Henderson State vs. East Central
Carpenter-Haygood Stadium at Ruggles Field | Arkadelphia, Arkansas | 2 p.m. CT
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Full List of Homecoming Activities

ARKADELPHIA, Ark. — Henderson State (5-1) will look to clinch a winning season and a 4-0 start at home when it welcomes East Central to Arkadelphia, Arkansas for Homecoming at Carpenter-Haygood Stadium and Ruggles Field Saturday at 2 p.m.

TOP STORYLINES: SETTING THE SCENE
- The Reddies defense has become one of the stingiest units in the league over the first half of the year but faces one of its biggest challenges thus far in ECU's Ontario Douglas, who is the top running back in the Great American Conference this season. Douglas averages 131.8 yards rushing per game.

- Saturday is the 31st meeting all-time between East Central and Henderson State. The Reddies lead the series 17-12-1 and have won 12 of the last 14 matchups dating back to 1987. The Tigers, however, have won the last two games played at Carpenter-Haygood Stadium and Ruggles Field. ECU defeated HSU 24-16 in Arkadelphia in 2017 and upset the Reddies' 2015 GAC title team 35-28.

REDDIES REPORT
- The Reddies' defense put together another terrific showing in Saturday's 35-7 win over Southwestern Oklahoma State. Henderson stiffled the Bulldogs all afternoon and held SWOSU to 250 total yards of offense, including just 67 yards on 27 plays in the first half. 

- HSU is now second in the GAC in total defense this season, allowing just 288.7 yards per game to opponents, and is No. 9 in the country for NCAA DII in scoring defense (13.8 points per game). The Reddies have held four of their six opponents this season to under 300 yards of total offense.

- Senior nickelback Mercardo Anderson had one of the best games of his career against SWOSU. The senior from Ashdown, Arkansas finished with nine tackles, three tackles for loss, two sacks and an interception to help lead the dominant effort by the Henderson defense. His performance earned him GAC Defensive Player of the Week honors on Monday.

- Offensively, Henderson ranks second in the conference in scoring (31.8 points per game), total offense (415.5 yards per game), and passing offense (256.3 yards per game). HSU is the only school in the GAC in the Top-3 in scoring offense, scoring defense, total offense and total defense. 

- Henderson's rushing attack had its best game of the year against the Bulldogs last Saturday. The Reddies racked up 239 yards on the ground on a season-high 38 rushing attempts. Known for their passing game, HSU has run more rushing plays than passing plays in each of its last two contests. 

- The Reddies remain the top third down defense in the conference and are No. 8 in the country in opponents third down conversion percentage (24.7%). Henderson's opposition has converted on just 20 of 81 third down opportunities this season. HSU is one of just eight schools nationally holding opponents to a conversion rate of under 25% on third downs.

- Quarterback Richard Stammetti threw his 30th career touchdown pass against SWOSU to become just the fourth signal-caller in Henderson history to eclipse 30 passing touchdowns in a career. The senior from Las Vegas, Nevada is 53 passing yards away from hitting the 4000-yard mark in his career at HSU and is 319 yards away from surpassing John Lindgren for fourth all-time in passing yards.

- HSU has held three of its opponents this season to seven points or less. The last time the Reddies accomplished that feat in a single season was 2015 when they did it four times en route to a GAC title and NCAA DII Playoff appearance. HSU has also been incredibly strong defensively in fourth quarters this year and has allowed just seven total fourth quarter points through six games. The Reddies have not allowed a fourth quarter point since the season-opener against Oklahoma Baptist.

- Henderson has gotten off to great starts to games in 2019. The Reddies are out-scoring opponents 127-47 in first halves this season: 47-13 in the first quarter and 80-34 in the second quarter. HSU has scored over 100 more points than its competition this year: 191-83. 

- The offensive line for HSU has been fantastic through half the season. Henderson has given up just four sacks this year and has not allowed a sack in three-straight contests. The last sack allowed by the Reddies' offensive line came in the fourth quarter of the win over Arkansas Tech on Sept. 21. 

