2024 Harding Bisons football team

American college football season

2024 Harding Bisons football
Conference	Great American Conference
Ranking
AFCA	No. 1
Record	2–0 (2–0 GAC)
Head coach	Paul Simmons (8th season)
Offensive scheme	Flexbone triple option
Defensive coordinator	Roddy Mote (8th season)
Co-defensive coordinator	Luke Tribble (8th season)
Base defense	3–4
Home stadium	First Security Stadium
Seasons ← 2023 2025 →

2024 Great American Conference football standings
v t e
Team	W		L	W		L
Arkansas–Monticello	2	–	0	2	–	0
Arkansas Tech	2	–	0	2	–	0
No. 1 Harding	2	–	0	2	–	0
No. 20 Henderson State	2	–	0	2	–	0
No. 17 Ouachita Baptist	2	–	0	2	–	0
Southern Arkansas	2	–	0	2	–	0
East Central	0	–	2	0	–	2
NW Oklahoma State	0	–	2	0	–	2
Oklahoma Baptist	0	–	2	0	–	2
SE Oklahoma State	0	–	2	0	–	2
Southern Nazarene	0	–	2	0	–	2
SW Oklahoma State	0	–	2	0	–	2

$ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant Rankings from AFCA Poll

The 2024 Harding Bisons football team represents Harding University in the 2024 NCAA Division II football season as a member of the Great American Conference (GAC). The Bisons are led by eighth-year head coach Paul Simmons and play their home games at First Security Stadium in Searcy, Arkansas.

The team entered the 2024 season as both the reigning GAC champion and the defending NCAA Division II national champion.^[1]

Preseason

The GAC coaches preseason poll was released on August 1, 2024. The Bisons were predicted to finish first in the conference, receiving 10 of the 12 first place votes, while Oauchita Baptist and Southern Arkansas each received one first place vote.^[2]

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	Result	Attendance
September 5	7:00 p.m.	Southern Nazarene	No. 1	First Security Stadium Searcy, AR	W 59–0	3,500
September 14	7:00 p.m.	at Oklahoma Baptist	No. 1	Crain Family Stadium Shawnee, OK	W 59–7	2,706
September 19	6:00 p.m.	at Arkansas–Monticello	No. 1	Cotton Boll Stadium Monticello, AR
September 28	7:00 p.m.	Henderson State		First Security Stadium Searcy, AR
October 5	2:00 p.m.	at SW Oklahoma State		Milam Stadium Weatherford, OK
October 12	2:00 p.m.	NW Oklahoma State		First Security Stadium Searcy, AR
October 19	7:00 p.m.	at Ouachita Baptist		Cliff Harris Stadium Arkadelphia, AR
October 26	3:00 p.m.	Southern Arkansas		First Security Stadium Searcy, AR
October 31	7:00 p.m.	SE Oklahoma State		First Security Stadium Searcy, AR
November 9	2:00 p.m.	at East Central		Koi Ishto Stadium Ada, OK
November 16	2:00 p.m.	Arkansas Tech		First Security Stadium Searcy, AR
Homecoming Rankings from AFCA Poll released prior to the game All times are in Central time

^[3]

Rankings

Ranking movements
**Legend:** ( ) = First-place votes
	Week
Poll	Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	Final
AFCA	1 (25)	1 (25)*	1 (27)	1 (27)
D2 Football	1	1	1	1

* A new poll was not released for this week, so for comparison purposes, the previous week's ranking is inserted in this week's slot.

