Setting the Scene- The 105th season of SWOSU Football kicks off on Saturday, September 6 at Harding. It will mark the second straight season opener against the Bisons, who SWOSU downed 27-23 in the Fast Lane Kickoff Classic last season.
- SWOSU is coming off a 6-5 record in 2013, the first winning season for the program since 2007.
- Harding was picked 2nd in the Great American Conference preseason poll behind unanimous conference favorite Henderson State. SWOSU earned 54 points in the poll and was picked to finish sixth.
- The Bisons are receiving votes in the AFCA preseason poll after finishing 9-2 last season. They capped off the season by defeating Texas A&M-Commerce 44-3 in the Live United Texarkana Bowl, their first postseason victory since 1972.
The Series- SWOSU and Harding have met nine times in a series that dates back to 1994
- Six times the teams have played in Searcy, with SWOSU going 2-4 in those meetings
- SWOSU's 27-23 victory over Harding last season was the first since 1999 and the first with both teams as members of the Great American Conference
- The Bulldogs are 2-0 against Harding in the month of September
The CoachesSWOSU: Dan Cocannouer, 18-36 (Sixth Season)- Returned home to lead his alma mater in 2009 following a long, successful high school coaching career
- Led SWOSU to their first winning season since 2007 with a 6-5 record last season
- Ranked ninth in career wins at SWOSU with 18, will tie Carl Voyles (1922-25) for eighth with his next victory
- Has coached 43 players who earned all-conference honors, four all-region selections, three All-Americans and one GAC Freshman of the Year
- Record of 1-2 against Harding
- Last year's victory over Harding made him 2-3 in season openers while at SWOSU
Harding: Ronnie Huckeba, 40-33 (Eighth Season)- Harding's fifth coach in the modern era, enters 2014 with a 40-33 record
- In his 29th year coaching at Harding after serving 21 seasons as an assistant coach
- Won nine games in 2013 for the second straight season and earned the programs first postseason win since 1972
- Has a record of 2-1 against SWOSU
The Last Meeting (Sept. 5, 2013)- Facing a 20-7 deficit early in the third quarter, the SWOSU football team outscored Harding 20-3 over the game's final 29 minutes to pick up an exciting 27-23 victory on in the 2013 Fast Lane Kickoff Classic
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Dustin Stenta scored the go-ahead touchdown with an 8-yard TD run with 1:13 to play, capping off an 8-play, 44-yard drive in less than two minutes
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Teverick Boyd caught seven passes for 69 yards, including two touchdown receptions
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Jim O'Brien and
Ryan Feller led SWOSU with eight tackles apiece while
Abram Piggee snagged the Bulldogs lone interception
- Harding rushed for 232 yards and three touchdowns, the highest amount of each allowed by the Bulldogs in 2013
Last Time Out (Nov. 16, 2013)- SWOSU scored 34 unanswered points to defeat rival Northwestern Oklahoma State 62-17 in the 2013 season finale
- Sixth straight victory for SWOSU over Northwestern, a first-year full member of the Great American Conference
- Improved SWOSU to 6-5, securing the programs first winning season since 2007 and their fifth in 17 seasons as a member of NCAA Division II
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Ryan Corbin became SWOSU's all-time leader in receptions and single-season leader in receiving yards during the game
- Largest margin of victory in the
Dan Cocannouer era and the 62 points are the second-most by SWOSU football in the NCAA Division II era
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Jim O'Brien finished with 17 tackles, four tackles for loss and two sacks, earning GAC Defensive Player of the Week for his effort
Checking the Standings- SWOSU finished 2013 6-4 in conference play and tied for fourth in the Great American Conference, their highest finish as a member of the GAC
- Harding placed second in the GAC last season with an 8-2 conference mark
- Harding was picked to again finish second in the GAC Preseason Poll while SWOSU is picked sixth
Bulldog Offensive Notes- Sophomore
Ryley Claborn has been named the starting QB for SWOSU, outlasting redshirt-junior
Tim Morovick, sophomore
Cameron Nix and true freshman
Klark Ashmore in a heated battle throughout camp
- Senior
Karl Hodge enters the year as the starting running back. He made four starts last season and was SWOSU's leading rusher with 673 yards and two touchdowns
- Sophomore
Matt Farris will also see extended time out of the backfield after rushing for 163 yards and three touchdowns in 2013
- All five starting offensive lineman return from last year, including All-GAC selections
Derrick Shelton,
Mack Cannon and
Nathan Butler.
