FDDTBALL_ Bisons Fight for Ale Lead [CONTINUED) passed a 14-year-old record set by biology professor Michael Plummer during his days as a Bison footballer. Looking over the season, it seemed that while the Bisons did a commendable job of getting prepared for nationally-ranked teams, they got surprised more than once while on the road. The ultimate jinx seemed to be those away games that required a Friday night's lodging before the game . Southwest Oklahoma romped over the Bisons 30-8 in Durant , and Tennessee's Knoxville College defeated Harding 26-1 9. With a pre-season emphasis on the specialty squads and kicking game, the Bisons first chance to flex their muscles came against Lane College. The 24-9 win was deceiving since Harding sustained more than its share of injuries in the game. Quarterback Prock left the game following the last play of the first quarter after being shaken up on two successive plays. Prock's replacement, David Jones, lasted until the fourth quarter when he suffered a dislocated shoulder. Tailback Vanlandingham was knocked out in the third quarter and' was sidelined for the rest of the game . Though Prock and Vanlandingham returned the following week to meet Southwest Oklahoma, the previous week's injuries took their toll. The Bison offense could not function at its full potential, and the Savages' shifting defensive coverage snarled Harding's passing attack and held Harding to 158 yards of total offense. A rejuvenated offensive attack and revenge on the mind fueled Harding's 18-3 destruction of Southwest Missouri State at home Sept. 23. The Bisons scored a touchdown in each of the second, third and fourth periods to avenge 1977's 41-14 loss to the Bears. The road-trip jinx jumped on Harding again as the Bisons dropped to 2-2 for the year in their loss to Knoxville College. Knoxville sewed up the game in the fourth quarter when the score was 19-11 when their cornerback intercepted a Prock aerial and returned it 43 yards for a touchdown . In the conquest of ATU , Harding scored twice in the final minute of the first half and hung on until a fourthquarter field goal for three pOints could be made, by shutting down Tech's option series around the flanks. On a 55-yard pass to Orr , Prock surpassed the 2,OOO-yard career passing mark. After Vanlandingham scurried into the end zone from nine yards out and Dukes kicked the extra point, Dukes' offSide kick , fumbled by the Tech receiver, was recovered by the Bisons on ATU's 25-yard line. Harding took advantage of the opportunity, and with :23 left on the clock in the first half, the Bisons led by 14-3. An open date allowed some extra preparation for Henderson State, and the practice came in handy in the game that left the Blsons 1-0-1 in the AIC and tied for the lead in the conference race. lt was an afternoon of near misses , for in addition to the failure of Dukes' lastminute field goal try , the Reddies stalled out a third quarter touchdown drive at the one-yard line. The Bisons trampled AIC rival University of Arkansas at Montice llo 22-6 on October 28. All of Harding's pOints , with the exception of one thirdquarter touchdown , came as the result of UAM turnovers. The Boll Weevil 's offense , which was thoroughly frustrated , lost four of eight fumbles , had a punt blocked and a pass intercepted. Homecoming's 31 -14 Victory over Southern Arkansas set the AIC up for two weeks of showdowns for the conference title. Holding a 10-0 lead in the third quarter , the Bisons turned a fourth -down stand inside their own 15-yard line into an 86-yard scoring drive and coasted in for the win. Against OBU, the Bisons lost their first conference game at Arkade lphia. The Tigers' William Miller ran up and down the field for 156 yards and two touchdowns while Harding's Vanlandingham was held to 87 yards rushing. Prock was 13 for 24 passing for the day and threw four interceptions. His perfor· mance was symptomatic of the Bisons offense, which could never break loose and put together a sustained drive. In the final game , UCA's offense overpowered Harding in the first half with the passing of the Bears' Randy Huffstickler and running of tailback David Reddy . Forced to play catch-up ball in the second half, Harding opened up its passing game and set two single· game offensive records. Football.. 149
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTc5NA==