Personnel

2024 Harding Bisons football team roster

Players

Coaches

Offense

Pos.	#	Name	Class
RB	`5`	Stone Sheffield	Sr
RB	`7`	Braden Jay	Jr
RB	`8`	Andrew Miller	So
RB	`10`	Jhalen Spicer	Sr
QB	`11`	Kyler Finney	Fr
QB	`13`	Carter Zimmerman	Fr
WR	`14`	Will White	Sr
QB	`15`	Cole Keylon	Jr
QB	`16`	Malik Young	So
QB	`17`	Camren Cavalier	Fr
WR	`18`	Darius Brown	Jr
WR	`19`	Dane Romberger	Sr
RB	`21`	Chauncey Martin	Sr
RB	`22`	Will Fitzhugh	Sr
RB	`25`	Christian Franklin	Jr
RB	`26`	Blake Delacruz	Sr
RB	`30`	Josh Strickland Jr.	So
WR	`31`	Brady Barnett	Fr
RB	`32`	Sam Mitchum	Fr
RB	`34`	Josh Evans-Pickens	Fr
RB	`35`	Josh Jones	Sr
RB	`37`	Jimmy Citty	Sr
OL	`50`	Jose Lopez	So
OL	`51`	Vincent Cox	Fr
OL	`54`	Jake Mitchell	Jr
OL	`56`	Jonathan Underwood	Sr
OL	`57`	Jake Duggar	Sr
OL	`59`	Jonathan Vining	Fr
OL	`60`	Sam Ruffino	So
OL	`62`	Josh Lawrence	Fr
OL	`63`	David Gomez	So
OL	`64`	Jude Steffen	Jr
OL	`65`	Joshua Cobb	Fr
OL	`67`	Luke McCormick	Fr
OL	`70`	Jordan McClaine	Jr
OL	`73`	Carter Lees	Sr
OL	`75`	Cobe Williams	Fr
OL	`76`	Matt Colvin	Fr
OL	`77`	Isaac Gray	Fr
OL	`78`	Dylan Daring	Jr
OL	`79`	Duance Johnson	Sr
WR	`80`	Drew Porter	So
WR	`82`	Bodie Neal	Fr
WR	`83`	Jarrett Atchley	Fr
TE	`85`	Levi Mercer	Fr
WR	`86`	Jackson Richardson	Fr
TE	`87`	Mike Ericson	Jr
TE	`88`	Dylan Cummings	Fr
RB		Chris Banard	Fr
RB		Ben Boehm	Fr
OL		Quan'Travious Bradford	Fr
OL		Pablo Cerda	Fr
RB		Da'Shawn Chairs	Fr
WR		Jack Citty	Fr
OL		Cason Craig	Fr
RB		Payton Evans-Pickens	Fr
RB		Antonio Ford	Fr
OL		Lucas McCain	Fr
OL		Talan Owen	Fr
WR		Bob Patterson	Fr
OL		John Silvestri	Fr
WR		Mabry Verser	Fr
OL		Gavin Waters	Fr
RB		Bo Williams	Fr
WR		Dane Williams	Fr

Defense

Pos.	#	Name	Class
DB	`0`	Darion Dunlap-Johnson	Sr
DB	`1`	Kendale Allen	Sr
DB	`2`	Kyle McDonald	Sr
LB	`3`	Cayden Pierce	Sr
DB	`4`	Deion Campbell	So
DB	`6`	Travis Greenwalt	Sr
DL	`9`	Dre Hall	Sr
DB	`11`	Grayson Lewis	Fr
DB	`12`	Troy Wiseman	So
DB	`13`	Jeremiah Johnson	So
DB	`16`	Lamont Cox	Fr
DB	`17`	Luke Martin	So
DB	`19`	Josh Gatlin	Fr
DB	`20`	Ty Dugger	Jr
DL	`23`	Tirrell Johnson	So
LB	`24`	Clark Griffin	Sr
DB	`26`	Drew Nelson	Fr
DB	`27`	G'Kyson Wright	Fr
DB	`28`	Zac O'Day	So
DB	`29`	Curtis Jackson	So
LB	`33`	Kyle Henry	Fr
DB	`36`	Carter Hill	Fr
LB	`37`	Dax Goff	Fr
DL	`40`	Keith Hargraves	Sr
DB	`41`	Elijah Carlton	Fr
LB	`42`	Kekoa Carroll	Sr
LB	`44`	Jordan Mays	Fr
DL	`45`	Devonte Manning	Sr
LB	`46`	Christian Brumley	Fr
DL	`47`	Nathan Muhle	Jr
DL	`48`	Tony Agyapong	So
LB	`52`	Jackson Cody	Fr
DL	`55`	Gage Price	Sr
DL	`58`	Austin Bailey	Sr
DL	`89`	Justin Sobczak	So
DL	`90`	Diego Davis	Fr
DL	`91`	Brock Knapton	Fr
DL	`92`	Bryce Rushing	Fr
DL	`95`	Nii Addy	Fr
DL	`96`	Joseph Oluwayemi	Fr
DL	`99`	Wesley Coleman	Sr
LB		Calan Castles	Fr
DB		Connor Dean	Fr
DB		Corey Dean	Fr
DL		Cam Draper	Fr
DB		Kelon Fountain	Fr
DB		Ayden Hamilton	Fr
DL		Beau Hardin	Fr
DL		Andrew Hodge	Fr
DB		Ahmad Jenkins	Fr
LB		B. T. McMillian	Fr
DL		Peyton McNeely	Fr
DL		Landen Meredith	Fr
DB		Xavier Rodriguez	Fr
DL		Kaden Spencer	Fr
DL		Kaleb Walker	Fr