- Juniors
Landen Carson and
Colton Cline will make up the right side of the offensive line and each have 11 career starts to their credit
- Sophomore tight end
Collin Bricker and senior wide receiver
X'zavious Harrison join Claborn as players expected to make their first career start in a Bulldog uniform against Harding
- SWOSU returns three of their top four threats at wide receiver, including All-GAC selection
Brad Smithey, senior
Brian Robinson and junior
Teverick Boyd Bulldog Defensive Notes- Senior
Devin Benton is a former GAC Freshman of the Year, two-time First Team All-GAC selection and a Third Team All-Super Region 3 player who will anchor the SWOSU defensive line
- Benton will be joined by a trio of new starters up front in ends
Jake Doyle and
Collier Ward and redshirt-freshman tackle
Tyler Follis-
Austin Loomis has vaulted to the top of the depth chart at linebacker and is the second redshirt freshman expected to start at Harding
- Several players are expected to see action at linebacker, including returning starter
Kale Sawatzky,
Tyler George,
Gentry Rogers and
Zac Maynard- Junior
Tanner Thompson has won the battle to start at the 'Dawg' position (formerly called Rover) and will make his first career start at Harding
- Seniors
Abram Piggee and
Troy Shoate both started games at cornerback last year and will both be called upon again this season
- Junior transfers
Kevin Joseph and
Ja'Vaughn Mitchell are expected to share time at the other cornerback position
- Senior safety
Steven Townsley is the leading returning tackler for SWOSU and he recorded a team-best three interceptions last season
- Sophomore
Conner Bays and junior transfer
Kapena Olsen have been engaged in a back-and-forth battle for the free safety position and both will see time against Harding
Bulldog Special Team Notes- Last year's starting kicker,
Michael Perez, will miss the season opener with a lower leg injury
- True freshman
Dalton Jackson and
Justin Tharp have been battling for playing time at both kicker and punter positions
- Sophomore
Lantz Parks has shifted positions from offensive line to tight end, but he is still expected to handle long snapping duties
- SWOSU has several options for kick and punt returners, with wide receivers
Teverick Boyd,
Jared Rayburn,
Brian Robinson and
Brad Smithey the top candidates
Scouting Harding- Led the Great American Conference and ranked fourth nationally in rushing in 2013, averaging 359.7 yards per game on the ground
- Return four of their top five ground gainers from last season, including All-American fullback Romo Westbrook, the GAC's top rusher last season with 1,123 yards and 12 touchdowns
- Quarterback Keenan Kellett, who missed the game against SWOSU last season, matched Westbrook with a team-best 12 rushing touchdowns in 2013
- Wide Receiver Donatella Luckett amassed over 1,100 all-purpose yards as a junior
- Lost four All-GAC selections on defense from last season, including a trio of first teamers
- Leading defensive returner is senior defensive tackle Romas Robertson, a Hollis, Okla., native who recorded 32 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks last season
- Robertson is one of four Oklahoma natives on the Bisons roster
SWOSU in Season Openers- Under Coach Cocannouer: 2-3 (1-1 at home, 1-2 on the road)
- NCAA Division II Era: 10-7 (5-3 at home, 5-4 on the road)
- vs. Harding: 1-0 (1-0 at home)
- All-Time: 42-58-4
- Longest Win Streak: 4 (1969-72, def. Sam Houston State, Panhandle State (2x) & Northwest Louisiana)
- Longest Winless Streak: 10 (1910-1919; 0-9-1)
- Current Streak: Win 1 (def. Harding 27-23, Sept. 5, 2013)
Quick Notes- Seniors
Devin Benton,
Kale Sawatzky and
Derrick Shelton are the most experienced Bulldogs, each appearing in 32 games in the past three seasons
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Mack Cannon has started more games than any other Bulldog, starting all 31 games of his career to date
- Ten players on the SWOSU's season-opening roster have started at least 10 games in a Bulldog uniform
- SWOSU has players from 10 different states on the roster, including one from Arkansas: freshman tight end
Sam Phillips (Clinton)
- Five members of the SWOSU coaching staff are in their first year with the program, including new defensive coordinator
Eric Gibson Looking Ahead- SWOSU will host Arkansas Tech next Saturday, Sept. 13, in the Fast Lane Kickoff Classic
- Bulldogs defeated ATU 28-17 last season in Russellville to tie the all-time series at 5-5
- SWOSU has won their home opener the past two seasons
