Andrew Black's first career touchdown run helped propel Henderson State to a 22-17 win over No. 22 Harding, Saturday in Searcy.

The win kept Henderson State atop the Great American Conference standings tied with Arkansas Tech.

Trailing 17-16, the Reddie defense forced a Tristan Parsley punt midway through the fourth quarter.

Darion Gray then made the most of his first punt return of the season returning the ball 46 yards down to the Bisons 9-yardline.

On 3^rd-and-goal from the 10, Black faked a handoff and scooted into the end zone to put Henderson on top 22-17. The Reddies would fail on the two point conversion attempt.

Henderson's defense forced another punt on Harding's next possession with the Reddies setting up shop on their own 33.

The Reddies, 5-1 on the season, would advance the ball down to the Harding 30-yardline on nine plays. The drive would stall and Evan Lassiter's punt would just roll into the end zone giving the ball back to the Bisons at the 20 with 1:05 left to play.

On Harding's first play, Park Parish's pass was intercepted by Trevon Del Rio to secure the win for the Reddies.

Henderson took the early lead with a 24-yard field goal by Houston Ray at the 10:26 mark in the opening quarter.

The big play of the drive occurred on the first play from scrimmage as Dallas Hardison hit JaVante Mack for a 47-yard pick up down to the Harding 38.

The Bisons, 4-2 on the year, would fumble on their first possession as Josh Davis jarred the ball loose from Parish with Dondre Wright recovering at the Harding 38.

The Reddies took advantage of the gift going 38 yards on five plays with Ryan McDonald plunging in from two-yards out. Ray's extra-point was blocked and Henderson held a 9-0 lead with 8:04 left in the quarter.

Harding then put together an impressive drive going 77 yards on 11 plays with Parish scoring from a yard out.

Henderson would turn the ball over on its next possession as Hardison was intercepted by DeAndre Baines at the HSU 26.

The Bisons would be held to a Parsley 22-yard field goal to make the score 10-9 with 12:50 left in the half.

Henderson would get a break midway through the second-quarter as a botched snap on a Harding punt attempt would allow the Reddies to take over at the Harding 27.

Corey Chappell would then catch a 27-yard pass from Hardison to put Henderson back on top 16-10 just before half.

The Bisons would have an opportunity to cut into the lead just before half, but Parsley's 36-yard field goal was wide left as time expired.

In the third quarter, the Bisons would put together another lengthy drive going 61 yards on seven plays with Matt Tennsion scoring on a 7-yard run with 5:32 left in the third quarter.

The fourth quarter belonged to the Reddie defense as the Bisons had difficulties moving the ball the remainder of the game.

Henderson ended the game with 313 yards of offense including 223 yards passing.

JaQuan Cole totaled 62 yards on 19 carries to lead the Reddie ground game.

Hardison completed 17-of-29 passes for 223 yards, with Mack leading the receiving corps with six receptions for 80 yards.

The Henderson defense was again superb limiting the Bisons to 281 yards of offense while forcing three turnovers.

Josh Davis led the Reddies with 10 tackles, while Lawson Schulz had eight stops.

Henderson is on the road again next weekend as the Reddies travel to Arkansas-Monticello to take on the Boll Weevils with kickoff set for 3 p.m.
 
NOTES

• Andrew Black scored his first career touchdown with the game winning 10-yard run in the fourth quarter.
• Henderson's defense held the Bisons to just 245 rushing yards, 121 yards below their season average.
• The Reddies were 9-for-15 on 3^rd Down Conversions.
• Henderson State scored 13 points off of turnovers.
• Scott Maxfield picked up is 74^th win as Henderson's head coach moving past legendary coach Duke Wells for second all-time in HSU history.