HARDING 27, INDIANAPOLIS 24
Harding University used a fourth-quarter goal-line stand and a botched snap on a field-goal attempt to come away with a 27-24 lightning-delayed victory over University of Indianapolis (11-1) on Saturday in the first round of the NCAA Division II Region 3 playoffs at Key Stadium in Indianapolis.
The victory was the ninth in a row for Harding (9-3) and sends the Bisons to Ohio to face Ashland in a Region 3 semifinal. The Eagles (11-1) knocked off defending national champion Northwest Missouri, 21-18, on Saturday in Ashland, Ohio. Northwest Missouri eliminated Harding 35-0 in last year's Division II quarterfinals.
"It's amazing that nine weeks ago we were 0 and 3," said Harding Coach Paul Simmons. "We've been holding the rope a long time. When you're 0-3 it's really easy to just let it all hang out and that's what we've been doing."
On Saturday, the Bisons trailed the Greyhounds 17-14 entering the fourth quarter. Zach Shelley quickly gave the Bisons the lead on a 5-yard run on the first play of the quarter to cap a 17-play, 72-yard drive.
The Greyhounds got the ball on the Harding 45 after the ensuing onside-kick attempt went out of bounds. Indianapolis lost 2 yards in 2 plays before Jake Purichia found Malik Higgins for a 47-yard touchdown pass with 13:38 remaining to give the Greyhounds their final lead, 24-21.
Three Purichia incompletions led to an 73-yard punt by Brad Schickel that was downed at the Harding 4. Senior Grant Kimberlin quickly flipped field position with a 68-yard run to give the Bisons first down at the Indianapolis 28. Hobbled junior quarterback Terrence Dingle handled things from there, going 25 yards on second and 7 for his second touchdown run of the game to give the Bisons a 27-24 lead with 9:15 left.
"There we were with our backs against the wall ... and Grant just makes a great run there," Simmons said. "Just getting the ball out of a hole was the key.
"Then Terrence, who was basically playing on one leg, came out as our second-team quarterback ran a play, put himself back in the game and willed the ball into the end zone. It was 100 percent willpower."
The Bisons then put the game in the hands of their defense. Indianapolis back Al McKeller ran 11 times for 59 yards on its ensuing drive, picking up first downs on fourth and 3 at the Harding 41 and a third and 3 at the Bisons 17 along the way. McKellar's 10th attempt gave the Greyhounds first and goal at the 3. He went for 2 yards to get the ball to the 1 before getting pushed back for a yard loss on second down.
Purichia fumbled the third-down exchange with McKellar jumping on the loose ball at the Harding 8 to set up fourth and goal. Purichia bobbled the snap on Schickel's 25-yard field goal attempt which led to a desperation incompletion.
"Their running back [McKellar] was the best we've seen all year," Simmons said. "We didn't get him stopped a whole lot, but we did when we had to at the end.
"Their quarterback [Purichia] is a dynamite player. He said afterward both were good snaps there at the end. I don't know if he panicked or not."
The Greyhounds had one timeout remaining as Harding took over at its own 8 with 1:06 remaining. The Bisons were finally able to secure the victory after a third kneel-down at the Bisons 5-yard line.
Harding raced out to a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter. Dingle's 3-yard touchdown run with 9:14 left in the first quarter capped an 11-play, 75-yard drive on the Bisons' initial drive of the game.
Harding's Sam Blankenship temporarily stopped Indianapolis' opening drive when he returned an interception to the Bisons' 20, but he fumbled and Tyre Lee recovered for the Greyhounds. Christian Witt intercepted Purichia's third-and-8 attempt at the 15 and returned it to the Bisons' 30 to get Harding's offense back on the field.
The Bisons promptly went 70 yards in 10 plays with Cole Chancey scoring from the 2 on fourth and 1 for a 14-0 lead with 13:03 left in the second quarter.
McKellar, who rushed for 144 yards on 26 attempts, scored the first of his two touchdowns with 10:04 remaining in the quarter and trimmed the deficit to 14-7.
Schickel's 27-yard field goal at the 5:32 mark got the Greyhounds to within 14-10 before the game was delayed almost 2 hours, 15 minutes because of lightning.
McKellar's 3-yard touchdown run with 8:54 left in the third quarter capped a 12-play, 75-yard drive to begin the third quarter that gave the Greyhounds their first lead at 17-14.
Kimberlin led all rushers with 145 yards on 12 carries, while Dingle carried 19 times for 93 yards and the 2 scores.
Harding rushed for 349 yards for all of its total offense, while allowing 329 (171 rushing, 158 passing).
Sports on 11/19/2017