ARKADELPHIA, Ark. — Henderson State looks to get its 2018 season back on track Saturday evening, when the Reddies travel to Russellville, Arkansas, to take on Arkansas Tech at 6 p.m. inside Thone Stadium at Buerkle Field.

SETTING THE SCENE
- Henderson State is looking to rebound after dropping its first season opener since 2009 last Thursday night in Arkadelphia. The Reddies fell 41-17 to No. 7 Harding in a game where Henderson lost three fumbles, which led to 21 Bisons' points. The loss broke a streak of nine-straight wins in season-opening games for Henderson.

- Arkansas Tech is also looking to respond after being drubbed on opening night by Southern Arkansas down in Magnolia, Arkansas. The Muleriders defeated the Wonder Boys 38-0 last Thursday, which was also the halftime score before a scoreless second half. SAU scored 24 points in the second quarter alone to run away with the game early.

- This is the 94th meeting all-time between the two schools in a series that dates back to 1920 and is currently tied at 44-44-5. The Reddies have won the last five meetings in Russellville, Arkansas, and have taken seven of the last nine contests in the series overall. Arkansas Tech's last victory over Henderson in Thone Stadium and Buerkle Field came 12 years ago in 2006.

- With a win, Henderson can avoid its first 0-2 start since 2009, when the Reddies dropped their first three games on their way to a 3-7 season in the Gulf South Conference.

- The Wonder Boys are looking for an answer under center heading into week two. Tech played two quarterbacks against SAU, and both completed nine passes for 83 yards, respectively, but they combined for three interceptions and no touchdowns.

REDDIES REPORT
- Several newcomers made their first appearances in a Henderson jersey against Harding, particularly on offense, where fresh faces dominated the final stat column. Junior quarterback Richard Stammetti was solid and efficient in his debut despite the loss, and finished 21-of-33 through the air for 234 yards and two touchdowns. Both of Stammetti's scoring passes went to sophomore wide receiver Chase Lodree, which notched him the first two trips to the end zone of his career. In the backfield, junior running back Logan Moragne showed promise as well, carrying the ball 15 times for 77 yards on the night.

- Defensively, Henderson was led by senior linebacker Cameron Sonnier and junior nickelback Mercardo Anderson, who each had eight tackles and a tackle for loss. Sophomore cornerback Antonio Franklin came up with the Reddies' first turnover of the year in the third quarter, when he recovered a Harding fumble.

The Reddies' passing attack was one of the lone bright spots in week one against Harding. Henderson ranks fifth in the GAC after one game in passing offense, with 234 yards, and sixth in passing efficiency (143.2). Individually, Stammetti sits fifth in the league in passing yards and is tied for third in the conference with two touchdown passes to his credit.

- Ben Johnson's seven receptions for 42 yards in the opener against Harding was the second-most receptions for any player in the conference in the first week of the season. Lodree is tied for the league-lead with two receiving touchdowns, and is tied for third in the GAC in scoring with 12 points. Despite having just one catch, Zecharius Nash-Kelly leads the team in receiving yards through one game, after hauling in a 51-yard bomb from Stammetti for his only reception of the season opener.

- Of the 41 points Harding scored in the opener, 21 came off of Reddies' turnovers. Henderson lost three fumbles on the night, which led to three touchdowns for the Bisons. The Reddies' defense, despite the 41 points allowed, ranks seventh in the GAC in total defense, and gave up just 385 yards to the Bisons' triple option attack. Of Harding's three sustained scoring drives in the first half, two began in the red zone and the other resulted in a field goal. The Bisons first touchdown came on a scoop-and-score of a fumble.

- Henderson's rushing attack was stymied by the experienced Harding defense last Thursday. The Reddies rushed for just 90 yards, which was the lowest amount for any team in the GAC in week one. Despite this, Moragne's 77 yards on the ground puts him in the Top-10 in the GAC in rushing after the first week. He sits just 31 yards behind Ouachita Baptist's Kris Oliver for the league lead through one game. Moragne averaged just over five yards per carry against the Bisons.

- The match-up with Arkansas Tech is Henderson State's first true road game of the season and its 33rd GAC road contest since the founding of the league 2011. In its previous 32 conference road games, Henderson is an astounding 31-1 all-time. The Reddies first GAC road loss in program history did not come until 2017.

SCOUTING ARKANSAS TECH
- The Wonder Boys came into 2018 with high hopes after narrowly missing out on the DII playoffs and a GAC title last season. ATU finished 8-3 in the 2017 regular season, and fell one game short of claiming a share of their first ever GAC football crown. Tech went on to receive a bid to the Live United Bowl in Texarkana, Texas, where they fell 48-31 to Pittsburg State. They were picked 4th in the 2018 GAC Preseason Coaches Poll.

- Senior running back Bryan Allen is the primary weapon for the Wonder Boy offense. Allen rushed for 977 yards and 10 touchdowns last season and had 37 yards on nine carries against SAU. Tech will be quarterbacked by sophomores Carter Burcham and Cale Fulsom, who combined for 166 passing yards in week one.

- Defensively, Tech has several stand-outs from their 2017 squad, including AP and D2 Football.com All-American Cua' Rose, who had three interceptions last season against Henderson, as well as D2CCA All-Region linebacker K.J. Reid, who had a GAC-high 14 tackles in the Wonder Boy's loss to SAU.

- Arkansas Tech is still searching for its first points of the 2018 season entering Saturday night's contest. The Wonder Boys were shut out by Southern Arkansas 38-0 in their season opener last Thursday. Tech managed just 264 yards of total offense in the loss, which was second to last amongst GAC teams in week one. ATU also rushed for just 98 yards, which was the second-lowest amount among the 12 conference teams in the first week of the season.

LAST MEETING
- Arkansas Tech spoiled Henderson State's home opener in 2017, as the Wonder Boys rolled into Carpenter-Haygood Stadium and Ruggles Field, and defeated the Reddies 26-3 to snap a six-game losing streak to Henderson State that dated back to 2009 before the formation of the GAC.

- The Reddies' offense struggled with the tough Tech defense all evening, as quarterbacks Andrew Black and Evan Lassiter combined to throw four interceptions in the game; three of which were picked off by the Wonder Boys' Cua' Rose, which earned him GAC Defensive Player of the Week honors. Henderson accounted for just 264 yards of total offense in the loss and were outscored 20-0 after the first quarter.

- Defensively, Henderson was gashed on the ground by the Wonder Boys' rushing attack, which racked up 284 yards. Bryan Allen led the way for Arkansas Tech with 83 rushing yards, while quarterback Ty Reasoner had 52 of his own, along with two rushing touchdowns.

HOW TO WATCH, LISTEN AND FOLLOW
- 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. Live video, audio and stat links will be available at hsusports.com.