Henderson State's late rally fell short as East Central upended the Reddies 35-28, Thursday at Carpenter-Haygood Stadium in Arkadelphia, Ark.

The game was similar to last week's game against Southeastern Oklahoma, only this time it was the Reddies with the ball at the end of the game driving for the game-tying score.

After ECU took the lead with 3:15 to play in the game on an 11-yard pass play from Rocky Moore to Nathan Pickett, the Reddies began their final drive on their own 28.

Dallas Hardison completed five consecutive passes including a 24-yard circus catch by Mark Czaus down to the Tiger 29.

It appeared that the Reddies scored when Hardison hit Corey Chappell in the back of the end zone on 2nd-and-15. However, the play was nullified as Henderson was guilty of a holding penalty.

Two plays later, the Reddies faced 3rd-and-19 from the 25. Hardison would find Chappell on a crossing pattern for 21 yards but Jameel Whitney made a touchdown saving tackle at the 4.

The game would end with Hardison slipping on the turf attempting to avoid the Tiger defense.

The Reddies, 1-1 on the season, jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead as Dallas Hardison connected with Jacoby Lewis from 55 yards out in the opening two minutes of the game.

ECU, 1-1 on the year, answered on its first offensive possession as Rocky Moore hit David Moore for a 16-yard score with 8:55 remaining in the opening quarter.

The Reddies then responded with a 9-play, 75-yard drive as Ryan McDonald scored on a 1-yard plunge to put Henderson back on top 14-7 with 5:10 left in the quarter.

After the Reddie defense forced a quick three-and-out, Hardison found JaVante Mack in the flats for a 54-yard touchdown as Henderson increased its lead to 21-7.

The Reddies had a golden opportunity to go on top by three scores midway through the second quarter. On 1st-and-10 from the ECU 33, Hardison was chased out of the pocket and threw a pass that was intercepted by Spenser Bond.

ECU would then move down the field 62 yards on 8 plays with Dashawn Jones scoring on a 5-yard jaunt.

The Tiger defense would then hold the Reddies to three-and-out. ECU tied the score when Moore found a wide open Nathan Pickett down the middle of the field for a 25-yard touchdown with 5:13 remaining in the half.

The Reddies regained the lead just before half as Hardison threw his third touchdown pass of the game as Lewis came across the middle for a 14-yard score.

ECU would tie the score on the opening possession of the second half as the Tigers drove the ball 72 yards on 11 plays capped off by a 12 pass from Rocky Moore to David Moore.

After totaling 329 yards of offense in the opening half, the Tiger defense limited Henderson to 139 yards in the second half with 51 yards coming on the final drive. The Reddies finished with 468 total yards including 375 yards passing.

Hardison completed 28-of-44 for a career-high 375 yards and three touchdowns.

Chappell caught six passes for 138 yards, while Mack had 10 catches for 84 yards and Lewis four receptions for 82 yards.

JaQuan Cole had 72 yards on 13 rushing attempts to lead the Henderson ground game.

Josh Davis led Henderson's defense with 12 tackles, while Donovan McLeod had seven stops.

East Central totaled 410 yards offensively with Moore completing 22-of-36 passes for 316 yards.

Henderson State will embark on its longest road trip of the season on Saturday, Sept. 19 when the Reddies travel to Alva, Okla. to take on Northwestern Oklahoma with kickoff slated for 7 p.m.

 
NOTEBOOK:

Dallas Hardison completed his first eight passes in as many attempts for 126 yards.

Hardison surpassed his career high for passing yards in the first quarter having 192 total yards.

JaVante Mack had 9 pass receptions in the first half.

The Reddies were 7-for-10 in 3rd down conversions in the opening half.

In his first start since 2013 Tim Llewellyn totaled five tackles.

Henderson totaled 272 yards of offense in the opening week against Southeastern, the Reddies surpassed that total in the first half with 329 yards and finished the game with 468 yards of offense.