The No.2 ranked Lions football team held on for a 28-20 victory against Harding on homecoming to avenge last season’s loss.

The Lions (4-0) got off to a slow start, trailing 10-7 at the half, but senior quarterback Lee Chapple and the offense got back on track, connecting on some big plays and forced turnovers to close out the game.

“He missed some deep balls early on and made some high throws, but he started to hit some of those deep balls in the second half, and that’s what we needed,” said head coach Terry Bowden.

Harding, with their triple option attack, out rushed the Lions 381 yards to 25 and led in total yards with 421 and the Lions with 333. Chapple finished the game, completing 21-31 passes with 308 yards and three touchdowns, including two fourth quarter touchdown passes.

The Lions also got some big plays from the receivers with Tristan Purifoy, Jason Smith, and Mo Milliam combined for 261 yards receiving and two touchdowns.

“When you play a team that loads the box, you got to hit some of those deep balls, and [Chapple] made those throws for us,” Bowden said.

Harding received the opening kick-off and marched the ball 80 yards on 13 plays to take the early lead of 7-0 with 8:47 left in the first quarter. UNA’s John Ware caused and recovered a Harding fumble on the Bisons’ next possession. The Lions scored on the next play as Chapple passed 45 yards to Miliam to tie the game up.

Harding then regained the lead by a field goal, making it 10-7 with 5:25 left in the first half and remained that score at halftime.

Early in the third quarter UNA’s James Brook stripped the ball, and the Lions recovered on the Harding 13-yard line. Antwan Ivey scored on a 13-yard run on the next play to put UNA on top with a 14-10 score with 13:18 left in the third quarter.

Harding again answered right back, adding a field goal with 5:48 left and quickly adding a touchdown before the quarter giving the Bisons a 20-14 lead going into the fourth.

Harding then lined up for a surprise onside kick following the score, but the Lions recovered the kick. UNA took advantage of the gamble by Harding and scored seven plays later on Chapple’s pass to Almon to take the lead with 14:22 left. The 61-yard pass to Smith then extended the margin to 28-20.

Harding then add one final shot to tie the game up and drove the ball all the way to the UNA 17-yard line before a collision in the backfield put it on the ground, and UNA’s Richie Matafa was there for the recovery.

The Lions then ran the clock out and the game ended with a final score of 28-20, keeping their undefeated record alive.

The Lions will be on the road next Saturday to play Southern Arkansas with kick-off scheduled for 6 p.m.