TWO SOPHOMORES FIND END ZONE AT HARDING

A pair of sophomores scored touchdowns and Dax Goff ran for 167 yards and two more touchdowns for the Bearcats as they closed out nonconference play with a trip to Harding University’s First Security Bank Stadium in Searcy.

It was a fast start for the Bearcats but Harding Academy was able to answer two touchdowns with two of their own, the second score starting a stretch of 45 unanswered points in a 51-27 win.

After the first of eight touchback kickoffs – of the nine – started the game, Rylen Ray got the first four carries of the night and moved the sticks with a two yard pickup on fourth-and-1 to the Bearcat 31-yard line.

Goff went 69 yards with his first carry of the game to give the Bearcats a 6-0 lead.

The Bearcats (1-2) thought they had come up with a turnover on a 42-yard completion with Colter Fisher getting the ball out of a receiver’s hands and Jace Washburn picking it up, but it was whistled dead and Harding went on to tie the game three plays later.

A snap issue resulted in a two-point attempt that Conner Lentz stopped.

Lentz then capped the next possession with a 12-yard touchdown run on what was his first carry of the night – Goff had rumbled for 39 that became 54 yards when he was drug down by his facemask.

The touchdown – which was the third for Lentz this season – came on a third-and-7 and Juan Moreno added the point after for a 13-6 lead with just 3:29 gone from the first quarter clock.

Harding responded with a seven play drive to a 28-yard touchdown pass but a missed PAT kept the Bearcats in front 13-12.

Harding would go in front for the first time on their next possession, scoring on a 6-yard run and adding a two point conversion to make it 20-13 with 1:21 left in the first quarter.

The Bearcats appeared to have moved the chains early in the third quarter but a movement flag made it a fourth-and-six and a punt.

Harding scored on the ensuing possession and added another touchdown and again after a failed fourth down by the Bearcats and it was 34-13.

A 28-yard field goal made it 37-13 before halftime.

The Bearcats scored in the third quarter on a 41-yard carry by Goff – his only second half carry – to make it 51-20.

Seth Wilson and Colton Taylor combined on a fourth down stop at the Bearcat 2 to keep it that way with 8:33 to play.

That brought on Rhett Nietert who directed a 98-yard drive that took nine plays and made it 51-27.

Nietert carried for 37 yards on one play and scored the touchdown from the 8. Garrick Barr and Colter Fisher both also 23 yards during the drive.

Oliver Loaeza got his first chance at a PAT and converted on the college width goal posts.

Loaeza also scooped up a Wildcat fumble on what would be the final play of the game.

The Bearcats will be home next week, opening conference play with Hackett. Hackett was open Friday night and is 2-1 on the season with a win over Centerpoint, a loss to Pocola, Okla., and a win over Panama, Okla.