Henderson State vs. No. 7 Harding
Game Day Information
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ARKADELPHIA, Ark. — Henderson State kicks off its 2018 football season on Thursday evening, when the Reddies take on the No. 7 Harding Bisons in the opener for both teams at Ruggles Field in Carpenter-Haygood Stadium, with first kick set for 7 p.m.
The Reddies, coming off of a 6-5 record in 2017, return 10 starters, four on offense and six on defense, from a team that finished sixth in the Great American Conference last season. Head coach Scott Maxfield begins his 14th year at the helm of the Henderson State program in 2018. Maxfield has overseen unprecedented success and holds an overall record of 94-48 at the school, which includes three GAC titles in 2012, 2013 and 2015. Maxfield ranks second all-time at Henderson in wins, trailing only Sporty Carpenter, who won 119 games in 19 seasons. He is 9-4 all-time against Harding.
Offensively, Henderson will be young, and must break in a new quarterback, as well as four new starters on the offensive line and a new starter at tailback. Juniors Richard Stammetti and Kody Whitaker have battled during fall camp to be the starter at quarterback, and both could see action on Thursday night against the Bisons.
The new starter will have options to throw to, as senior wide receivers Ben Johnson, Darion Gray and John Murray all return. Johnson, who caught six touchdown passes in 2017, is one of seven active players in the GAC with more than 1000 receiving yards in a career, while Gray and Murray combined to catch 61 passes for 599 yards and four touchdowns last season.
In the backfield, sophomore Cobra Jones is back after rushing for 188 yards and two scores as a true freshman in 2017. Along with Jones, the Reddies add junior Arkansas State transfer and former Little Rock Central stand-out Logan Moragne, who showed his game-breaking ability in several of Henderson's fall scrimmages.
Senior guard Daniel Moore, who has started 29 games for the Reddies the last three seasons, will help anchor an offensive line with talent, but inexperience. Returners Blake Dybala, Ugo Amadi, Tyler Barnes and Clifford Jackson III all saw playing time last season and are the expected five up front.
On the defensive side of the ball, Henderson looks to be stout, and returns key contributors at all three levels from a unit that ranked fifth in the GAC last season in total defense.
Junior defensive end Robert Thomas and senior defensive end Loren Johnstun will spearhead the Reddies' attack along the trenches. Thomas had 26 tackles and three tackles for loss in 2017, while Johnstun had 26 stops and 3.5 tackles for loss, as well as a sack.
In the middle the Reddies are strong, as senior linebacker Cameron Sonnier returns after leading Henderson in tackles each of the last two seasons, as does senior Logan Edwards, who had 33 tackles in his debut last year.
The secondary is led by senior safety Malik Brown, who had 49 tackles, five pass break-ups and three interceptions in 2017, as well as senior safety Bowen Sweeney, who had 37 tackles last season.
Henderson's special teams unit took a hit with the graduation of All-American punter Cody Mikell, but the Reddies bring back kicker Julio Cervantes, and added junior punter Angel Esparza, as well as Dardanelle High School product Temo Martinez at kicker.
SCOUTING HARDING
The Harding Bisons enter 2018 with lofty expectations after going 11-4 in 2017, reaching the Division II National Semifinals and receiving a No. 7 preseason ranking by the AFCA.
The Bisons, who were the GAC preseason favorites, return 13 starters from their 2017 squad which lost its first three games before winning 11-straight. The majority of those starters return on the defensive side of the ball, which was the No. 1 total defense in the GAC last season. Linebacker Sam Blankenship is back for his senior year after earning All-American honors in 2017 with 130 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and three interceptions. Also returning are senior defensive ends Devyn Comer, who had 8.5 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss last season, and T.J. Winslow, who was a 2017 All-Region selection.
Harding replaces several key pieces on offense from its vaunted triple option attack, including both starting slotbacks, its top wide receiver and its quarterback. Returning, however, is sophomore fullback Cole Chancey, who burst onto the scene as a true freshman in 2017 with 1347 yards on 253 carries and 15 touchdowns. The Bisons rushed for 5128 yards last season, which was 1000 yards more than any team in the country, and averaged 341.9 rushing yards per game. In the last five seasons, Harding has rushed for 270 touchdowns and allowed just 56.
IMPORTANT GAME DAY INFORMATION
Several different parking options are available for Game Day. CADC SCAT busses will be staged at the corner of 12th and Wilson streets two and a half hours prior to kickoff, allowing fans to use the parking lots around Henderson's main campus. The free shuttles will travel down 12th street and drop fans off in two locations: the front of the Wells Center on M.H. Russell Drive, for those who wish to partake in tailgate activities, and at the main gate to Carpenter-Haygood Stadium and Ruggles Field. The shuttles will also run up to an hour after the game ends, allowing fans to board at the main gate as they exit and ride back to their cars on campus.
The two other available public parking lots are the Formby Center lot, located directly in front of the Formby Athletic Complex and next to the Reddie Villas, and the South Wells Center lot, located directly in front of the Duke Wells Center.
For Reddie Club members, Red and Gray reserved lots are located directly behind the main stands and above Clyde Berry Field. These lots require your Reddie Club parking passes. Handicapped parking is also available in the Red and Gray lot directly behind the main stands.
Ticket windows at the stadium open two hours before game time. Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for children. All students, faculty or staff with a valid Henderson State ID will admitted for free, as will children five years old and younger.
The game will be broadcast and available by the Henderson State Sports Network on KDEL 100.9 FM and KVRC 1240 AM in Arkadelphia, KWPS 99.7 FM in Hot Springs, KYXK 106.9 in Gurdon, KZYP 104.1 FM/1310 AM in Malvern, and on KAFN 99.3 FM/690 AM in Benton. Coverage begins one hour prior to kickoff. The radio broadcast can also be heard on the web by going to the audio link for the game at hsusports.com.
