MCKINNEY, Texas — Harding made history by winning its first NCAA Division II national championship in a 38-7 victory over top-seeded Colorado School of Mines at McKinney ISD Stadium in Texas on Saturday.
The Bisons recorded 502 rushing yards in the winning effort to become the first school in NCAA history with more than 6,000 yards on the ground in a single season.
"It's 100 percent guys that love each other, believe in the brotherhood that care deeply," Harding head coach Paul Simmons said. "Let's honor God with how we love one another, how we work, how we sacrifice... that was really evident with how we battled today."
Running back Blake Delacruz led the way for Harding with 212 yards on 27 carries, while Braden Jay rushed 11 times for 161 yards and three touchdowns.
Colorado School of Mines struck first on a two-yard touchdown pass from quarterback John Matocha to running back Nick Roper. The score gave the Orediggers a 7-0 lead with 9:06 to play in the first quarter.
But from there, it was all Bisons.
Harding, who finished the season with a perfect 14-0 record, scored 38 unanswered points and held Colorado School of Mines to 341 yards of total offense to secure the championship victory.
Bison running back Jhalen Spicer started the scoring party with a 10-yard rushing touchdown to tie the game 7-7 at the end of the first quarter. Jay gave Harding the lead with rushing scores of 10 and nine yards in the second quarter to push the Bisons ahead 21-7 at the half.
Harding made a statement on its opening drive of the third quarter with a four-play, 87-yard drive capped by a 73-yard rushing touchdown by Jay.
Leading 31-7 with 11:58 to play in the fourth quarter, quarterback Cole Keylon pounded in a one-yard rushing touchdown, giving the Bisons a 38-7 lead.
Keylon completed two passes for 46 yards and added 20 rushing yards on seven carries.
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