LIVINGSTON, Ala. –
The University of West
Alabama suffered a 36-35 setback to Harding Saturday
night at Tiger Stadium in front of a crowd of 5,268.
The Bison manufactured
the game-winning drive that began at the 11:20 mark of
the final stanza. HU moved the ball down to the UWA
21-yard line to put the go-ahead points on the board
with 9:29 remaining. Ferrell connected on his third
field goal of the night with 39-yard attempt to give HU
the slim one-point margin.
UWA struck the first
blow in the back and forth contest, when Kurt Kennedy,
in just the second start of his career, scampered into
the endzone for 25-yard touchdown. A Mitch Warfield PAT
gave the Tigers the early 7-0 lead with 9 minutes and 31
seconds remaining in the first quarter.
Harding cut into the
UWA lead on a 37-yard field from Ryan Ferrell,
capping a 10-play, 34-yard drive. The Tigers answered
the Bison score with a two-yard dash by Tyrone Tomlin at
the 4:00 mark.
The Bison added a
touchdown early in the second quarter on a five-yard
rush by Alan Webster to cut the deficit to 14-10 with
11:16 remaining in the half. Less than two minutes
later, Cole Mason pounded in an eight-yard run. Ferrell
added his second field goal of the night at the 6:04
mark to come within 21-13.
UWA’s Terry Allen tied
the school record for the longest kickoff return,
dashing 100 yards to extend the Tiger lead to 28-13, but
two Harding scores before the half let the Bison within
two points at the intermission.
HU would take its
first lead of the game at the 4:46 mark of the third
period on a Zac Ross nine-yard touchdown run. Ross’
rush closed out a 13-play, 90-yard drive for the Bison.
UWA regained the advantage after Mason registered a
season-best 37-yard touchdown-scoring run to give the
Red and White a two point advantage with 3:24 remaining
in the third period.
HU turned in 474 yards
total offense while the Tigers finished with 344 total
yards. Mason led all rushers with 151 yards rushing on
21 attempts. Bison signal caller David Knighton
completed 26 passes for 317 yards.
UWA’s next action will
be against the Wolves of West Georgia on Saturday, Oct
13, at Grisham Stadium on the UWG campus. Kick off is
set for 6 p.m. CST. |
