FOOTBALL Battle of the Breaks Stops Harding Short To the unattached onlooker outside of Harding University, the 1982 Bison football season would appear a failure rather than a success. The 5-6 record cou ld be a good indication of their conclusion. But those close to the team who witnessed all the games know how close the Black and Gold came to achieving ultimate success. The battle of the breaks seemed to be the only problem the Harding gridiron men had between them and a near perfect year. The long road actually began last spring, with hard hours on weights and spring football weighing heavily on an already filled-tocapacity schedule. If there is anyttiing a football player hates, it is the extra hours he must put in outside of practice to try to reach perfection. Harding football had its eye set on a respectable 1982 season and the feeling carried over from the conclusion of spring training to the hot August workouts. The time continued to edge closer to the first date on the schedule. " So far we haven't had anyone go down (with an injury), " Bison head coach john Prock said before the first game. " This is the first year I can remember that we haven't had anyone starting to get injured early. We just hope that we can keep it that way. " September 11 finally came and the Black and Gold hosted Lane College in the opening contest. An NCAA Division II opponent, the Dragons met up with a killer Bison defense, whiCh allowed them no yards rushing, and two Kyle Blickenstaff to Mike Peacock touchdown passes was all the Bisons needed for a 14-0 win. The victory also provided a milestone for Bison football as it was the 100th victory since Harding returned to intercollegiate competition in 1959. Southwest Missouri State University handed the Bisons their first loss of the 1982 season. A member of the highly competitive NCAA Division I-AA, the Bears jumped out to a quick 10-0 lead on a 36 yard field goal and a seven yard pass from quarterback Greg Arterburn to Lynn May in the first quarter. The Bisons closed the gap to 10-7 on a Blickenstaff pass to fullback james Joyce from four yards out. The Buffaloes had their chances late in the game, 'but four lost fumbles kept the ball out of the endzone, thus ending the match at 10-7. A trip to Durant, Okla., began a four week vigil for the Bisons as they spent each S!iturday on the road. Durant and Southeastern Oklahoma hosted Harding on a cold September 25th, but the Bisons squeaked by, 7-3. The game proved to be a defensive struggle soaked with rain and turnovers, as a downpour made the pigskin as slippery as a greased hog. The win proved costly, however, as Blickenstaff went down with a severe kidney injury. At first, the diagnosis was that the senior co-captain could be out for the remainder of the season as a tremendous weight-loss acpanied the bruise. The position of quarter· back and punter was the main worry, however, as a worthy replacement for both positi9ns was needed. The Harding record jumped to 3-1 the next Saturday as the Evangel Crusaders welcomed the Bisons to Springfield, Mo. Unlike the previous weekend, the weather was perfect for a Saturday afternoon clash and the Black and Gold took full advantage for a tight 15-14 win. With Kevin Webb, the former starting free safety, in at quarterback for the first time in six years, the Bisons engineered a touchdown drive late in the game to come from behind. Webb broke for a 42 yard run for a big play and then scrambled out of a sack to spot slotback Gary Hill on a 32 yard touchdown pass. Tailback Tony McCoy ran to a two-point conversion as 1:24 remained to make the final margin. The Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference play began the fifth week of the season as the Bisons travelled to Russellville for a game against Arkansas Tech University. The Wonder Boys capitalized on the exploits of senior tailback Greg Jefferson for a 33-24 victory. A nemesis to Harding in each year he played, jefferson stabbed the Bisons in the back with three touchdowns on runs of 53 and 43 yards in addition to a 65 yard pass from quarterback David Wo~sham. He ended (Continued on page 154)
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