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Football David Salley

Game Notes: Henderson State at No. 22 Harding

Henderson State at No. 22 Harding
First Security Stadium | Searcy, Arkansas | 6 p.m.
Live Video | Live Radio Broadcast | Live Stats | Game Notes


ARKADELPHIA, Ark. — The top offense and top defense in the Great American Conference collide on Saturday night in Searcy, Arkansas when Henderson State travels to face-off with No. 22 Harding at 6 p.m.

TOP STORYLINES: SETTING THE SCENE
- Henderson's GAC-leading offense, which ranks No. 11 in the country (491.7 yards per game), will face its biggest test of the season thus far in the Bisons. Harding is No. 1 in all of NCAA DII in scoring defense (5.3 points per game allowed) and has pitched back-to-back shutouts in its last two wins. On the other side of the ball, the Reddies will be tested on the ground. With its triple option attack, Harding is No. 5 in the country in rushing offense (287.3 yards per game).

- The contest is the 53rd meeting in what has been a wild series of late. The road team has won the last eight matchups dating back to 2011, which includes five-straight wins in Searcy for the Reddies. Henderson leads 32-20-1 all-time and is 9-5 against the Bisons under head coach Scott Maxfield.

REDDIES REPORT
- Richard Stammetti leads the GAC in passing yards (1000) and is one of just five quarterbacks in all of NCAA DII to eclipse 1000 or more yards passing through three games. The senior from Las Vegas, Nevada is eighth in the country in completion percentage (68.7%) and 12th with eight touchdown passes. Stammetti has 200 more passing yards than the next closest quarterback in the conference.

- Receivers L'liott Curry and Chase Lodree both rank in the Top-35 in the country in receiving yards. Curry is 12th with 331, while Lodree is 35th with 269. Curry is tied for second nationally with five touchdown catches already this season and is fifth in the country with 25 receptions. The transfer from Central Oklahoma is averaging just over eight catches and 110 yards receiving per game. He leads the GAC in receiving yards, touchdowns and scoring (30 points).

- Tailback Logan Moragne of Little Rock Central High School is second in the GAC with 251 rushing yards in three games this year. Moragne had his best game of the season last week against Arkansas Tech, where he carried 11 times for 118 yards and a score. Moragne is averaging 7.2 yards on his 35 carries in 2019 and needs 65 yards to eclipse 1000 yards rushing for his career at Henderson.

- The Henderson offense remains the top unit in the league through three weeks. The Reddies are the No. 5 passing offense in NCAA DII (341 yards per game) and lead the GAC in both total offense (491.7 yards per game) and scoring offense (32 points per game). HSU is sixth in the GAC in rushing offense (150.7 yards per game) despite running the ball less than any team in the league (85 rush attempts).

- The Reddies' are fourth in the GAC in both scoring defense (18.3 points per game) and total defense (309.7 yards allowed per game). Henderson's defense has been solid despite the fact that it is the only unit remaining in the conference that has not yet forced a turnover this season. HSU put forth a dominant effort against Arkansas Tech and held the Wonder Boys to 260 yards of offense which included just 95 yards in the second half and -2 yards in the fourth quarter.

- Linebacker Colby Turner leads the team and is fifth in the league in tackles with 26 on the year. Turner has 16 solo stops in 2019 which is tied for the most of any player in the GAC. Also appearing amongst the GAC leaders on the defensive side of the ball are linemen Denzel Walter and Antoine Roshell. Walter has 4.5 tackles for loss in the first three games of his career, which is the second-most in the conference, while Roshell has the co-league lead in sacks with two for a GAC-high 22 lost yards. 

- Temo Martinez of Dardanelle High School earned the second GAC Special Teams Player of the Week honor of his career on Monday. Martinez was 2-for-3 on field goal attempts with a long of 40 yards against Tech and was also 3-for-3 on extra points. The sophomore scored nine points to lead all the specialists in the conference in week three. His award gave HSU three GAC Players of the Week in as many games in 2019. Curry and Stammetti each won Offensive Player of the Week honors to open the year.

- Receiver Braden Boykin has been a weapon in the return game in his first three contests for the Reddies. After its top punt returner in 2018 had 14 return yards for the entire season, Boykin has been a big upgrade for HSU and leads the GAC with an average of 11.6 yards per return. He is 17th in the nation in that category and ripped off his longest return of the season in the win over Tech with a 20-yard run-back. 

- Henderson received 23 total votes in the latest AFCA Top-25 poll on Monday and could break into the Top-25 for the first time since 2016 with a win. The Reddies are looking for their first win over a ranked opponent since the 2017 season when they defeated No. 15 Harding 28-20 in the season opener and No. 19 Southeastern Oklahoma State 21-20 on the road in Durant, Oklahoma. HSU has not lost to Harding in Searcy since 2009 when both schools were in the Gulf South Conference.

