Henderson State returns home for a key Great American Conference matchup as the Reddies play host to Southern Arkansas for Homecoming on Saturday with kickoff set for 2 p.m. at Carpenter-Haygood Stadium.
 
The game features an explosive Mulerider team that leads the league offensively, against a Reddie team that ranks second in total defense while forcing a league-leading 22 turnovers.
 
Southern Arkansas enters the game with a 5-2 record having won three straight games including a 32-28 win over Ouachita Baptist last week.

The Mulerider offense totaled 485 yards of offense against the Tigers, while defense surrendered 366 yards.     

SAU leads the GAC offensively averaging 501.6 yards per game while scoring 37.9 per contest which ranks second in the league. The Muleriders are a dangerous passing team averaging 317.1 yards per game with 22 touchdowns.

Quarterback Barrett Renner threw for five touchdowns and finished the game completing 23-of 27 passes for 383 yards against OBU to earn GAC Offensive Player of the Week.
 
The Rowlett, Texas native has completed 157-of-253 passes this season and is averaging 304.7 yards per game which ranks second in the GAC.        

SAU has several talented receivers led by Tanner Hudson who has 28 receptions for 474 yards and six touchdowns. Jonathan Weisheit has 30 receptions on the year for 434 yards, while Karonce Higgins has 14 catches for 332 yards on the year.  

The Mulerider defense has allowed 31.4 points and 373.7 yards per game with 226.1 yards per game coming on the ground.       

Elgin Moore leads the team and ranks fourth in the GAC with 67 total tackles. Dominic Kelly follows with 46 tackles to go along with 7.5 tackles for lost yardage. O'Niko Thomas leads SAU in tackles for lost yardage with 10.5 tackles for loss while having a total of 38 stops.
 
Henderson enters the game having won five straight games and in sole possession of first-place in the GAC.
 
In the last four games, the Henderson defense has allowed a total of 27 points, 6.8 points per game.
The defense has limited opponents to an average of 269.5 yards of offense in those games including just 131.8 yards passing per contest. The team has also totaled 11 interceptions and 21 pass breakups in the last 16 quarters of play.
 
Josh Davis had 10 tackles in each of the last two games and leads the Reddie defensive unit with 54 tackles including a team leading 8.5 tackles for lost yardage, five pass breakups and five quarterback hurries.
 
Linebacker Lawson Schulz has also played a big part of the Reddie defensive success having 51 tackles with 5.5 tackles for lost yardage as well as five pass breakups.         

Tavares Garner has been Henderson's top pass defender totaling four interceptions with 10 pass breakups.

Offensively, Jaquan Cole went over the 150 yard mark for the third time this season last week having 157 yards against UAM. Cole leads the GAC in total rushing yards with 810 yards on 126 carries, an average of 115.7 yards per game.
             
Dallas Hardison had another solid game last week completing 16-of-25 passes for 187 yards. The junior from Bentonville has completed 128-of-209 passes for 1301 yards this season for a 61.2 completion percentage.     

JaVante Mack continues to be Henderson's top receiver with 36 receptions for 369 yards. Mack was HSU's top receiver last week with four receptions for 55 yards against the Boll Weevils.    

Corey Chappell follows Mack with 245 yards on 17 receptions. Mark Czaus had three catches for 34 yards last week and is third on the team in receiving yards with 178 yards on 21 receptions.
 
Henderson State and Southern Arkansas meet for the 78th time in a series which dates back to 1999. Henderson State has a 43-33-1 lead in the series against the Muleriders. Henderson State has won the last eight meetings including a 55-41 win last year in El Dorado, Ark.
 
Those unable to attend the game can tune in to the Henderson State Sports Network. The game will be carried locally on 100.9 FM KDEL in Arkadelphia being the flagship station.
 
Additional stations broadcasting Saturday's game are 100.7 FM and 1310 AM in Malvern, 103.3 FM and 690 AM in Benton, Ark., and 920 AM, The Sports Animal in Little Rock. The Henderson State Sports Network will be also available on-line at hsusports.com.

The broadcast team of Phil Elson, RJ Hawk and Hunter Lively will call all the action of Reddies football with the Domino's Pregame Show set for 1 p.m.

Live stats and live video will also be available on-line at www.hsusports.com.
 
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