Special teams

Pos.	#	Name	Class
P	`38`	Luke Mammana	Jr
K	`39`	Magnus Lepak	So
K	`43`	James Satterfield	Fr
LS	`49`	Xavier Hylton	Jr
LS	`53`	Chase Whitfield	Sr
K, P	`84`	Griffin Thomas	Fr
LS		Jack Edwards	Fr
LS		Aidan Hall	Fr

Head coach

Paul Simmons

Coordinators/assistant coaches

Roddy Mote
Defensive coordinator/Linebackers
Luke Tribble
Co-defensive coordinator/Special teams coordinator/Defensive backs
Tre'von Biglow
Defensive line
Sam Blakenship
Safeties
Kevin Chism
Offensive line
Ryan Derrick
Wide receivers
Matt Middleton
Quarterbacks/Fullbacks
Matt Underwood
Director of recruiting/Slotbacks
Kenny Wheaton
Offensive consultant

Legend

(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible

Injured
Redshirt

Roster
Last update: September 10, 2024

Game summaries

Southern Nazarene

Southern Nazarene Crimson Storm at No. 1 Harding Bisons – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Crimson Storm	0	0	0	0	0
No. 1 Bisons	14	28	10	7	59

at First Security Stadium, Searcy, Arkansas

Date: September 5
Game time: 7:00 p.m. CDT
Game weather: Sunny, 82 °F (28 °C)
Game attendance: 3,500
Referee: Michael Catton
Box score, Recap

Game information
First quarter HAR – Blake Delacruz 5-yard run (Magnus Lepak kick), 13:57. Bisons 7–0. Drive: 1 play, 5 yards, 0:05. HAR – Cole Keylon 9-yard run (Magnuz Lepak kick), 10:16. Bisons 14–0. Drive: 8 plays, 73 yards, 2:10. Second quarter HAR – Cole Keylon 1-yard run (Magnus Lepak kick), 13:44. Bisons 21–0. Drive: 3 plays, 35 yards, 1:16. HAR – Blake Delacruz 15-yard run (Magnus Lepak kick), 8:43. Bisons 28–0. Drive: 8 plays, 56 yards, 3:54. HAR – Braden Jay 21-yard pass from Cole Keylon (Magnus Lepak kick), 7:20. Bisons 35–0. Drive: 2 plays, 23 yards, 0:47. HAR – Andrew Miller 88-yard run (Magnus Lepak kick), 4:48. Bisons 42–0. Drive: 1 play, 88 yards, 0:14. Third quarter HAR – Josh Evans-Pickens 21-yard run (Magnus Lepak kick), 11:35. Bisons 49–0. Drive: 6 plays, 64 yards, 3:25. HAR – Magnus Lepak 33-yard field goal, 1:34. Bisons 52–0. Drive: 6 plays, 28 yards, 3:52. Fourth quarter HAR – Malik Young 20-yard run (Magnus Lepak kick), 12:18. Bisons 59–0. Drive: 5 plays, 46 yards, 2:32.

Game information

First quarter

HAR – Blake Delacruz 5-yard run (Magnus Lepak kick), 13:57. Bisons 7–0. Drive: 1 play, 5 yards, 0:05.
HAR – Cole Keylon 9-yard run (Magnuz Lepak kick), 10:16. Bisons 14–0. Drive: 8 plays, 73 yards, 2:10.

Second quarter

HAR – Cole Keylon 1-yard run (Magnus Lepak kick), 13:44. Bisons 21–0. Drive: 3 plays, 35 yards, 1:16.
HAR – Blake Delacruz 15-yard run (Magnus Lepak kick), 8:43. Bisons 28–0. Drive: 8 plays, 56 yards, 3:54.
HAR – Braden Jay 21-yard pass from Cole Keylon (Magnus Lepak kick), 7:20. Bisons 35–0. Drive: 2 plays, 23 yards, 0:47.
HAR – Andrew Miller 88-yard run (Magnus Lepak kick), 4:48. Bisons 42–0. Drive: 1 play, 88 yards, 0:14.

Third quarter

HAR – Josh Evans-Pickens 21-yard run (Magnus Lepak kick), 11:35. Bisons 49–0. Drive: 6 plays, 64 yards, 3:25.
HAR – Magnus Lepak 33-yard field goal, 1:34. Bisons 52–0. Drive: 6 plays, 28 yards, 3:52.

