Harding senior running back Rod Smith is getting closer to the SAC all-time rushing mark.

The Ohio State recruit needed 559 yards coming into the season to eclipse former Wayne standout Ray Byers' record of 5,328 career yards.

The 6-foot-2, 220-pound Smith seemed sure to get it in two games after opening the season with 279 against Wayne. But he met a roadblock, not to mention a defense set up to stop the run, in Game 2 against North Side and ran for only 72 yards.

That leaves him 208 away from Byers' record with 5,121 yards.

Harding (2-0) is at Elmhurst on Friday. Smith ran for 182 yards last year in a win against the Trojans.

If Smith doesn't get the needed yardage against the Trojans, he would almost certainly break it at home as the Hawks play host to the Bishops – Luers and Dwenger – the next two games.