Nathan Nall's 7-yard touchdown toss to Jarvis Smith, coupled with Eric Torres' extra-point, lifted Henderson State to a 42-41 overtime win over East Central Oklahoma, Saturday at Carpenter-Haygood Stadium.

The Reddies, 4-3 overall and 3-1 in the Great American Conference, squandered a 35-19 third-quarter lead, but saved the best for last to send the Homecoming crowd of 5,742 home happy.

After East Central tied the score at 35-35 with 2:19 to play in the game on a Brian Gonzalez 38-yard field goal, Elliot Hebert returned the ensuing kickoff to the HSU 45.

With the Reddies at the ECO 37, Nall's pass was deflected and intercepted by Jason Catchings who returned the ball to the Reddie 41.

Henderson's defense, which had 10 tackles for losses and three blocked kicks
in the game, held strong and forced ECO to attempt a 52-yard field goal for the game winner.

Gonzalez's kick was blocked by Keaton Stigger to force the game into overtime.
ECO, 5-3 and 3-2, was awarded the ball to begin overtime, and Tyler Vanderzee hit Colter Huff in the back of the end zone for a score. Gonzalez then set up for the point after, but the attempt was no good leaving the score 41-35.

With the game on the line, Henderson faced a 4th-and-7 when Nall hit Sean McGrath for a 10-yard gain to keep the drive alive. Two plays later, Nall hit Smith with the game-tying score, which set the stage for Torres. Torres proceeded to kick the game-winner straight through the uprights.

East Central jumped out to a 13-0 lead with a 90-yard kickoff return to begin the game, followed by a 55-yard pass from Vanderzee to Chris Espinoza.

Henderson scored 28 points in the second quarter including a Smith 25-yard scamper, followed by a 16-yard touchdown reception by Israel Valentin and a 10-yard run by Valentin.

After the Tigers cut the deficit to 21-19 on a Vanderzee 18-yard pass to George Robbins, Hebert caught a 6-yard toss from Nall just before half to make the score 28-19 at the break.

Smith scored the lone touchdown in regulation for the Reddies in the second half on a 6-yard run to increase Henderson's lead to 35-19 with 11:24 to play in the third quarter.

A 91-yard kickoff return for a score by Dontae Smith on the ensuing kickoff brought life to the Tiger sidelines.

Vanderzee hooked up again with Espinoza for a 9-yard score to cut East Central's deficit to 35-32 with 5:53 to play in the game and set up the wild finish.

Smith recorded his third straight 100-yard rushing game with 163 yards and two scores, while Nall completed 27-of-45 passes for 296 yards and three touchdowns.

Hebert led the Reddie receivers with nine receptions for 89 yards.
East Central's Vanderzee totaled 385 yards passing completing 30-of-56 passes while having four touchdowns.

Wesley Brady had 11 tackles and three pass break-ups to lead the Reddie defense, but Robbie Aldridge had the big day with eight total tackles including five tackles for lost yardage and one sack.

Maxie Graham and Jeremy Rodenburg both had interceptions, while Stigger, Jeremy Williams and Luther Chambers all had blocked kicks.

East Central totaled 521 yards of offense, while the Reddies managed 462 yards.