Fourth quarter

HAR – Malik Young 20-yard run (Magnus Lepak kick), 12:18. Bisons 59–0. Drive: 5 plays, 46 yards, 2:32.

Statistics	SNU	HAR
First downs	4	24
Total yards	49	607
Rushing yards	33	554
Passing yards	16	53
Turnovers	1	3
Time of possession	25:38	34:22

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Southern Nazarene	Passing	Rasheed Noel	2/5, 17 yards
	Rushing	Evan Rader	1 rush, 37 yards
	Receiving	Dalen Smith	1 reception, 9 yards
Harding	Passing	Cole Keylon	2/5, 53 yards, TD
	Rushing	Andrew Miller	6 rushes, 129 yards, TD
	Receiving	Will White	1 reception, 32 yards

At Oklahoma Baptist

No. 1 Harding Bisons at Oklahoma Baptist Bison – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 1 HAR Bisons	14	17	21	7	59
OKB Bison	0	7	0	0	7

at Crain Family Stadium, Shawnee, Oklahoma

Date: September 14
Game time: 7:00 p.m. CDT
Game weather: Sunny, 88 °F (31 °C)
Game attendance: 2,706
Referee: Darin Lair
Box score, Recap

Game information
First quarter HAR – Blake Delacruz 1-yard run (Magnus Lepak kick), 9:52. Harding 7–0. Drive: 8 plays, 30 yards, 4:13. HAR – Stone Sheffield 34-yard pass from Cole Keylon (Magnus Lepak kick), 6:15. Harding 14–0. Drive: 5 plays, 78 yards, 2:39. Second quarter HAR – Blake Delacruz 3-yard run (Magnus Lepak kick), 11:44. Harding 21–0. Drive: 11 plays, 54 yards, 5:30. OKB – Haven Lysell-Stewart 5-yard pass from Kenny Rosenthal (Patrick Maxwell kick), 8:49. Harding 21–7. Drive: 9 plays, 65 yards, 2:55. HAR – Braden Jay 11-yard run (Magnus Lepak kick), 2:43. Harding 28–7. Drive: 10 plays, 59 yards, 5:59. HAR – Magnus Lepak 36-yard field goal, 0:10. Harding 31–7. Drive: 10 plays, 46 yards, 1:58. Third quarter HAR – Andrew Miller 8-yard run (Magnus Lepak kick), 10:33. Harding 38–7. Drive: 9 plays, 74 yards, 4:22. HAR – Malik Young 1-yard run (Magnus Lepak kick), 5:06. Harding 45–7. Drive: 8 plays, 63 yards, 4:20. HAR – Josh Strickland Jr. 3-yard run (Magnus Lepak kick), 0:49. Harding 52–7. Drive: 6 plays, 64 yards, 3:09. Fourth quarter HAR – G'Kyson Wright 15-yard interception return (Magnus Lepak kick), 12:26. Harding 59–7.

Game information

First quarter

HAR – Blake Delacruz 1-yard run (Magnus Lepak kick), 9:52. Harding 7–0. Drive: 8 plays, 30 yards, 4:13.
HAR – Stone Sheffield 34-yard pass from Cole Keylon (Magnus Lepak kick), 6:15. Harding 14–0. Drive: 5 plays, 78 yards, 2:39.

Second quarter

HAR – Blake Delacruz 3-yard run (Magnus Lepak kick), 11:44. Harding 21–0. Drive: 11 plays, 54 yards, 5:30.
OKB – Haven Lysell-Stewart 5-yard pass from Kenny Rosenthal (Patrick Maxwell kick), 8:49. Harding 21–7. Drive: 9 plays, 65 yards, 2:55.
HAR – Braden Jay 11-yard run (Magnus Lepak kick), 2:43. Harding 28–7. Drive: 10 plays, 59 yards, 5:59.
HAR – Magnus Lepak 36-yard field goal, 0:10. Harding 31–7. Drive: 10 plays, 46 yards, 1:58.

Third quarter

HAR – Andrew Miller 8-yard run (Magnus Lepak kick), 10:33. Harding 38–7. Drive: 9 plays, 74 yards, 4:22.
HAR – Malik Young 1-yard run (Magnus Lepak kick), 5:06. Harding 45–7. Drive: 8 plays, 63 yards, 4:20.
HAR – Josh Strickland Jr. 3-yard run (Magnus Lepak kick), 0:49. Harding 52–7. Drive: 6 plays, 64 yards, 3:09.

