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.
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 (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. 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 selected as GAC Coach of the Year.
The team played its home games at First Security Stadium in Searcy, Arkansas.
Schedule
Rankings
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.
Game summaries At Southern Nazarene
Statistics HARSNU First downs 19 14 Total yards 322 322 Rushing yards 282 145 Passing yards 40 177 Turnovers 2 6 Time of possession 33:29 26:31 Team Category Player StatisticsHarding Passing Cole Keylon 2/3, 40 yards, TD Rushing Braden Jay 4 rushes, 63 yards Receiving Braden Jay 1 reception, 26 yards, TDSouthern Nazarene Passing Gage Porter 6/16, 116 yards, 3 INT Rushing Gage Porter 26 rushes, 102 yards, 2 TD Receiving Andrew Tisdale 2 receptions, 74 yards
Oklahoma Baptist
Statistics OKBHAR First downs 15 25 Total yards 238 513 Rushing yards 9 382 Passing yards 229 131 Turnovers 3 1 Time of possession 27:32 32:28 Team Category Player StatisticsOklahoma Baptist Passing Aidan Thompson 27/44, 229 yards, TD, INT Rushing E. J. Moore 6 rushes, 14 yards Receiving Michael Marshall 6 receptions, 63 yardsHarding Passing Cole Keylon 2/5, 124 yards, 2 TD Rushing Andrew Miller 5 rushes, 69 yards, TD Receiving Darius Brown 1 reception, 76 yards, TD
Arkansas–Monticello
Statistics UAMHAR 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 StatisticsArkansas–Monticello Passing Demilon Brown 18/32, 183 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Demilon Brown 12 rushes, 15 yards Receiving Kristian Gammage 3 receptions, 92 yardsHarding 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.
At No. 20 Henderson State
Statistics HARHSU First downs 22 11 Total yards 363 244 Rushing yards 353 54 Passing yards 10 190 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 39:53 19:57 Team Category Player StatisticsHarding Passing Cole Keylon 1/4, 10 yards Rushing Blake Delacruz 31 rushes, 179 yards, 3 TD Receiving Dane Romberger 1 reception, 10 yardsHenderson State Passing Andrew Edwards 15/28, 190 yards, TD Rushing Andrew Edwards 6 rushes, 24 yards Receiving Timieone Jackson 7 receptions, 96 yards, TD
Southwestern Oklahoma State
Statistics SWOHAR First downs 4 25 Total yards 79 587 Rushing yards 29 462 Passing yards 50 125 Turnovers 2 0 Time of possession 24:38 35:22 Team Category Player StatisticsSW Oklahoma State Passing Sean Shelby 5/9, 26 yards, 2 INT Rushing Troy Henderson 5 rushes, 16 yards Receiving Elijah Reed 3 receptions, 29 yardsHarding Passing Cole Keylon 5/6, 125 yards, 2 TD Rushing Andrew Miller 7 rushes, 134 yards, 2 TD Receiving Will White 1 reception, 50 yards, TD
Quarterback Cole Keylon completed five passes, each going to a different receiver.
At Northwestern Oklahoma State
Statistics HARNWO First downs 21 6 Total yards 414 108 Rushing yards 380 63 Passing yards 34 45 Turnovers 0 4 Time of possession 22:09 37:51 Team Category Player StatisticsHarding Passing Cole Keylon 1/2, 34 yards, TD Rushing Cole Keylon 7 rushes, 90 yards, TD Receiving Darius Brown 1 reception, 34 yards, TDNW Oklahoma State Passing Caleb Deal 11/20, 45 yards, 4 INT Rushing Jashaun Foster 8 rushes, 27 yards Receiving Chancelor Gill 4 receptions, 21 yards
No. 5 Ouachita Baptist
Statistics OUAHAR First downs 14 22 Total yards 234 427 Rushing yards 155 427 Passing yards 79 0 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 26:35 33:25 Team Category Player StatisticsOuachita Baptist Passing Riley Harms 13/27, 79 yards Rushing Kendel Givens 23 rushes, 146 yards Receiving Connor Flannigan 8 receptions, 38 yardsHarding Passing Cole Keylon 0/1, 0 yards, INT Rushing Braden Jay 10 rushes, 131 yards, 2 TD Receiving None
The no. 9 Bisons downed the no. 5 Tigers, handing Oauchita Baptist its first loss of the season.
