After catching a screen pass from junior quarterback David Knigh– ton, senior running back Kyle Wess runs for a gain of 73 yards. Wess became the first Harding player to earn the GSC's rushing title,averaging 91.5 yards per game, and his 915 total rushing yards for the season was the ninth highest in the history of the program. -Chelsea Roberson SCORECARD Southwest Baptist 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 oW 42-30 Missouri Southern 0 0 0 0 00 0 0 0 000000 000 oL 27-30 NorthAlabama .. 0 .. 0 .. 0 .. 0 0 -: 0" 0 .. oL 14-41 Arkansas-Monticello 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 oW 29-21 West Alabama 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 oW 24-16 West Georgia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 oW 34-16 Southern Arkansas 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 oW I7-6 Henderson State 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 oW 34-28 Arkansas Tech 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 L 3-26 Ouachita Baptist 0000000000000000000 oL 20-34 Seasoned players, coach help train underclassmen A domed in jerseys and helmets, the Bisons football team made their way onto the field for the beginn ing of another season. Led by Coach Randy Tribble, the Bisons were ready [0 pass, rush, kick and tackle their way towards [he playoffs. With the graduation of many seniors in the spring of2006, the Bisons were left: with a unique mix of veteran players and fresh faces. Among those veteran players was junior defensive back Roben Towns. Having set several national records, Towns had already established himself as a key player for the Bisons. However, during the 2006 season, Towns achieved some of his most noteworthy accomplishments, indurung becoming the first Bison ever to have three interceptions in rwo games. Although he earned the accomplish– ments himself, Towns knew that he could never win games by himself. "I'll do anything for my teammates," Towns said. " If they are slacking in some way I try to give ~xtra because they would do the same for me. During games, Towns said he always tried to remember the family he found on the team and did everything he could co suppOrt them. After the firs t few games of the season, when the team was still striving CO unify, Towns was active in drawing on his experience to provide any help and guidance he could. "We had some young talenr this year, which was slighdy different [han the Other seasons I have played," Towns said. "We made some changes after the first few games and then we were rolling." Kyle Wess, a senior running back from Dallas, was another vete ran on the team. Within the first few games of the season, Wess was nationally ranked in the top 20 for rush– ing yards and all-purpose yards. Wess showed ambition and desire [Q play his best, but also remembered his (eammates. " I always gave i( all I could," Wess said. "But i( was definitely nice to see my skills combined with others. This is a team effoer, not an individual sport." Tribble was grateful for Wess' team spirit. "There is not a bigger team player [han Kyle Wess, and everyone knows it," Tribble said. "He is the hardest working, greatest person you could want to meet." Tribble had great expectacions as he headed into his 13th season. Juse as many ofhis players stood OUt on the field, Tribble was noteworthy for being the longest tenured head football coach in Arkansas and in the Gulf 50mh Conference. "This season was differem for me," Tribble said. "I had 26 seniors lase year, and when you lose those guys, you have a whole new team. I had to constandy think, 'What are these guys ready for?'" In addition to the challenges Tribble gave to the new players, he cominued challenging his veteran players to bring everyone closer together. According toTribble, Towns wanted to step up his defensive playing. "We gave Robert several challenges and he won all of them," Tribble said. "It is good for the whole team when anyone gets honor, especia ll y when the player is such a team oriented player. just like Robert." Even though completing passes, making tackles and scoring touchdowns were the essentials of the game, Tribble said he had an even grearer objective in mind. "Stay focused," Tribble said. Keep them focused and we will get better every day. Daily, we are taking care of business." -Jordan Dyniewski
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