KICKING OFF
The final week of the 2024 season has arrived and the Wonder Boys are set to play that final game on the road at consensus top-five ranked and defending National Champion, Harding.
In this final game, the Wonder Boys definitely face a difficult challenge, but also have the opportunity to play spoiler and achieve a sought after milestone. If the Wonder Boys are able to secure an upset victory, it would push their overall record over .500 for the first time since 2017 and would also likely drop Harding out of playoff contention, abruptly ending their chances at repeating as National Champions.
This type of upset is not unprecedented for the Wonder Boys football program. Back in 1996, the Wonder Boys went on the road to take on the previous year's National Champions, University of North Alabama, and beat the Lions 38-35.
TECH(NICALLY) SPEAKING
LAST GAME
The Wonder Boys are coming off a remarkable 6-0 shutout win on the road at Southeastern Oklahoma this past weekend. It was the first shutout for the Wonder Boys since the 2017 season. The Wonder Boys also scored those six point on a pair of field goals by
Christopher Baldazo, which marked the first game that the Wonder Boys have won a game without scoring a touchdown since Oct. 22, 1960, when they defeated the ASTC Scroungy Bears 3-0 on a
Wayne Parmley 31-yard field goal midway through the second quarter.
SCOUTING THE OFFENSE
Offensively after 10 games, the Wonder Boys are averaging 20.1 points per game and 319.5 yards of total offense. Their ppg average ranks sixth in the GAC, while their total offense also ranks sixth.
In the passing game, the Wonder Boys used a trio of quarterbacks with Ethan Forrester, Ethan Everson and Hunter Loyd making at least one start. Overall, Everson has played in nine of 10 game and has made six starts. In his time on the field, Everson has thrown for 1,334 yards on 103-of-200 passing with seven touchdowns and four interceptions. As a team, their 207.0 passing yards per game rank third in the GAC.
On the ground, the Wonder Boys have had 10 different ball carriers against this season. Deuce Wise has shouldered the largest load with 125 carries and leads the team in net yards with 531. Luke Gall is next on the team in rushing yards with 333. He is second in rushing touchdowns with four. Myles West has been a quality option off the bench in the backfield and is up over 200 yards and has two touchdowns.
Jordan Edington, who handles most of the short-yardage downs, has recorded five rushing touchdowns to lead the team. The Wonder Boys' 112.5 rushing yards per game ranks 10th in the GAC.
In terms of receiving, Tech has had pass completions to 12 different targets. Joyrion Chase leads the team in receptions with 36, yards at 429 and has one receiving TD. Caleb Tanis is next with 388 yards on 26 receptions and is tied for the second-most touchdowns with tight end Dayton Keller and wideout Jordan Jackson with two. Jared Long is the team-leader in touchdown receptions with three.
SCOUTING THE DEFENSE
Defensively through nine games, the Wonder Boys allow an average of 294.9 yards of total offense per game by their opponents and 23.7 points per game. The total defense ranks fourth in the GAC, while their scoring defense is sixth.
Individually, Tech has three players that registered at least 50 tackles overall are led by Jyrin Steward and his 68 stops. Steward also lead the team in tackles for loss with 16.0 and has 3.0 sacks. Israel Whitmore is currently the team leader in sacks with 4.0.
In terms of takeaways, the Wonder Boys have recovered four fumbles and come away with nine interceptions. Four of the picks have been hauled in by CJ Palmer. The Wonder Boys also have two pick-six interceptions this season with Diego Sanchez having a 62-yard one against Northwestern Oklahoma and Steward a 15-yard one against Southwestern Oklahoma. The fumble recoveries have been secured by Jordan Thompson, Tyler Mosley, Scout Brazeal and Whitmore.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Christopher Baldazo has assumed the placekicking duties for the Wonder Boys and in nine games he is 13-for-16 in field goals with a long of 48 yards against Arkansas-Monticello. He is also 14-of-16 in extra point kicks.
In the punting game, Logan Tymeson has been called upon to punt 53 times this season and is averaging 40.4 yards per punt.
In the return game, CJ Palmer leads the team in kickoff return yards with 159 yards on 10 returns. De'Rion Crooms is second with 119 yards on four returns and has the longest of the season of 42 yards.
COACH SHIPP
Kyle Shipp is in his sixth season as head football coach at Arkansas Tech and is in his fifth season of competition after the 2020 season was not played due to COVID-19. After a 3-8 season in his first year on the sidelines of his alma mater in 2019, Shipp would improve his team's win output each of the next two seasons with four wins in 2021 and five wins in 2022. This past season, Shipp matched that win total of five. Overall, Shipp carries a 22-32 record.
KNOW YO FOE
LAST GAME
The Harding Bisons come into Saturday's game 9-1 and in search of making a return trip to the NCAA Division II playoffs to defend their National Championship a year ago. In the latest NCAA Regional Rankings, the Bisons were the No. 6 in Super Region 3.
In their most-recent game, Harding blew out East Central on the road, 34-7. It was the seventh time this season that the Bisons had allowed seven points or fewer in a game.
THE COACH
The Bisons are coached by Paul Simmons, who is in his eighth year as the head coach at Harding. A Harding alum, Simmons has amassed a 74-14 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 seven seasons played. This past season, Simmons led the Bisons to the NCAA DII National Championship as they went 15-0.
SCOUTING THE OFFENSE
Offensively, the Bisons feature a flexbone offensive attack. Through 11 games this year, Harding has the top-ranked scoring offense in the GAC as well as in DII at 51.8 ppg and the top-ranked total offense with an average of 499.9 ypg. Through the air, the Bisons are averaging just 82.5 ypg to rank 12th in the GAC, but on the ground, Harding is averaging 417.4 ypg to rank 1st in the GAC and in DII.
A total of 19 different players have carried the ball this season for Harding with four having at least 50 totes. The leading rusher thus far has been Braden Jay with 797 yards gained and 11 touchdowns. Four others have at least 300 yards rushing and two others have at least 400 yards gained as well as at least 10 rushing scores.
Rarely passing the ball, the Cole Keylon has completed 52.1% of his attempts and has thrown for 708 yards. He has 10 passing TDs and no interceptions.
SCOUTING THE DEFENSE
Defensively, the Bisons base out of the 4-2-5 scheme and currently rank first in the GAC and DII in scoring defense, allowing 6.8 ppg. Their total defense also ranks first in the GAC and DII allowing 167.3 ypg of total offense by their opponents. Through the air, Harding ranks first in the GAC with 87.6 ypg. On the ground, the Bisons allow an average of 79.7 ypg and rank first in the GAC.
Individually, Harding has five players with 25 or more and are led in stops by Clark Griffin with 81. Gage Price is leads the team in TFLs with 10.5 and sacks with 5.0. The Bisons defense has forced 19 turnovers with 13 INTs and six fumble recoveries.
THE SERIES
This will be the 61st 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 1997 seasons, 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 16-8. Since both teams joined the GAC in 2012, Harding leads 10-1. Overall, Tech leads the series 31-29.