At Southern Arkansas
Statistics HARSAU First downs 29 19 Total yards 653 462 Rushing yards 631 264 Passing yards 22 198 Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 36:09 23:51 Team Category Player StatisticsHarding Passing Cole Keylon 2/6, 22 yards Rushing Braden Jay 8 rushes, 202 yards, TD Receiving Braden Jay 2 receptions, 22 yardsSouthern Arkansas Passing O. B. Jones 15/23, 169 yards, TD Rushing Kadyn Roach 4 rushes, 94 yards, TD Receiving Jakarion Lockett 4 receptions, 65 yards
At Southeastern Oklahoma State
Statistics HARSOU First downs 27 8 Total yards 502 141 Rushing yards 436 45 Passing yards 66 96 Turnovers 1 5 Time of possession 36:39 23:21 Team Category Player StatisticsHarding Passing Cole Keylon 1/2, 39 yards Rushing Braden Jay 6 rushes, 70 yards, TD Receiving Darius Brown 1 reception, 39 yardsSE Oklahoma State Passing Weston Conaway 13/22, 71 yards, 3 INT Rushing D. J. Brown 9 rushes, 42 yards Receiving Duce Pittman 2 receptions, 23 yards
East Central
Statistics ECUHAR First downs 7 30 Total yards 134 528 Rushing yards 22 528 Passing yards 112 0 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 20:24 39:36 Team Category Player StatisticsEast Central Passing Traair Edwards 7/11, 69 yards, TD Rushing David Hall 7 rushes, 13 yards Receiving Hayden Stewart 3 receptions, 34 yardsHarding Passing Cole Keylon 0/2, 0 yards Rushing Blake Delacruz 18 rushes, 112 yards, TD Receiving None
The Tigers were held to just 134 yards of total offense while Harding only attempted two passes, both of which were incomplete.
At Arkansas Tech
Statistics HARATU First downs 20 8 Total yards 418 91 Rushing yards 333 -27 Passing yards 85 118 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 38:41 21:19 Team Category Player StatisticsHarding Passing Cole Keylon 2/3, 85 yards, TD Rushing Andrew Miller 11 rushes, 80 yards, TD Receiving Braden Jay 1 reception, 44 yards, TDArkansas Tech Passing Taye Gatewood 10/20, 70 yards, INT Rushing Deuce Wise 6 rushes, 6 yards Receiving Joyrion Chase 2 receptions, 31 yards
No. 6 Central Missouri (NCAA Division II Second Round)
Statistics UCMHAR First downs 27 20 Total yards 534 418 Rushing yards 109 384 Passing yards 425 34 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 24:18 35:42 Team Category Player StatisticsCentral Missouri Passing Zach Zebrowski 34/44, 425 yards, 5 TD Rushing Zach Zebrowski 16 rushes, 94 yards Receiving Arkell Smith 9 receptions, 150 yards, 3 TDHarding Passing Zach Strickland 1/1, 26 yards Rushing Blake Delacruz 34 rushes, 154 yards, 2 TD Receiving Ty Dugger 1 reception, 26 yards
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.
No. 2 Grand Valley State (NCAA Division II Quarterfinal)
Statistics GVSHAR 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 StatisticsGrand Valley State Passing Cade Peterson 10/19, 123 yards Rushing Khalil Eichelberger 2 rushes, 31 yards Receiving Darrell Johnson 5 receptions, 63 yardsHarding 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.
No. 11 Lenoir–Rhyne (NCAA Division II Semifinals)
Statistics LRUHAR First downs 14 26 Total yards 336 500 Rushing yards -3 431 Passing yards 339 69 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 19:17 40:43 Team Category Player StatisticsLenoir–Rhyne Passing Sean White 23/33, 270 yards, INT Rushing Deondre Lester 1 rush, 12 yards Receiving Deondre Lester 8 receptions, 139 yards, TDHarding Passing Cole Keylon 2/3, 69 yards, TD Rushing Blake Delacruz 21 rushes, 147 yards, 2 TD Receiving Roland Wallace 1 reception, 65 yards, TD
Vs. No. 1 Colorado Mines (NCAA Division II Championship Game)
Statistics HARCSM First downs 21 18 Total yards 548 341 Rushing yards 502 71 Passing yards 46 270 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 36:10 23:50 Team Category Player StatisticsHarding Passing Cole Keylon 2/2, 46 yards Rushing Blake Delacruz 27 rushes, 212 yards Receiving Roland Wallace 2 receptions, 46 yardsColorado Mines Passing John Matocha 24/33, 270 yards, TD, INT Rushing Landon Walker 6 rushes, 56 yards Receiving Max McLeod 14 receptions, 153
Personnel
Statistical accomplishments On offense, Harding prioritizes the run game, averaging over 400 rushing yards per game. In a game against on October 21, the team rushed for 631 yards and had two players (Braden Jay and Blake Delacruz) each tally over 200 rushing yards.
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.
The team's individual statistical leaders include: Blake Delacruz with 1,149 rushing yards and 114 points scored; Cole Keylon with 546 passing yards; Braden Jay with seven receptions for 164 yards;
Harding became the first team in NCAA history to rush for over 6,000 yards in a single season.
References