For the second time in three seasons, the road to the NCAA Division II national championship runs through McKinney, Texas, as the Harding Bisons powered past Kutztown on Saturday.
No. 2 Harding overwhelmed No. 3 Kutztown 49-27 in the Division II national semifinals at Andre Reed Stadium, riding a dominant ground attack led by Andrew Miller and a milestone performance from quarterback Cole Keylon.
Miller rushed for 157 yards and a school-record four touchdowns, while Keylon tied the NCAA Division II record for career wins by a starting quarterback as Harding improved to 15-0 on the season. The Bisons now advance to the NCAA Division II National Championship, where they will face Ferris State on Saturday, December 20, at 3 p.m. at McKinney ISD Stadium.
The championship game marks a return to the site of Harding’s first national title in 2023.
Despite being billed as a defensive showdown between the nation’s top two scoring defenses, Harding’s flexbone offense dominated, piling up 389 rushing yards on 47 carries, averaging 8.3 yards per rush.
Miller, a Harlon Hill Award finalist, entered the game needing two touchdowns to break Harding’s single-season rushing touchdown record. He surpassed the mark emphatically, scoring on runs of 1, 3, 5, and 73 yards, giving him 27 rushing touchdowns on the season.
Keylon continued his historic career, rushing for 96 yards and two touchdowns on just seven carries. The win marked the 51st victory of his career as a starter, tying Grand Valley State’s Cullen Finnerty for the most in Division II history. Keylon can break the record in his final collegiate game next week.
Slotback Braden Jay added explosiveness with 120 rushing yards and a touchdown on eight carries.
The turning point came early in the third quarter when Harding cornerback Josh Gatlin intercepted Kutztown quarterback Judd Novak and returned it 70 yards, setting up a short Keylon touchdown that swung momentum firmly to the Bisons. It was the first interception Novak had thrown all season.
Kutztown (14-1) totaled 453 yards of offense behind Novak, who threw for 245 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 137 yards, but the Golden Bears could not match Harding’s efficiency or overcome the turnover.
Harding led 21-7 at halftime and never allowed Kutztown closer than two scores in the second half, responding to every Golden Bear touchdown with one of its own.
The victory sets up a championship clash between two Division II heavyweights, as Harding and Ferris State have combined to win the last four national titles.
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