LITTLE ROCK — Nailbiters difficult to swallow
On one hand, Ronnie Huckeba’s Harding Bisons have been competitive in each of the seven games they’ve played this season.
That, in itself, is a sign of progress after losing five games by 14 points or more in 2009.
But on the other hand, when Harding’s four losses by a total of 20 points are considered, it becomes clear that Huckeba and the Bisons have had one of the more heartbreaking seasons of any of Arkansas’ football-playing schools.
Heading into Saturday’s 2 p.m. game against Arkansas-Monticello, Harding’s 3-4 overall record and 1-4 mark in the Gulf South don’t stand out.
But the Bisons have become the poster boys for how frustrating life can become in a Gulf South that some coaches have said is more competitive and challenging than any of them can remember.
That’s made for close outcomes and several devastating finishes.
“It rips your guts out,” said Huckeba, whose Bisons lost 33-28 at Henderson State last week, haven’t dropped a game this year by more than seven points and have held fourth-quarter leads in every game.
But Huckeba isn’t the only coach feeling frustration.
Of the 19 losses suffered by five Arkansas schools in the Gulf South - if 0-7 Southern Arkansas is excluded - 12 have come by a touchdown or less.
Both of Ouachita Baptist’s losses have come by seven points or fewer and three ofUAM’s five setbacks have come by similar margins.
“I think there’s a lot of good football being played in this state,” said OBU Coach Todd Knight, whose team is 5-2 overall and 3-2 in the Gulf South. “When you have even teams you have close games.”
UAM’s Gwaine Mathews, like Huckeba, can take solace in the fact that his Boll Weevils (3-5, 2-4) have come within minutes of knocking off some of the league’s top teams.
On Sept. 2, the Boll Weevils lost 27-20 to West Alabama and last week, they lost 21-17 to Valdosta State.
West Alabama and Valdosta State are tied at the top of the Gulf South with one conference loss.
Mathews, who played and was an assistant coach at conference foe Delta State, said the gap has narrowed thanks to improvement among the Arkansas schools.
But, he added, traditional powers North Alabama, Delta State and Valdosta State have also come down a bit.
“Sometimes the Arkansas coaches don’t want to say it, but the big three aren’t where they were talent wise,” Mathews said. “I think we’re all better and all the other ones are down.”HENDERSON STATE Talented trio
Henderson State quarterback Nick Hardesty has been voted the Gulf South’s Offensive player of the week three times this season, the last of which came after completing 34 of 51 passes for 448 yards and 3 touchdowns in a victory over Harding last Saturday.
No doubt Hardesty’s ability to run the Reddies’ Spread offense is a reason they head into Saturday’s rivalry game with Ouachita Baptist with NCAA Division II playoff hopes in mind.
But without what Coach Scott Maxfield calls the most talented group of receivers he’s had during his six years in Arkadelphia, that wouldn’t be possible.
“If you’re going to run the Spread offense,” Maxfield said, “you’ve got to have some playmakers you can throw to.”
In the victory over Harding, Chris Evering, Jazz Scott and Josh Sipho made a combined 24 receptions for 338 yards and 3 touchdowns.
All of them had at least 100 yards, led by Sipho’s 119 and two touchdowns.
Evering (69 catches for 697 yards and 5 touchdowns) is the second-leading receiver in the Gulf South, while Scott and Sean McGrath, another reliable pass catcher, are fourth and fifth, respectively.
Sipho is seventh to round out a group of receivers that help the Reddies lead the conference with 373.2 passing yards per game.
“I’ve had some good individual receivers,” Maxfield said. “But as far as a group, this is by far the best.” SOUTHERN ARKANSAS Youth movement
Bill Keopple won’t blame all of his team’s problems this season on Austin Civita, the Muleriders’ senior quarterback who they have failed to protect while standing in the pocket.
But, at some point, a coach trying to construct a massive rebuilding project has to find pieces he might be able to use beyond this season. Right now, with three games left in the season, Keopple’s experiment is Tyler Sykora.
The redshirt freshman from Hot Springs Village entered in a loss to Arkansas Tech two weeks ago and completed 11 of 24 passes for 121 yards.
Sykora, who has appeared in five games this season, was part of Keopple’s first recruiting class in 2009, redshirted last season and could take over at quarterback full-time next season. Keopple said Civita will start Saturday against West Alabama, but both quarterbacks will definitely play.
“He’s got a lot of ability, big arm. He just has to get some experience, all the playing time he can get,” Keopple said. “We’ll be a two-quarterback team the rest of the year.”
Sports, Pages 25 on 10/29/2010