RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Arkansas Tech football team played its final game of the 2023 season on Saturday afternoon at home at Simmons Bank Field at Thone Stadium against consensus top-five ranked Harding. Unfortunately, Harding lived up to its high national ranking as the Bisons defeated Tech by a score of 56-0.
The loss dropped the Wonder Boys to 5-6 on the season, giving them their second-straight year with a 5-6 record.
Early action on Saturday indicated that the game might be closer than what the final score ended up being as both teams were forced to punt the ball early in their opening drives.
The momentum swung drastically in favor of the Bisons on the first play of Tech's second possession of the game as Harding returned an interception 26 yards for a touchdown of the game's first points.
From that point, the Wonder Boys would struggle to move the ball offensively against the stout Harding defense. At the same time, the Bisons, on their offensive end, were able to methodically advance the ball on the ground through their flexbone offense.
After being forced to punt on their first possession and after getting scoring started on the interception, the Bisons scored touchdowns on their next three possessions to go up 28-0 with 5:31 left in the first half.
Harding then closed the half with a pair of big plays, scoring on a punt return and on a rare pass with time expiring in the half to send the game to halftime with the Bisons up 42-0.
Harding added a touchdown in the third and fourth quarters to bring the score to its final of 56-0.
With it being the final game of the season, the Wonder Boys celebrated their outgoing seniors prior to the game. Those that were honored were:
Jude Bartholomew,
Sam Bartis,
Adam Cousins,
Taye Gatewood,
Kyle Green,
Corbin Humphrey,
Willie Miles,
Matthew Minnix,
Matthew Rivera,
Trey White,
Jaden Willis and
Aaron Winn.
