BIG RAPIDS, Mich. -- One year removed from a 13-1 campaign that included its first Great American Conference championship and two playoff victories, Harding has punched its ticket to the NCAA Division II semifinals for the first time in school history.
Tristan Parsley drilled a 20-yard field goal as time expired to give the No. 7 seed Bisons a 16-14 win over Ferris State Saturday at Top Taggart Field.
After an 0-3 start, Harding has won 11 straight games under first-year coach Paul Simmons, with the last four coming on the road.
Trailing 14-13 with 6:59 remaining in the fourth quarter, the Bisons converted on two third downs and a fourth down on a 16-play, 62-yard drive.
Quarterback Terrence Dingle and running back Cole Chancey combined for 43 rushing yards on Harding's last drive, marching inside the five yard-line before Parsley delivered the game-winning kick.
Harding held the ball for over 10 minutes on the game's first drive, gaining 79 yards on 17 plays before Parsley connected on a 22-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead.
Ferris State stormed right back, Jahaan Brown with a 57-yard run and Davontae Harrington with a four-yard touchdown to give the host Bulldogs a 7-3 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Chancey scored Harding's lone touchdown on a one-yard plunge in the first minute of the second quarter as the Bisons held a slim 10-7 advantage at the half.
Parsley's 37-yard field goal stretched Harding's lead to 13-7 midway through the third quarter, but Ferris State wouldn't go down without a fight.
Harrington capped an 86-yard drive with a 10-yard scoring run and the Bulldogs took a 14-13 lead with 5:04 remaining in the third, setting the stage for a dramatic fourth quarter.
Chancey paced the Bisons with 86 rushing yards on 26 carries. Grant Kimberlin added 77 yards on 12 attempts and Dingle finished with 60 yards on 14 carries.
Harding ran for 303 yards as a team, winning without a single pass completion for the second time in three weeks.
Ferris State quarterback Reggie Bell completed 12 of 19 passes for 124 yards with one interception, Malik Taylor his leading receiver with five catches for 57 yards.
Brown led the Bulldogs with 77 rushing yards on just four carries.
The Bisons (11-3) will travel to Texas A&M-Commerce in the semifinals on Dec. 9. The Division II championship is Dec. 16 in Kansas City, Kansas.
Sports on 12/03/2017