SCOUTING  NO. 22 HARDING
- Harding enters Saturday night's contest 2-1 overall and ranked No. 22 in the country according to the latest AFCA poll. The Bisons dropped a tight 16-14 contest on the road at Ouachita Baptist to open the year, but have pitched back-to-back shutout victories in the last two weeks over UAM and Southern Arkansas.

- The Bisons' triple option attack is potent and ranks them No. 5 in the nation in rushing offense (287.3 yards per game). HU is led by fullback Cole Chancey and slotback Tristan Tucker, who have combined for nearly 500 yards on the ground in three games. Harding quarterback Preston Paden runs the offense and has rushed for 105 yards in his own right this year. The Bisons have completed just two passes all season, one of which was an 85-yard touchdown strike on their first play of the game against Ouachita Baptist.

- Defense has been Harding's calling card in recent years and 2019 is no different. The Bisons are one of the top defensive teams in all of NCAA DII and rank No. 1 in the nation in scoring defense (5.3 points per game allowed) and No. 2 in total defense (199.7 yards per game allowed). HU's defense has scored three touchdowns in its three games this season and allowed just one. The Bisons have a GAC-leading five interceptions already, three of which they have returned for scores. Linebacker Dylan Hendricks tops the team with 20 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble, while defensive backs Jacory Nichols and Corey Batie have each been named GAC Defensive Player of the Week this season. 

- Harding's stingy defense and option offense has allowed the Bisons to dominate opponents on the ground over the past several years. In the last six-plus seasons, HU has scored 325 rushing touchdowns and allowed just 62. In that same time frame, the Bisons have rushed for 27,244 yards and allowed just 6447.

LAST YEAR'S MEETING
- Henderson State racked up 324 yards of total offense, but No. 7 Harding scored 21 points off of three Reddie fumbles and pulled away to win the season opener for both teams, 41-17. The win was Harding's third-consecutive victory at Carpenter-Haygood Stadium and Ruggles Field, and snapped Henderson's nine-game winning streak in opening games.

- Stammetti was steady in his debut for Henderson and finished 21-of-33 for 234 yards and two touchdowns, while completing passes to eight different receivers. Lodree caught three passes for 48 yards and two scores, and Moragne carried the ball 15 times for 77 yards on the night. Mercardo Anderson and Cam Sonnier led the Reddies' defensive efforts, as both finished with eight tackles and a tackle for loss.

- HSU was out-gained on the ground 307-90 in the loss. Harding defensive end T.J. Winslow loomed large in the outcome, and had three sacks and two forced fumbles to lead the way for the Bisons. One of the biggest plays of the game came early in the first quarter when HU got an 11-yard scoop and score on a Reddie fumble from cornerback Frank Herbert to jump out to a 10-0 lead.

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 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.

SLIM & SHORTY'S WATCH PARTY
- For those unable to follow the team to Searcy, join your fellow Henderson State fans and head over to Slim & Shorty's for the official watch party of Reddie road games. Slim & Shorty's is located at 617 Clinton Street in downtown Arkadelphia and will be broadcasting the game beginning at 6 p.m.
 

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Players Mentioned

Mercardo Anderson

#31 Mercardo Anderson

DB
5' 10"
Redshirt Senior
Chase Lodree

#8 Chase Lodree

WR
6' 1"
Redshirt Junior
Temo  Martinez

#41 Temo Martinez

K
6' 0"
Sophomore
Logan Moragne

#22 Logan Moragne

RB
5' 9"
Redshirt Senior
Antoine Roshell

#97 Antoine Roshell

DL
6' 2"
Redshirt Junior
Richard Stammetti

#14 Richard Stammetti

QB
6' 2"
Senior
Colby Turner

#48 Colby Turner

LB
6' 0"
Redshirt Junior
Denzel  Walter

#96 Denzel Walter

DL
6' 2"
Redshirt Freshman
L

#15 L'liott Curry

WR
6' 2"
Redshirt Junior
Braden Boykin

#80 Braden Boykin

WR
5' 7"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Mercardo Anderson

#31 Mercardo Anderson

5' 10"
Redshirt Senior
DB
Chase Lodree

#8 Chase Lodree

6' 1"
Redshirt Junior
WR
Temo  Martinez

#41 Temo Martinez

6' 0"
Sophomore
K
Logan Moragne

#22 Logan Moragne

5' 9"
Redshirt Senior
RB
Antoine Roshell

#97 Antoine Roshell

6' 2"
Redshirt Junior
DL
Richard Stammetti

#14 Richard Stammetti

6' 2"
Senior
QB
Colby Turner

#48 Colby Turner

6' 0"
Redshirt Junior
LB
Denzel  Walter

#96 Denzel Walter

6' 2"
Redshirt Freshman
DL
L

#15 L'liott Curry

6' 2"
Redshirt Junior
WR
Braden Boykin

#80 Braden Boykin

5' 7"
Junior
WR