- After not recording a turnover through the first three games of the year, HSU has gained nine turnovers in the last three contests for a turnover margin of +5. The Reddies currently have a turnover margin of +2 for the season. Henderson has not finished a season with a positive turnover margin since 2015 and was a combined -20 on turnovers from 2016 to 2018.

SCOUTING EAST CENTRAL
- East Central enters Saturday's contest 1-5 overall and in the GAC. The Tigers have dropped their last three games to Oklahoma Baptist, UAM, and Ouachita Baptist. Three of their five losses this season have come by a touchdown or less. ECU is led by second-year head coach Al Johnson, who is 4-13 overall in Ada, Oklahoma.

- Offensively, the Tigers have one of the biggest weapons in the GAC in sophomore running back Ontario Douglas. Douglas, from Lawton, Oklahoma, leads the league with 133 carries for 791 yards and 11 rushing touchdowns this season. He averages 131.8 yards per game and is No. 7 nationally in rushing yards this year. ECU's quarterback is dual-threat true freshman Kenny Hrncir, who has thrown for 829 yards and rushed for 305 yards. East Central is third in the GAC in total offense (402.5 yards per game) and fifth in scoring offense (28.2 points per game). ECU has scored 40 or more points three times in 2019.

- ECU is led defensively by senior linebacker Basiru Jobe, who has a team-high 41 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and two sacks this season. Defensive back Cameron Jones has been a ball-hawk in the Tigers' secondary and is tied for the GAC lead with three interceptions this year. ECU ranks eighth in the conference in scoring defense (30.8 points per game to opponents) and 11th in total defense (424.2 yards per game to opponents).

- After a good start to its time in the GAC, East Central has struggled since 2016. The Tigers had winning seasons from 2011-15, but are just 7-32 overall and in conference play since the start of 2016. ECU has had success, however, in Arkadelphia against Henderson State and won the meetings in both 2015 and 2017.

- Despite its record, ECU's numbers across the board have improved this season, particularly on offense. The Tigers average 402.5 yards per game in 2019 after averaging a GAC-low 233.9 yards per game last year. 

LAST YEAR'S MEETING
- After trailing through one quarter, Henderson State scored 24 unanswered points and pitched a shutout defensively in the final 45 minutes, as the Reddies defeated East Central 31-10 to extend their then-winning streak to three games.

- The entire second half was a grind for the East Central offense, as the Reddies held the Tigers to just 87 second-half yards. 77 of those yards came on their final drive of the game, when they drove all the way down the field but were turned away on three-straight plays inside the Reddies' 3-yard line.

- Both running backs were spectacular for Henderson, as Logan Moragne carried 15 times for 134 yards and the Reddies' first score, while Querale Hall had 80 rushing yards, 46 receiving yards, and three total touchdowns. Stammetti was an efficient 18-of-24 for 208 yards and two touchdowns with an interception.

- In the win, Henderson out-gained the Tigers 427-276 behind a balanced offensive attack which ran for 219 yards and passed for 208. The Reddies averaged 7.2 yards per play on the day.

HOMECOMING INFORMATION
- Saturday's game is Homecoming for Henderson State and there will be several events for alumni and students alike to participate in prior to kickoff at 2 p.m.

- A Homecoming tailgate will take place at the red tent in front of the Duke Wells Center from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. The menu includes grilled chicken and hamburgers, as well as assorted chip, drinks and bottled water. The price for the meal is $6 plus tax.

- The presentation of the Homecoming Court will take place on Ruggles Field in Carpenter-Haygood Stadium beginning at 1:30 p.m. before kickoff.

- Bouncy houses will be available in the Wells parking lot for children as a part of pregame festivities.

IMPORTANT GAMEDAY INFORMATION
- Several different parking options are available for game day. CADC SCAT buses will be staged at the corner of 12th and Wilson streets three 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 pregame 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 be admitted for free, as will children five years old and younger.

HOW TO LISTEN
- 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 106.7 in Gurdon, KZYP 104.1 FM/1310 AM in Malvern, KAFN 99.3 FM/690 AM in Benton and KAAY 1090 AM in Little Rock. 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.