Tweet #theGAC  McKINNEY, Texas — The No. 2 Harding Bisons saw their perfect season and a historic four-year run come to an end Saturday, falling 42-21 to No. 1 Ferris State in the NCAA Division II National Championship game at McKinney ISD Stadium.

Ferris State quarterback Wyatt Bower accounted for five total touchdowns, and the Bulldogs (16-0) racked up 587 yards of total offense to defeat the Bisons (15-1).

The loss closes the book on a remarkable era for Harding's senior class, which compiled a 51-5 record over the last four seasons, establishing the Bisons as a perennial national power. However, the Bisons could not overcome a flurry of big plays and two costly lost fumbles against the top-ranked Bulldogs.

Ferris State's offense proved explosive from the outset. The Bulldogs averaged 8.9 yards per rush, tallying 363 yards on the ground. Bower opened the scoring with a pair of 4-yard touchdown runs in the first quarter to build a 14-0 lead.

Harding settled in during the second quarter. Fullback Andrew Miller capped a nine-play, 89-yard drive with a 9-yard touchdown run to cut the deficit to 14-7. After Ferris State responded with a 23-yard touchdown pass from Bower to Cam Underwood, Harding quarterback Cole Keylon executed a perfect two-minute drill.

With 46 seconds remaining in the half, Keylon connected with Christian Franklin for a 15-yard touchdown pass, sending the Bisons into the locker room trailing just 21-14.

The third quarter, however, featured a breathless exchange of big plays that ultimately swung the game in Ferris State's favor.

On the second play of the second half, Ferris State's Chase Carter broke free for a 64-yard touchdown run. Harding immediately counterpunched when G'Kyson Wright fielded the ensuing kickoff and raced 90 yards for a touchdown, pulling the Bisons back within seven at 28-21.

The momentum was short-lived. Ferris State needed only three plays and 56 seconds to respond, as Bower scored his third rushing touchdown of the day from 3 yards out. Later in the quarter, Bower found Carson Gulker for a 14-yard touchdown pass to extend the lead to 42-21.

Harding's vaunted rushing attack managed 246 yards on 50 carries, averaging 4.9 yards per attempt—well below their season standards. Franklin led the Bisons with 72 yards on nine carries, while Miller added 70 yards on 22 attempts. The Bisons finished the season with NCAA records of 6,943 rushing yards and 88 rushing TD.

Bower finished 10-of-16 passing for 177 yards and two touchdowns while adding 38 yards and three scores on the ground. Carter led all rushers with 111 yards on just seven carries.

Linebacker Clark Griffin and defensive back Troy Wiseman led the Harding defense with seven tackles each. Griffin finished his career with 439 tackles.