KICKING OFF
The toughest test of the season for Arkansas Tech comes in the final game of their regular season as they will host consensus top-five nationally-ranked Harding this Saturday.
Both teams are playing for a lot as the Wonder Boys are aiming for their first winning season since 2017 and their first win against Harding since 2015. On the other sideline, the Bisons are looking to secure the top-seed within Super Region 3 in the upcoming NCAA Division II Playoffs.
Earlier in the week, Harding was tabbed as the top-ranked team in the latest regional rankings and were announced as the No. 2 and No. 4-ranked team in the national rankings according to the NFCA and D2Football.com, respectively.
With it being the final home game of the season, the Wonder Boys will also be celebrating the exiting seniors on this year's team. Among those that will be taking part in the pre-game ceremony are: Jude Bartholomew, Adam Cousins, Taye Gatewood, Corbin Humphrey, Willie Miles, Matthew Minnix, Matthew Rivera, Jaden Willis, and Aaron Winn.
TECH(NICALLY) SPEAKING
SCOUTING THE OFFENSE
Offensively through 10 games, the Wonder Boys are averaging 21.2 points per game and 311.9 yards of total offense. Their ppg average ranks eighth in the GAC, while their total offense ranks seventh.
Taye Gatewood has assumed the starting quarterback role for the Wonders Boys with starts in each of the last nine games. Thus far, he has thrown for 1,969 yards on 180-of-270 passing with 13 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
 On the ground, the Wonder Boys have had 12 different ball carriers through nine games. Deuce Wise has had the most carries by a running back with 94 and the most yards with 438. Jordan Edington leads the team in rushing touchdowns with six. Gatewood is next with three, while Corbin Humphrey and Wise account for the other rushing scores.
In terms of receiving, Tech has had pass completions to 16 different targets. Caleb Tanis leads the team in receptions, yards and touchdowns with 47 catches, 526 yards and six TDs. Matthew Rivera is the next-leading receiver with 402 yards receiving on 38 receptions. He is also second on the team in receiving TDs with three.
SCOUTING THE DEFENSE
Defensively through 10 games, the Wonder Boys are allowing an average of 367.8 yards of total offense per game by their opponents and 22.9 points per game. The total defense ranks ninth in the GAC, while their scoring defense is fourth.
Individually, Tech has six players that have registered 40 or more tackles. The leading tackler thus far is Jyrin Steward and his 54 stops. Vershaud Richardson leads the team in tackles for loss with 16.0 and sacks with 10.5. Richardson also leads the team in forced fumbles with two.
SPECIAL TEAMS
The new-look kicking game for the Wonder Boys has Austin Hosier handling the placekicking duties. He is 24-of-27 in extra point attempts and 8-of-13 in field goal attempts.
In the punting game, Tech has used a pair of punters but are expected to rely on veteran returner Aaron Winn when healthy. He is currently averaging 44.8 yards per punt and has a long of 63 yards.
In the return game, the Wonder Boys are averaging 22.1 yards per return on kickoffs. They have three returns of at least 50 yards this season, all done by different players with Mason Ross, Hunter Wilkinson and Ryan Wilkerson having the big returns.
ABOUT HARDING
LAST GAME
The Harding Bisons come into Saturday's game unbeaten at 10-0 and poised to make a return trip to the NCAA Division II playoffs as they are the top-ranked team in Super Region 3 according to the latest regional rankings.
In their most-recent game, Harding blew out East Central at home, 48-7. It was the Bisons' ninth victory of at least 30 points and the fifth of at least 40 points. Overall, the Bisons are out-scoring their opponents by an average 41.0 ppg.
THE COACH
The Bisons are coached by Paul Simmons, who is in his seventh year as the head coach at Harding. A Harding alum, Simmons has amassed a 60-13 overall record. In his first four seasons coached (2020 not played due to COVID), Simmons led his Bisons to the NCAA Playoffs advancing to the National semifinals in 2017. He has also won at least eight games in all six seasons played.
SCOUTING THE OFFENSE
Offensively, the Bisons feature a flexbone offensive attack. Through 10 games this year, Harding has the top-ranked scoring offense in the GAC and second-ranked in DII at 51.2 ppg and the top-ranked total offense with an average of 477.3 ypg. Through the air, the Bisons are averaging just 46.7 ypg to rank 12th in the GAC, but on the ground, Harding is averaging 430.6 ypg to rank 1st in the GAC and in DII.
A total of 17 different players have carried the ball this season for Harding with five having at least 50 totes. The leading rusher thus far has been Blake Delacruz with 857 yards gained and 17 touchdowns. Three others have at least 400 yards rushing and two others have at least eight rushing scores.
Rarely passing the ball, the Cole Keylon has completed just 44% of his attempts and has thrown for 433 yards. He has six passing TDs and one interception.
SCOUTING THE DEFENSE
Defensively, the Bisons base out of the 4-2-5 scheme and currently rank first in scoring defense, allowing 10.2 ppg. Their total defense also ranks first in the GAC allowing 217.9 ypg of total offense by their opponents. Through the air, Harding ranks first in the GAC with 135.9 ypg. On the ground, the Bisons allow an average of 82.0 ypg and rank first in the GAC.
Individually, Harding has two players with 40 or more and are led in stops by Clark Griffin with 63. Zach Strickland is leads the team in TFLs with 9.5 while Dre Hall is first in sacks with 7.5. The Bisons defense has forced 27 turnovers with 18 INTs and nine fumble recoveries.
THE SERIES
This will be the 60th meeting all-time between Arkansas Tech and Harding in a series that dates back to 1928. After that initial meeting, the two did not play again until 1960, but played annually as conference foes in the AIC until 1995 when both teams made the jump to NCAA DII. The series renewed for the 1996 and 1997seasons, but it wasn't until 2000 that the two became annual conference rivals once more.
In the time since their transition to DII, Harding leads the series 15-8. Since both teams joined the GAC in 2012, Harding leads 9-1. Overall, Tech leads the series 31-28.
