SEARCY, Ark. — Harding is heading to its first-ever NCAA Division II national championship.
Quarterback Cole Keylon and running back Blake Delacruz ran for a combined 255 yards and three scores to help the Bisons to a 55-14 victory over Lenoir-Rhyne (13-2) in the semifinals at First Security Stadium on Saturday.
The Bisons recorded 500 total yards of offense and torched the Bears' sixth-ranked defense for five first-half touchdowns.
Harding (14-0) finished with 431 rushing yards, putting the team at 5,564 for the season, a new single-season record for NCAA Division II.
Keylon jumpstarted Harding with a one-yard rushing touchdown in the first quarter before Delacruz added two rushing scores of nine and four yards to push the Bisons ahead 21-0 with 9:29 remaining in the first half.
Following a five-yard rushing touchdown by Lenoir-Rhyne's Zyheir Dillard, running back Braden Jay returned the ensuing kickoff 89 yards to send Harding into the locker room with a 34-7 lead at the half.
The Bison defense managed to keep the Bears' offense in check, holding Lenoir-Rhyne to just 336 total yards of offense, including -3 rushing yards.
Harding kept the Bears off the field and won the time-of-possession battle 40:47 to 19:13.
Harding will battle Colorado School of Mines in the national title game on Dec. 16 in McKinney, Texas.