Box Score

Henderson State was shutout in the second half for the first time since 2011 as Harding rallied from a 24-13 halftime deficit to beat the Reddies 28-24, Saturday at Carpenter-Haygood Stadium in Arkadelphia, Ark.

Henderson, ranked No. 4 in the AFCA top 25 entering the game, failed to score in the second half for the first time since November 5, 2011 in a 16-10 win over McKendree. The streak covered a span of 31 games.

The Bisons, 6-1 in the Great American Conference, totaled 379 yards of offense including 333 yards rushing.

Harding, ranked No. 23 in the latest AFCA top 25, dominated the time of possession forcing the Reddie defense to be on the field 43:58 while the Reddie offense was limited to 16:02. Henderson had the football for just 6:09 in the second half.

Henderson State, 7-1 overall and 6-1 in the GAC, jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead in the opening quarter as Kevin Rodgers connected with Darius Davis on the second play from scrimmage for a 75-yard touchdown.

On Harding's first possession, the Bison ran 17 plays and  chewed up 8:54 off the clock. However, the Reddie defense limited the Bison to a 22-yard field goal by John Gay to make the score 7-3.

With the Reddies driving on their next possession, Rodgers hit Joseph Snapp for 25 yards but Darious Lane stripped the ball from Snapp and returned it to the Henderson 22.

Again the Bisons would have to settle for a 33-yard field goal by Gay to cut the deficit to 7-6 with 2:24 left in the opening quarter.

Henderson pushed its lead to 14-6 as Rodgers connected with Dustin Holland for a 7-yard strike early in the second quarter.

On the ensuing kickoff, Ahmad Scott set a Harding record returning Houston Ray's kick 97-yards down the right sideline to make the score 14-13.

Harding then attempted an on-side kick but Chris King recovered the football on the Bison 41 to set up Henderson's next score.

The Reddies moved the ball down to the Bison 11 before Rodgers threw his third touchdown pass of the game, this time to Corey Chappell to put Henderson on top 21-13 with 11:12 to play on the half.

Harding quarterback Keenan Kellett began to orchestrate another big drive for the Bisons. Facing 3rd-and-2 from the Reddie 14, Blake Lopez forced and recovered a Kellett fumble and returned the football to the Reddie 26.

Later in the half, the Reddies got great field position as Harding punter Tristan Parsely managed just an 11-yard punt giving Henderson the ball at the Harding 42.

The Reddies moved the ball down to the Bison 15, but was held to a 32-yard field goal by Ray to send Henderson into the locker room with a 24-13 advantage.

The lone score of the third quarter came on an 11-yard run by Harding's Zach Shelley to cap off a 13-play, 83-yard drive that took 6:44 off the clock.

Harding converted the two-point conversion as Kellett connected with Alapetti Magalei to make the score 24-21.

On the ensuing kickoff, Chappell returned Parsley's kickoff 52 yards to the Bison 46 to give the Reddies great field position.

Henderson turned to the ground game and drove the ball down to Bison 17 and faced 3rd-and-1. Jaquan Cole was stuffed on the third down play and the Reddies elected to go for the first-down on the next play. Again Cole was met by Trevon Biglow for no gain and the Reddies turned the ball over on downs.

After both teams were forced to punt on their next possession midway through the fourth-quarter, Harding took over on its own 45 and managed to move the ball down to the Reddie 30. Harding would attempt to convert on 4th-and-6, but Romo Westbrook was stopped short by Kenrick Burns and Cam Deveraux.

Following a false start penalty, Rodgers connected with Chappell for a 20-yard pick up. Attempting to gain extra yardage, Chappell lost the football and Trendall Stevenson fell on the loose pigskin for the Bisons at the Reddie 46.

The big play set up Harding's winning score as the Bisons took 4:19 off the clock and went 10 plays, covering 45 yards with Donatella Luckett scoring on a 3-yard run with just 17 seconds remaining.

The Reddies would begin its final drive from their own 43 where Rodgers completed a short pass to Cole. A 15-yard facemask penalty on the Bisons would move the ball down to the Harding 39.

Henderson had one last opportunity. Rodgers, who was pressured from the backside, tried to connect with Davis deep down the right sideline but the pass was intercepted by Vanard Placide to end the game.

Rodgers ended the game with 290 yards passing, completing 23-of-36 attempts and three scores.

Davis went over the 100-yard mark for the fifth time this season having four catches for 103 yards, while Chappell ended with 73 yards on 11 receptions.

A total of 10 different players carried the ball for the Bisons with Westbrook leading the way with 93 yards on 23 attempts.

Defensively the Reddies were led by Glennon Bobo with 11 tackles including two tackles for lost yardage.

Wesley Brady and Trevon Del Rio had 10 tackles each, while Lopez had 9 tackles, 3 stops for lost yardage and a fumble recovery.  

Henderson State will next play host to Arkansas-Monticello on Saturday, Nov. 1 with kickoff set for 3 p.m. at Carpenter-Haygood Stadium.