Arkansas Business

This story is from the archives of ArkansasSports360.com.

EL DORADO – Harding sophomore kicker John Gay booted the game-winning, 44-yard field goal with no time left to give the Bisons a 23-20 victory over Southern Arkansas on Saturday in the Boomtown Classic at Memorial Stadium.

The victory moved Harding to 5-0 overall and 3-0 in Great American Conference play. Previously unbeaten Southern Arkansas fell to 4-1 overall and 3-1 in conference action.

Harding rushed for only 127 yards and did not score a rushing touchdown for the first time in 20 games, but the Bisons used solid defense and game-changing special teams play and found a way to win anyway.

The Muleriders scored the game-tying touchdown with 1:17 left in the fourth quarter on an 1-yard touchdown run by Mark Johnson.

After the touchdown, Southern Arkansas used a short kickoff that Harding up-man Josh Aldridge returned to the ball to the Harding 41 with 1:10 left.

Harding picked up one first down but faced 4th-and-3 at the SAU 41. With 32 seconds left, Harding called timeout before running a pass play down the visitor sideline to junior Alex Rachal. The pass was incomplete, but Southern Arkansas' Quan Warren was called for pass interference, giving Harding a first down at the SAU 26.

Harding ran the ball up the middle to put Gay in the center of the field for the field goal attempt. Gay's kick was a low, line drive that split the uprights. It was the longest field goal of his career and his fifth consecutive successful attempt.

Harding had by far its most difficult half of the season in the first half. The Bisons lost three fumbles and had only 67 total yards.

Southern Arkansas' offense gained 230 yards in the first half but scored only twice. Senior quarterback Tyler Sykora scored on a 1-yard dive with 4:26 left in the first half. The run came after a 28-yard pass from Sykora to wide receiver Jack Brown.

The Muleriders' kicker Jacob Carpenter, who was 2-for-2 entering the game, had a chance to increase the Southern Arkansas lead but missed two field goals in the first half.

With 5:39 left in the first half, Southern Arkansas wide receiver Rafael Thomas caught the first passing touchdown of the season against the Bisons this season. Harding's Ty Powell blocked the extra point attempt and senior cornerback Roderick Cohn scooped up the loose ball and ran it back for two points. It was the first time in program history Harding scored on a blocked extra point.

Harding trailed 13-2 at halftime.