Southern Nazarene Game Notes
Harding Game Notes
Great American Conference Game Notes
BETHANY, Okla. — The long awaited home opener is here. After spending the first three weeks of the season on the road, Southern Nazarene will finally hold its home opener Saturday as it hosts Harding. This will be the first meeting between these two teams and the third Great American Conference opponent for the Crimson Storm this season.
SNU is not technically apart of the GAC in football this season as the conference is in its second year of a two-year schedule rotation, but will play a full GAC schedule starting in 2013. The Crimson Storm will not be eligible for a GAC regular season title or any postseason appearances until the 2014 season.
RECAPPING THE WEEK
The Crimson Storm offensive woes continued last weekend as Southern Nazarene had just 141 yards of total offense with 172 yards through the air. SNU was held to negative rushing yards for the past two weeks. East Central held the Storm to -70 rushing yards while Friends held SNU to -31 yards in rushing.
SNU's only touchdown came on a Matt Pruitt fumble recovery that he took back 75 yards for the score. Chris Chaney forced the fumble. Dylan Terry was 13-for-31 passing for 172 yards, but was sacked 10 times.
The Crimson Storm defense gave up 359 yards of total offense from the Falcons who ran for 313 of those yards. Micahel Hicks led the way with 16 tackles. Dalton Davis had a couple of late sacks while Dillon Brumbaugh had one sack as part of his 12 tackles. Three of his tackles were for a loss of 11 yards.
The Bisons opened up Great American Conference play by thumping Arkansas-Monticello, 52-7. Harding had 455 yards of total offense with 368 coming on the ground. There were three different rushers with at least 60 yards and six with at least 40 yards rushing. Jason Oller led the way with 73 yards rushing and one touchdown while Romo Westbrook recorded three rushing touchdowns on 47 yards.
Quarterback Kelvin Martin needed to throw the ball just six times as he went 2-for-6 for 87 yards and a touchdown. Donatela Luckett caught both passes, including an 81-yard touchdown strike.
RECORD CHASERS
Derick Perkins needs 162 yards to become just the third rusher in school history to break the 2,000 career rushing yards mark. He currently stands third all-time in school history with 1,838 yards. He is also third all-time in rushing touchdowns with 20. He needs just three more rushing touchdowns to tie Branden Smith (2006-09) with 23. Perkins also needs just two more points to move into second all-time in school history in total points scored. He currently has 166 behind teammate Jarod Martin who has 168. Perkins just passed Ryan Brock (2007-09) for third who has 162 points. Jason Kilmer is the all-time leader with 316.
Martin needs just 73 more receiving yards reach 2,000 for the career. He would be the first receiver in school history to do so as he is the all-time receiving yards leader in school history as a junior. He also needs just two more touchdown receptions to be the first in school history to reach 30.
Matt Pruitt is just one interception away from tying the school's all-time record of 15. The junior currently is tied for second all-time with 14 picks with Heath Emmert (2000-03). D'Antae Mitchell (2000-04) is the all-time leader with 15.
There are three current Storm defensive players who are chasing 200 career tackles. Dillon Brumbaugh in the closest with 198 as he stands seventh all-time in school history. He is just 13 back of moving into sixth place with Jacob Todd (2002-06). Matt Pruitt is ninth all-time with 186 tackles and is 11 back of Emmert. Sophomore Michael Hicks moved into the top 10 for the first time and now has 172 tackles in just under two years played.
ABOUT THE BISONS
Harding is off to its best start since 2005 and is currently out scoring opponents 83-17 in the first two weeks of the season. The Bisons are hitting the ground in their offensive attack. In the first two contests, Harding is averaging 325 rushing yards per game and have eight of their 11 touchdowns coming by way of the rush.The Bisons have three different players averaging at least 50 rushing yards per game. Quarterback Kelvin Martin leads the way, averaging 63 yards per game and has two touchdowns. He has 126 yards total on 26 carries. D'Nico Jackson-Best is right behind him at 55.5 yards per game on 19 carries. Fullback Romo Westbrook leads the team in rushing touchdowns with three and averages 53 yards per game.
Martin has just 17 passing attempts on the year, going 9-for-17 with three interceptions. He has thrown for 235 yards and three touchdowns.The Bisons are currently fourth in the Great American in scoring offense and are second just behind Henderson State in total offense. The Bisons are averaging 442.5 yards of total offense per game. The Reddies are averaging 555.0 yards per game. HU does lead the GAC in rushing offense.
The Bisons are allowing just 8.5 points per game, ranking them second in the GAC, and held Arkansas-Monticello to just seven points in HU's GAC opener. Opponents are averaging 228.0 yards per game which is also second in the conference.
Opponents are averaging 124.5 yards on the ground, fifth in the GAC, and just 103.5 yards through the air, second in the conference.
Linebacker Aaron Gillaspie leads the defense with 13 tackles and touts one interception, a deflection and a forced fumble already on the year. Josh Aldridge and Ty Powell both claim a pair of sacks as well.
The Bisons' defense gave up just 86 yards rushing and 120 yards passing last week. Harding had four sacks for a loss of 25 yards against UAM.
Harding is also the least penalized team in the Great American Conference. Through two games the Bisons have just eight penalties for 55 yards.
They are also plus one in turnover margin, having gained seven turnovers and losing six. That ranks then fourth in the GAC.
