ARKADELPHIA, Ark. — Henderson State scored 24 points in a wild fourth quarter, including a go-ahead touchdown with 29 seconds remaining, to outlast Southern Arkansas 38-31 on Senior Day at Carpenter-Haygood Stadium and Ruggles Field.

The No. 22 Reddies (9-1) trailed 17-14 entering the game's final 15 minutes, but a 2-yard plunge on the first play of the quarter from Logan Moragne put the Reddies on top 21-17. Southern Arkansas (7-3) answered quickly, and used an eight play, 74-yard drive to retake a 24-21 advantage with 11:16 remaining.

Needing an answer, Henderson went three-and-out on its ensuing drive, but after kicking the ball back to the Muleriders, the Reddies' defense came through with the first turnover of the game, as Colby Turner picked off an SAU pass at the Southern Arkansas 43-yard line to give HSU a golden opportunity. The offense cashed in moments later when Querale Hall rumbled 33 yards to the end zone on the drive's second play to regain the lead for the Reddies, 28-24.

The momentum continued for HSU on SAU's next drive. The Muleriders tried to go deep on their first play and tested back-up corner Rickey Henderson, who was forced into action after an injury in the secondary coming into the week. Henderson came through with the biggest play of his career, as he picked off the pass and returned it 48 yards to the SAU 9-yard line. The big interception led to a field goal, which put the Reddies up 31-24 with just under seven minutes remaining.

After a big stop for its defense, the Muleriders responded behind an 11-play, 81-yard scoring drive which tied the game at 31-31 with 2:53 to go. With the ball back in their possession and the season on the line, quarterback Richard Stammetti and the Henderson offense went to work. 

Stammetti quickly led the Reddies down the field and completed three passes, the biggest of which came on a masterful 25-yard grab from L'liott Curry, to move HSU down to the SAU 6-yard line with under a minute remaining. Moragne capped off the game-winning drive from there, as he powered into the end zone with 29 seconds left to put Henderson in front 38-31. The Muleriders' ensuing last gasp fell short, as Mercardo Anderson picked off the final pass of the game to send the Reddies' sideline into wild celebration. 

Stammetti finished 24-of-39 for 292 yards and two scores to lead Henderson. His favorite target, Curry, caught eight passes for 126 yards and a touchdown. Curry now has 1,039 yards and 13 touchdowns this year. Moragne rushed 11 times for 58 yards and two touchdowns, which extended his streak of consecutive games with a score to nine. 

Anderson led an outstanding effort defensively and turned in 11 tackles, three tackles for loss and an interception in the win. Henderson, in his first start of the year, had nine tackles and his big pick in the fourth quarter.

The win is the Reddies' ninth of 2019 and sets up a Top-25 clash that has been building all season next week at Cliff Harris Stadium in the Battle of the Ravine against No. 5 Ouachita Baptist (10-0). With a victory, Henderson will win a share of its fourth Great American Conference title. The game of the year in the GAC takes place next Saturday at 1 p.m. in Arkadelphia.