:31
39:14
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Grand Valley State
Passing
Cade Peterson
10/19, 123 yards
Rushing
Khalil Eichelberger
2 rushes, 31 yards
Receiving
Darrell Johnson
5 receptions, 63 yards
Harding
Passing
Cole Keylon
1/3, 20 yards
Rushing
Blake Delacruz
28 rushes, 70 yards
Receiving
Braden Jay
1 reception, 20 yards
In the quarterfinal round of the NCAA division II playoffs, Harding hosted no. 2 Grand Valley State from the
Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The Lakers entered the game with one of the best defenses in all of division II, holding opponents to an average of 17 points per game. The Lakers' defense held the Bisons scoreless for just over 56 minutes of game time before Harding quarterback Cole Keylon scored a 1-yard rushing touchdown.[10]
No. 11 Lenoir–Rhyne (NCAA Division II Semifinals)
No. 11 Lenoir–Rhyne Bears at No. 3 Harding Bisons (NCAA Division II Semifinals) – Game summary
On offense, Harding prioritizes the run game, averaging over 400 rushing yards per game. In a game against
Southern Arkansas on October 21, the team rushed for 631 yards and had two players (Braden Jay and Blake Delacruz) each tally over 200 rushing yards.[11]
On defense, the team has recorded four shutouts and has allowed per-game averages of 10.92 points, 74.2 rushing yards, and 158.62 passing yards.[12]
The team's individual statistical leaders include:
Blake Delacruz with 1,149 rushing yards and 114 points scored;