GULF SOUTH 360: Tech Heads to Playoffs with Win Over Harding

Another week, another victory and more passing records for the Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys.

The Wonder Boys (8-2, 6-2) crushed the Harding Bisons 52-31 on Saturday to wrap up second in the Gulf South Conference. In the process, the team set school records for points, touchdowns, total offense, passing yards and touchdown passes. Tech has scored 420 points and 58 touchdowns this season, also gaining 5,252 yards, passing for 3,701 of those yards and for 34 touchdowns.

Now, the Wonder Boys, with the fourth seed in the regional, will open the NCAA Division II Playoffs Super Regional II at home against North Carolina Pembroke (9-1). The winner will travel to North Alabama for the second round.

"Our team is playing well at the right time of the season. I thought we played well both offensively and defensively today for the most part," said Tech coach Steve Mullins. "The playoffs are a reward for all the hard work the players put in during the summer and in the preseason."

In other games involving Arkansas' Division II schools, Ouachita Baptist defeated Henderson State 35-28 in the annual Battle of the Ravine in Arkadelphia and Arkansas-Monticello defeated Southern Arkansas 17-6 in the first Boomtown Classic in El Dorado.

Tech quarterback Nick Graziano finished 36-for-53 for 403 yards and had four touchdowns and one interception. It was Graziano's fourth 400-plus yard passing game. Graziano, opened the game 10-for-10.

Frantz Simeon caught nine passes for 164 yards and two touchdowns and Landon Turner grabbed nine passes for 94 yards and a touchdown.