SEARCY, Ark. – The East Central University football team faced a tough road test in Great American Conference play on Saturday, taking on No. 2 nationally ranked Harding University. The Tigers were unable to find their footing and ultimately fell 65-0 at First Security Stadium.
 
With the loss, ECU drops to 3-2 in GAC play, while Harding remains perfect at 5-0. Heading into the matchup, the Tigers were tied for second in the conference and ranked second in total defense, allowing just 301.0 yards per game. But from the opening play, Harding took control and never looked back.
 
The Bisons, who entered the game leading all of Division II in rushing offense at 419.8 yards per game, lived up to their reputation by racking up 475 of their 484 total yards on the ground. ECU, meanwhile, was held to a season-low 78 yards of total offense against Harding's No. 3-ranked defense.
 
Harding jumped out to a 23-0 lead in the first quarter and extended it to 37-0 by halftime before adding 28 more points in the third. ECU managed to keep the Bisons off the scoreboard in the fourth, but the outcome was well in hand.
 
Quarterback Sergio Kennedy completed 8 of 21 passes for 58 yards, while Colin Willetts added 17 yards through the air. Austin Bowen led the ground game with 25 yards on five carries. In the receiving corps, Jacob Martin and Cade Searcy recorded 15 and 11 yards, respectively.
 
Defensively, Nathaniel Rainey led the Tigers with nine tackles. Lane Johnson and Amajah Lewis added eight apiece, with Johnson and Simon Jackson each contributing half a tackle for loss. Christopher Campbell and Derrick Culpepper added solo TFLs, and Keebler Wagoner broke up a pass in the effort.
 
ECU will look to bounce back next weekend when they return home to Koi Ishto Stadium to face Arkansas Tech University on Saturday, October 11 at 2 p.m.