ARKADELPHIA -- Breaking in a new quarterback, Harding relied on an opportunistic defense in its season opener Thursday night.
The Bisons (1-0) returned one fumble for a touchdown and set up two other scores with recoveries in a 41-17 rout of Henderson State (0-1) at Carpenter-Haygood Stadium at Ruggles Field. With nine consecutive regular-season victories, Harding is the preseason Great American Conference favorite and ranked No. 7 in the American Football Coaches Association's Division II preseason poll.
Frank Herbert's 11-yard return helped Harding go up, 10-0, with 4:25 left in the first quarter, marking the Bisons' 10th defensive touchdown since 2016. Preston Paden sneaked one yard for a touchdown with 1:10 to go in the first half after Henderson fumbled at its 20. The score and the extra point gave Harding the 24-7 halftime lead.
The Bisons turned their third fumble recovery into a two-play scoring drive, Romar Reades going over from three yards out after Paden passed 48 yards to fellow sophomore Taylor Bissell. Harding took a 34-10 lead three seconds into the final quarter.
Paden, in his first college start, also passed 22 yards to Taylor Thompson for a touchdown and went 3-for-3 for 78 yards. Paden was pressed into emergency duty against Texas A&M-Commerce last year after starting quarterback Terrence Dingle was suspended before the NCAA Division 2 semifinal playoff game, which the Bisons lost after 11 straight victories.
Henderson junior quarterback Richard Stammetti, in his first start, threw for 234 yards and two touchdowns, both to Chase Lodree, on 21-for-33 passing, but he lost two fumbles.
Sophomore fullback Cole Chancey gashed out 98 yards for Harding, 45 on a third quarter pop that resulted in a Cameron Scott field goal for a 27-10 lead. The Bisons drove 78 yards after stopping the Reddies on third and fourth down from the Harding 22.
Tristan Tucker added 72 yards, mostly on option pitches, as Harding ran for 307 yards. The Bisons ranked second in NCAA Division 2 rushing last year with 341.9 yards per game.
Redshirt junior Logan Moragne, of Little Rock, led the Reddies with 77 yards on 15 carries. Moragne redshirted in 2017 with an injury after transferring from Arkansas State.
Lodree caught three passes for 43 yards. Stammetti connected with eight different receivers in the game.
Redshirt senior linebacker Cameron Sonnier and redshirt junior defensive back Mercardo Anderson tied for the team lead with eight tackles apiece for Henderson. Senior defensive back Dra Smith also led the Bisons with eight tackles.
Harding plays its home opener Sept. 8 against Southern Arkansas (1-0) at First Security Stadium in Searcy. On the same date, Henderson meets Arkansas Tech (0-1) at Thone Stadium in Russellville. The Muleriders opened the season Thursday with a 38-0 home win against the Wonder Boys.
Sports on 09/01/2018