A successful breakaway. A SAU Mulerider at· tempts to bring down Bison fullback, Anthony Lowery , but he escapes the tackle. - photos by Wes Holland. Harding, SAU Tie in Homecoming Baffle The 1984 Homecoming celebration welcomed alumni and newcomers alike. Each year this time of returning or "coming , home" to Harding not only brings friends and families together for a weekend of festivities,but presented the opportunity for first-time visitors to become acquainted with Harding and her traditions. The festivities began Friday morning in chapel with the official crowning of the Homecoming Queen , Miss Kim Carpenter. The activities continued throughout Friday and Saturday with social club and class reunions, two performances of "Hello Dolly!" and the Black and Gold Banquet. However , the highpoint of the weekend exploded on the football field Saturday afternoon . A Homecoming crowd of 4 ,500 looked on as the Harding Bisons waged a backand-forth battle against Southern Arkansas University. Starting off the scoring with 6:25 left in the first quarter, the Bisons ignited the Alumni Field spectators as freshman quarterback Roddy Mote connected with junior Gill Stegall on a deep post route for a 30-yard touchdown pass. Stu Varner added the extra point to increase the Bison lead to 7-0. The Muleriders' biggest scoring threat of the first half came on their last possession of the second quarter , as SAU drove 78 yards in five plays. Their scoring bid stalled on the Harding two-yard line as quarterback Cody Vanderfelt hit tight end Scott Hyatt in the end zone in the last play of the half. In a highly disputed call, the officials ruled that Hyatt was out of the end zone, preserving the Bisons' 7-0 halftime lead. The traditional halftime activities of 20 Homecoming Game Homecoming began with the performance of the Thundering Herd Marching Band. Following the show, the Queen, Kim Carpenter from Huntsville, AL, and her court were presented to the enthusiastic crowd. The court included queen nominees Shauna Wood from Hope, and Lyveria Hopson from Portersville, MS, senior representative Donna Cash from Carmel , IN, junior representative Angela McDonough from Enterprise , AL, sophomore representative Amber Owens from Jacksonville, and freshman representive Laurie Priest from Searcy . As the Homecoming royalty exited the field, the Bisons returned amidst the cheers of their fans. In the third period, the Muleriders rode a wave of emotion to two touchdown runs from Vanderford as the sophomore took it in from 11 yards out and then from four yards out. Greg Reap's first point-after attempt was unsuccessful, but SAU got a two·point conversion following the second Vanderford touchdown with a pass over the middle to Mike DeLaney. On a third quarter drive highlighted by a spectacular one-handed reception bv senior tight end Mark Adkison , Mote brought the Bisons back with a one-yard touchdown run. Varner evened the score at 14-14 with his extra point. The Bisons scored again with 11: 17 left in the game as senior tailback Bobby Jones rushed for a six-yard touchdown. Varner's point-after made the Bisons' lead 21-14 . Vanderford recorded his third touchdown of the afternoon as he capped a nine-play, 54-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown. With 7: 19 to play , Reap hit He leads the band. Richard Kalnins , an English major from Batesville , MS , directs the halftime performance of the J:hundering Herd. - photo by Wes Holland. the extra point to lock the score at 21-21. The last real scoring threat of the contest came from the Bisons as they attempted to get within Varner's field goal range. Their eight-play drive was halted at the SAU 38-yard line, as the Bisons turned the ball over on a fumble ending the game in a tie. & - Bobby Davidson, Emily Harlan, and I Lisa Smithson
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