27 Aug 2011 Harding: Bisons set for new conference

Posted at 6:46 PMh in 501 Football Team by

Harding University will begin its transition this fall from the Gulf South Conference to the Great American Conference.

The GAC will be made up of nine schools previously from the Gulf South and the Lone Star: Harding, Arkansas-Monticello, Arkansas Tech, Henderson State, Ouachita Baptist, Southern Arkansas, East Central (Okla.), Southeastern Oklahoma and Southwest Oklahoma State.

Because of existing scheduling obligations, teams will play a partial round-robin lineup this fall. Ronnie Huckeba’s Bisons will play six games against the new league’s members.

Harding finished 6-4 last year, including 4-4 in GSC play.

The Bisons have 11 starters (six on offense and five on defense) back among 34 returning lettermen. Returning starters include four offensive linemen: senior Garrett Taylor (6-1, 285), juniors Tory Day (6-0, 260, All-GSC) and L.J. Tarrant (6-0, 270, All-GSC) and sophomore Jeremiah Vivio (6-3, 255), and senior running backs Kale Gelles (5-11, 200) and Jeremy Holt (5-9, 180). Gelles earned 1,099 yards and 10 touchdowns on 190 carries and caught seven passes for 90 yards and was an All-Region player as well; Holt carried the ball 66 times for 527 yards and three TDs and caught six passes for 66 yards and one score.

Defensively, Harding returns three backs: senior Luke Tribble (6-0, 195, 35 tackles, including 1.5 for loss); and juniors Jasper Bodiford (5-8, 200) and Terrence Davis (5-9, 170). Bodiford claimed 33 tackles, including four for loss, and two interceptions; Davis had 15 tackles and three interceptions. Also back are junior defensive lineman Josh Aldridge (6-1, 225, 25 tackles, six for loss, 4.5 sacks and two forced fumbles) and junior linebacker Aaron Gillaspie (5-10, 205, 53 tackles, 5.5 for loss and 2.5 sacks).

Junior Chaz Rogers (6-1, 210) is the top statistical returner at quarterback. He completed 12 of 24 passes for 208 yards and two TDs and averaged 4.9 yards on 39 carries for 191 yards and two scores.

Sophomore slotback Colton Kamper (5-9, 185) rushed for a 7.6-yard average (191 yards and two TDs on 25 carries) and caught two passes for 52 yards as a freshman.

Other projected starters include senior Tyler O’Quin (6-1, 200) and sophomore Alex Finley (5-10, 190) at wide receiver; redshirt freshman David Lee (6-2, 250) at center; juniors Matthew Buehler (6-0, 310) and Joe Calvin (6-0, 280) at defensive tackles; sophomore B.J. Jones (6-1, 225) at defensive end; junior Kennard Henderson (5-7, 200) at linebacker; junior TyAnthony Powell (6-3, 230) at rover; and senior Daniel Bernal (5-9, 170) at cornerback.

Micah Canterbury (5-10, 240) will handle punting and kicking duties; Adin Menkin (6-0, 160) will kick off and Darby Palmer (6-2, 245) will deep snap.