Fourth quarter

HAR – G'Kyson Wright 15-yard interception return (Magnus Lepak kick), 12:26. Harding 59–7.

Statistics	HAR	OKB
First downs	31	8
Total yards	506	157
Rushing yards	427	27
Passing yards	79	130
Turnovers	1	2
Time of possession	42:24	17:36

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Harding	Passing	Cole Keylon	4/6, 60 yards, TD
	Rushing	Blake Delacruz	14 rushes, 68 yards, 2 TD
	Receiving	Stone Sheffield	2 receptions, 53 yards, TD
Oklahoma Baptist	Passing	Kenny Rosenthal	12/33, 110 yards, TD, 2 INT
	Rushing	Caden Peevy	2 rushes, 19 yards
	Receiving	Michael Marshall	4 receptions, 33 yards

At Arkansas–Monticello

No. 1 Harding Bisons at Arkansas–Monticello Boll Weevils – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 1 Bisons	0	0	0	0	0
Boll Weevils	0	0	0	0	0

at Cotton Boll Stadium, Monticello, Arkansas

Date: September 19
Game time: 6:00 p.m. CDT

Statistics	HAR	UAM
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Harding	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Arkansas–Monticello	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Henderson State

Henderson State Reddies at Harding Bisons – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Reddies	0	0	0	0	0
Bisons	0	0	0	0	0

at First Security Stadium, Searcy, Arkansas

Date: September 28
Game time: 7:00 p.m. CDT

Statistics	HSU	HAR
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Henderson State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Harding	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

At SW Oklahoma State

Harding Bisons at Southwestern Oklahoma State Bulldogs – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Bisons	0	0	0	0	0
Bulldogs	0	0	0	0	0

at Milam Stadium, Weatherford, Oklahoma

Date: October 5
Game time: 2:00 p.m. CDT

Statistics	HAR	SWO
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Harding	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
SW Oklahoma State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

NW Oklahoma State

Northwestern Oklahoma State Rangers at Harding Bisons – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Rangers	0	0	0	0	0
Bisons	0	0	0	0	0

at First Security Stadium, Searcy, Arkansas

Date: October 12
Game time: 2:00 p.m. CDT

Statistics	NWO	HAR
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
NW Oklahoma State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Harding	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

At Ouachita Baptist

Harding Bisons at Ouachita Baptist Tigers – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Bisons	0	0	0	0	0
Tigers	0	0	0	0	0

at Cliff Harris Stadium, Arkadelphia, Arkansas

Date: October 19
Game time: 7:00 p.m. CDT

Statistics	HAR	OUA
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Harding	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Ouachita Baptist	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Southern Arkansas

Southern Arkansas Muleriders at Harding Bisons – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Muleriders	0	0	0	0	0
Bisons	0	0	0	0	0

at First Security Stadium, Searcy, Arkansas

Date: October 26
Game time: 3:00 p.m. CDT

Statistics	SAU	HAR
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Southern Arkansas	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Harding	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

SE Oklahoma State

Southeastern Oklahoma State Savage Storm at Harding Bisons – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Savage Storm	0	0	0	0	0
Bisons	0	0	0	0	0

at First Security Stadium, Searcy, Arkansas

Date: October 31
Game time: 7:00 p.m. CDT

Statistics	SOU	HAR
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
SE Oklahoma State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Harding	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

At East Central

Harding Bisons at East Central Tigers – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Bisons	0	0	0	0	0
Tigers	0	0	0	0	0

at Koi Ishto Stadium, Ada, Oklahoma

Date: November 16
Game time: 2:00 p.m. CST

Statistics	HAR	ECU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Harding	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
East Central	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Arkansas Tech

Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys at Harding Bisons – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Wonder Boys	0	0	0	0	0
Bisons	0	0	0	0	0

at First Security Stadium, Searcy, Arkansas

Date: November 16
Game time: 2:00 p.m. CST

Statistics	ATU	HAR
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Arkansas Tech	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Harding	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

References

^ "#1 Harding football kicks off 2024 season Thursday night at home". KAIT. September 4, 2024. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
^ "REIGNING NATIONAL CHAMPION BISONS VOTED #theGAC FAVORITE". Great American Conference. August 1, 2024. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
^ "2024 Football Schedule". Harding University Athletics. Retrieved September 9, 2024.

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