As each football season draws to an end, much anticipated rival games are played throughout the country.
 
There's the Egg Bowl between Ole Miss vs. Mississippi State (1901), the Governor's Cup between Georgia and Georgia Tech (1893), the Paul Bunyan Trophy between Michigan and Michigan State (1898), and the Bedlam Bell between Oklahoma and Oklahoma State (1904)  just to mention a few.            

These premiere in-state rivalry games have made major college football great and what it is today. While these instate rivalries are exciting and bring a loyal and passionate following from their fans, which also divides the states and many of the families within those states, they do not compare to the country's most unique rivalry of two NCAA Division II schools in Southwest Arkansas.
 
Henderson State will host the 90^th version of most unique rivalry in college football as the Reddies welcome Ouachita Baptist to Carpenter-Haygood Stadium/Ruggles Field for the Battle of the Ravine. Kickoff for the shortest road trip in college football is set for Saturday at 1 p.m.
 
Despite the Great American Conference title not on the line for either institution for the first time since the league's inception in 2011, the environment will still reflect a championship atmosphere.
 
This year's game features a Henderson team that has the best record among all college football playing institutions in Arkansas since 2010 at 62-16 (.795) against the only team in the state to record nine straight winning seasons in Ouachita.
 
The Battle of the Ravine represents the quintessential small college football game and atmosphere. What makes this rivalry so unique and better than the ones mentioned previous is that both teams, Henderson State University and Ouachita Baptist University, literally walk across a street when they play on the "road" against the other. The road trip for both teams is the SHORTEST in ALL of College Football.
 
After 89 games played between these two fine institutions, HSU leads the series 43-40-6. The visiting team has won four of the last five meetings.
 
The first game played between the two institutions was in 1895 when then Ouachita College beat Arkadelphia Methodist College, 8-0 on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28.
 
The second meeting did not occur until 1907 in the first sanctioned game of the series. The Reddies beat the Tigers and went on to claim the Arkansas State Championship.
 
The game was traditionally played on Thanksgiving. The series discontinued in 1951 after Henderson won 54-0 and the pranks that went along with the series got out of control. The series did not resume until 1963 with the Reddies winning 28-13.
 
The series continued uninterrupted until 1993 because of HSU's move to the NCAA Division II Gulf South Conference. After a three-year hiatus, the series began again in 1996 as OBU moved to the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference.
 
Ouachita joined the GSC in 2000 and an eight-year GSC schedule had already been put into place. GSC schools did not play everyone in the league due to the number of teams. Henderson and OBU did not play in 2004 or 2005 because the two institutions rotated off each other's conference schedules.
 
The two teams became members of the Great American Conference with OBU winning the title in 2011 and 2014, while Henderson was crowned league champion in 2012, 13 and 15.
 
Of the 89 meetings between the two institutions, the game has been decided by a touchdown or less 39 times, with OBU having the advantage in close games 19-15-6.
 
The Reddies recorded their eighth win of the season last week with a 40-7 victory over Southern Nazarene.     Henderson is the only institution among all Arkansas football playing institutions to record at least eight wins in each of the last five seasons.     

Andrew Black completed his first 15 passes last week and finished the game 22-for-24 for 253 yards against the Storm. For the year, Black has completed 131-of-202 passes for a completion rate of 64.9 percent. The sophomore from Tyler, Texas has 1810 yards passing for the season which ranks eighth in HSU history.
 
Evan Lassiter has also been effective for the Reddies having completed 86-of-134 passes for 1108 yards. The junior from Coral Springs, Fla. has a 64.2 completion percentage having thrown seven touchdowns with just one interception.
           
Jeremy Wilson leads the Henderson ground game having carried the ball 92 times for 572 yards. The product from Tyler, Texas is the top scoring freshman in the GAC having scored 10 rushing touchdowns.

Jaquan Cole follows with 490 yards on 89 attempts while scoring five touchdowns.       

Courtney Whitehead is Henderson's top receiver with 47 catches for 667 yards. Whitehead is averaging 14.2 yards per reception.

Al Lasker has 405 yards on 21 receptions and a team-best six touchdowns, while Austin Bennett has compiled 340 yards on 25 grabs.

Defensively the Reddies allowed just 13 yards in the first three quarters last week against SNU. The Storm recorded just two first downs through three quarters and did not cross midfield until the fourth quarter.

Henderson has allowed 335.6 yards per game which ranks third in the GAC while ranking second in scoring defense allowing 20.8 points per contest.   

The Reddies lead the league in tackles for lost yardage with 82 and are also tops in quarterback sacks with 25.

Cameron Sonnier leads the Reddies with 79 tackles including a league-best 13.0 tackles for lost yardage. Josh Davis follows with 72 stops, while Sam Johnson leads the league with 6.0 sacks for the year.
Ouachita Baptist enters Saturday's contest with a 6-4 record following a 51-28 win over Oklahoma Baptist. The Tigers average 440.5 yards of offense per game including 267.4 yards on the ground per contest which ranks second in the GAC.

OBU has been plagued with injuries as the Tigers have been without the services of running back Kris Oliver and quarterback Austin Warford. Before being injured, Oliver was averaging 95.1 yards rushing per game while Warford was averaging 206 yards passing and 97.6 yards rushing.

Lucas Reed has taken over for Warford and has completed 56-of-106 passes for 698 yards leading the Tigers to wins over Southern Arkansas, Southern Nazarene and Oklahoma Baptist.

Shun'cee Thomas has taken over the role as lead running back for the Tigers. Thomas has carried the ball 73 times for 582 yards while scoring 6 touchdowns.  Last week Thomas rushed for 211 yards and scored a pair of touchdowns against Oklahoma Baptist.

Allie Freeman leads the Tiger receivers having totaled 479 yards on 31 receptions while scoring six touchdowns.

Drew Harris is also a threat having 310 yards on 20 catches.

Elijah Jones is one of the top defenders in the GAC having 96 tackles including 8 tackles for lost yardage.

Luke Holt also has eight tackles for lost yardage and has 64 total stops for the year.
Those unable to attend Saturday's contest can follow the action courtesy of the Henderson State Sports Network with 106.9 FM KYXK in Arkadelphia being the flagship station.

In addition, affiliates 99.7 FM in Hot Springs, 93.3 FM and 690 AM in Benton, Ark., and 920 AM The Sports Animal in Little Rock will also carry the game. The Henderson State Sports Network will be also available on-line at hsusports.com.

The broadcast team of Phil Elson, RJ Hawk and Kevin Rodgers will call all the action of Reddies football with the Domino's Pregame Show set for Noon.

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

GAME DAY LINKS:
Live Stats – Click Here
Live Video – Click Here
Live Audio – Click Here
 
 
TAILGATING
Numerous tailgating activities will take place prior to the game. Inflatables for the kids will be located on the east side of the Duke Wells Center with additional food and games.
 
Aramark will feature a pregame meal in front of the Duke Wells Center from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday's menu will include bar-b-que pulled pork, smoked chicken, sausages, chips, sides and drink for $8.

 
TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for children (K-12). All seating is general admission. Henderson State Students, Faculty and Staff will receive free entry with I.D. as will Ouachita Baptist students with valid student I.D.
 
Tickets can be purchased on game day at the Carpenter-Haygood Stadium/Ruggles Field ticket windows beginning at 10 a.m. on game day with the gates opening at 11 a.m.