ARKADELPHIA, Ark. — Henderson State used a balanced night on offense and a terrific second half by its defense to outlast Arkansas Tech 27-21 on Saturday evening at Carpenter-Haygood Stadium and Ruggles Field.

After its passing game carried the day in the first two wins of the year, it was the Reddies' defense which rose to the occasion against the Wonder Boys. Henderson held Tech to 260 yards of total offense, including just 95 yards in the second half and -2 yards in the fourth quarter.

The offense, which had been spearheaded by a terrific aerial attack through two weeks, was much more balanced on Saturday night. Henderson ran for 205 yards, passed for 247 and out-gained Arkansas Tech 452-260. Thanks to long, sustained drives and the dominant defense, HSU's offense held the ball for over 12 minutes of the fourth quarter in the win.

Leading 17-13 at the half, the Reddies got a huge boost on their first drive of the third when Logan Moragne took the very first hand-off 72 yards to the end zone to put Henderson up 24-13. It was the longest rush of the year for the Reddies and the longest rush of Moragne's career.

The Wonder Boys answered later in the quarter when they cashed in a strip sack deep in Henderson territory with a 27-yard touchdown drive to trim the deficit to 24-21 after a two-point conversion. 

With Henderson clinging to the lead, the Reddies' defense stiffened down the stretch. Arkansas Tech had a chance to go in front on its final three drives of the game, but HSU snuffed out each one with a three-and-out. The Reddies held the Wonder Boys to a combined -5 yards on their final three possessions where they could have taken the lead.

Henderson tacked on an insurance field goal late from Temo Martinez following a 13-play, 75-yard drive which drained 5:18 from the clock, and a huge sack from Antoine Roshell on Tech's final possession helped put the game on ice and improved the Reddies to 3-0 for the first time since 2016.

Richard Stammetti finished 24-of-39 for 247 yards and one touchdown, while Moragne made the most of his 11 carries and went for 118 yards and a score. Querale Hall also turned in an impressive effort with 74 yards rushing on 15 carries and a touchdown. Doug Johnson caught his first touchdown of the season for Henderson's first score of the game and Chase Lodree led HSU with seven receptions for 84 yards.

On its spectacular night, the Reddies defense was led by true freshman Jakob Neel of Bryant High School, who had a career-high and team-leading eight tackles with one tackle for loss and a pass break-up. Roshell had two tackles for loss including his second sack of the year and the team as a whole finished with eight tackles in the Wonder Boy backfield in the win.

Henderson (3-0), who is now one of just two unbeaten teams remaining in the Great American Conference, faces a big test next Saturday, Sept. 28, when it travels to Searcy, Arkansas to face No. 23 Harding (2-1) at 6 p.m.