290 Football Handicaps Cut Into Winning Plans (cont'd) The loss to NOSU was the first of a lo ng six game losing streak. Falling in their first Ale game, the Black and Gold were throttled by the Arkansas Tech University Wonder Boys 35-18. Adventure far away proved to be sour grapes as the Bisons were humiliated by Livingston University, 47-14, in Livingston, Alabama. It wasn't until the Bisons played Henderson State that they got back on track. Although it was a losing cause against the Reddies, it was the fir st time any kind of light shone at the end of the tunnel in a lmost a month. Henderson jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the fir st half on touchdown runs of 57 and 2 yards by tai lback Lawrence Texada. They quickly expanded the lead to 20-0 in the opening minutes of the third quarter and it appeared as if the Bisons were in for another shellacking. But with 4:31 left in the third quarter, Bison quarterback and punter Kyle Bli ckenstaff tossed a fake punt·pass to back Lafe Caton and it was nothing but green grass as Caton scampered 72 yards for a touchdown . Later in the fourth quarter, freshmen tailback Eugene Carodine plung· ed over from one yard out for another score and suddenly the Reddies were ahead by only 6 points. The Bison's last chance end· ed in a Blickenstaff interception and the Reddies prevailed , 20·14. However this was not the same team that had lost three times before by such large margins. Something good was lurking around the corner. University of Arkansas·Monticello Boll Weevils were next on the schedule and this contest had a special meaning for the Bisons. All could remember the 50·7 humiliation the Weevils handed the Black and Go ld in 1979. Revenge wasn't enough to knock off UAM, however, as they took a 9·0 win. Homecoming produced a jam·packed crowd to Alumni Field to witness the Bisons play Southern Arkansas University. The Muleriders shook off a 7·0 deficit and dampened the Harding homecoming cere· monies, 15·7. At this stage in the season the Bison record stood at 2·7 and something had to happen. Indeed something did happen when the Black and Gold traveled to Arkadelphia to visit Ouach ita Baptist University. As if everything syncronized at the perfect time, the Bisons overwhelmed the Tigers from the opening kick·off. Playing defensive back , Caton got the Bisons going when he return· ed an interception 17 yards to the two yard line. Carodine scored on the next play and the bottom fell out of the bucket. On the ensuing kick·off, the Tigers fumbled and Caton recovered. From there, Blickenstaff connected with Greg Poston for 22 yards and a touchdown. Another score following a recovered fumble by defensive end Ron Koblbrand and a returned interception by Klay Bartee for six points allowed the Bisons to take a 28-0 halftime lead. After Harding had scored once more, t he Tigers could only muster enough points to save their face as the Black and Gold had earned an impressive 34·20 victory. The final game of the year thus had special meaning. Closing out the season with two wins would provide momentum that could carryover into the 1981 season. But th~ . last stanza the Bisons were to play of the 1980 verse wasn ' t against just anyone. The Bisons were to play the University of Central Arkansas Bears, who were ranked the best team in the United States. A victory over the best would retrieve all the back losses plus give great confidence to the young players. It appeared for a while that the biggest upset in the 22 year history of Harding football was in the making as the Bisons took a quick 14·0 lead in an impressive game opening touchdown drive and an interception return worth six points by linebacker Ron Dicken. UCA however, proved why they were the top ranked team in the country as they came back and eventually overwhelm· ed the Bisons, 49-27, behind the outstan· ding play of All-Americans Ron Mallett, Vaughn Edwards, and Randy Huffstickler. Following the season, the conference coaches voted on the players among the seven teams in the AIC. Roy Kirkland, the Bisons center, was voted first team status a long with kick-off returner Caton. Caton ranked among the nation's best in kick-off returns throughout the season. - Courtl'SY ofPublici/y Olfier
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