BETHANY, Okla. — Henderson State's defense pitched a shutout in the final 30 minutes and came up with two turnovers deep in opponent's territory that led to the deciding 14 points, as the Reddies defeated Southern Nazarene 24-10 on Saturday afternoon and improved to 2-3 on the year.

The Reddies trailed 10-7 at halftime but got a 33-yard field goal early in the third quarter from Temo Martinez to tie the game. From that point on, the defense took over. 

After a Henderson drive stalled at the SNU 1-yard line with 4:56 to go in the third, it was linebacker Kahlil Mitchell and nickelback Mercardo Anderson who came up big for the Reddies on the Crimson Storm's ensuing drive. On 2nd-and-12, Mitchell hit SNU quarterback Gage Porter and forced a fumble, which was recovered by Anderson at the Crimson Storm 23-yard line and gave the Reddies new life deep in SNU territory. The offense cashed in on the turnover moments later, when Richard Stammetti hit John Murray for an 8-yard touchdown pass that put Henderson in front 17-10 late in the third.

It would not take long for the defense to make another huge play, however. After kicking the ball back to the Crimson Storm, Henderson got its second turnover in as many defensive possessions on the first play of the fourth quarter, when safety Bowen Sweeney picked off Porter and returned the interception 13 yards down to the SNU 9-yard line. With 1st-and-Goal handed to them, the Reddies' offense again took advantage, as Querale Hall punched it in from 1-yard out to put Henderson up 24-10 with 13:37 left to play.

Suddenly down by two scores, the Crimson Storm put together their only sustained drive of the second half on the next possession, as they drove down to the HSU 27-yard line. The Henderson defense again stood tall, though, as a sack from Jefferson Collins on 4th-and-8 brought an abrupt end to the drive for SNU. The turnover on downs proved to be the dagger, as the Crimson Storm never threatened again and the Reddies held on for their second victory of the season. 

The Henderson defense was dominant in the second half and allowed just 69 total yards on 31 plays over the final 30 minutes to the SNU offense. 

Hall was the story for the offense, as the junior running back had a season-high 15 carries for 85 yards and a touchdown to lead the Reddies' rushing attack. Stammetti completed 16-of-33 passes for 212 yards, one touchdown, and one interception, while Ben Johnson had four catches for a game-high 76 yards receiving. Cameron Sonnier had a game-high 12 tackles and a sack to lead the defense. Quarterback Kody Whitaker saw his first action of the season early in the game when he scored the only touchdown of the first half for HSU on a 1-yard plunge.

The Reddies out-gained SNU 343-206 and rushed for a season-high 131 yards in the win. 

Henderson's next game is on Saturday, Oct. 6, when the Reddies host Oklahoma Baptist at 2 p.m. in Carpenter-Haygood Stadium and Ruggles Field.