No. 16 Henderson State (8-1) at Oklahoma Baptist (6-3)
Crain Stadium at the Hurt Complex | Shawnee, Oklahoma | 2 p.m. CT
Live Video | Live Radio Broadcast | Live Stats | Game Notes

ARKADELPHIA, Ark. — No. 16 Henderson State makes its final trip to the Sooner State of the year on Saturday when it takes on Oklahoma Baptist in a matchup of two of the top offenses in the country. The Reddies are 23-1 all-time in GAC road games in the state of Oklahoma.

TOP STORYLINES: SETTING THE SCENE
- Both the Reddies and Oklahoma Baptist rank inside the Top-20 in NCAA DII in both scoring offense and passing offense. The Reddies are No. 10 nationally in passing yards per game (309.2) and the Bison are No. 18 (295). 

- NCAA DII Playoff and GAC Championship implications are on the line for HSU. The Reddies, who are No. 6 in the latest Central Region Rankings, control their own destiny and can clinch a share of the GAC title, as well as a likely NCAA Playoff bid, with wins in their final two games against OKBU and Ouachita. 

REDDIES REPORT: OFFENSE
- The Reddie offense continues to rank near the top of both the GAC and the NCAA DII stats leaderboards. HSU is No. 7 nationally in scoring offense (42.4 points per game) and No. 3 in total offense (496.9 yards per game). Henderson is the top passing team in the GAC and ranks No. 10 in the country in passing yards per game (309.2). 

- Henderson has also been solid on the ground and ranks Top-40 in NCAA DII in rushing offense (187.7 yards per game). The Reddies have run for 100-plus yards in every game this season, which includes seven games with 150 yards or more and five with over 200 yards rushing. HSU ran for 170 yards in the win over SNU.

- Quarterback Adam Morse is No. 3 in NCAA DII in total offense (2993 yards) and yards per game (332.6). Morse is seven yards away from being just the third player in the country this fall to be responsible for over 3000 yards of offense. The senior is No. 6 nationally in both passing yards (2763) and completion percentage (68.5%).

- L'liott Curry caught his 12th touchdown pass of the season on Saturday against SNU and now has 26 for his career in Arkadelphia. Curry is third nationally in both receiving yards (1069) and receptions (73). In his last time facing Oklahoma Baptist, Curry introduced himself to the GAC with eight catches for 178 yards and three touchdowns.

- The Reddies lead NCAA DII with 48 red zone scores this season -- six more than second-place Harding. Henderson is 48-for-53 inside its opponent's 20-yard line this year (90.6%), a mark which ranks 12th nationally. 

- Henderson is one of only two NCAA DII teams throwing for over 300 yards per game and also rushing for over 180 yards per game. The Reddies and Shepherd University are the only two programs to be ranked Top-10 nationally in passing offense and Top-40 in rushing offense.

- The Reddies' offensive line has been stout this fall and has allowed just 10 sacks in nine games, but will face a stiff test this Saturday against Oklahoma Baptist. The Bison lead the GAC with 23 sacks this season. 

- HSU's explosive offense has been limited in three previous trips to Shawnee. Despite going 3-0 in those contests, Henderson is averaging just 23.6 points per game on the road against OKBU with an average margin of victory of 5.3 points. 

REDDIES REPORT: DEFENSE 
- Henderson's defense put together its best performance of the year last Saturday against Southern Nazarene. The Reddies limited SNU to just 241 yards of offense and 74 rushing yards in a 34-3 win. The Crimson Storm did not find the end zone, which marked the first time since 2015 that HSU had kept an opponent from scoring a touchdown in a game.

- Defensive back Deldric Shields grabbed headlines for the Reddies this week as he was named GAC Defensive Player of the Week for the second time this season. Shields had six tackles and 4.5 tackles for loss against the Crimson Storm. His 4.5 tackles for loss were the most by an HSU defender since 2011. Shields is the first GAC player this season to win the weekly defensive award two times. 

- HSU linebacker Jake Chatman came up with his second pick-six of the year in the win over SNU. Chatman stepped in front of a pass in the third quarter and returned it 62 yards for Henderson's only touchdown of the second half. Chatman previously had a 100-yard interception return for a score in the Reddies' 56-49 win over Southern Arkansas. He now has five interceptions in his career.

- The Reddies' secondary will be in for a challenge when they face the vaunted OKBU passing game on Saturday. HSU leads the GAC with 15 interceptions and has at least one pick in seven games this fall. Henderson has allowed an opponent to pass for 300 or more yards just once this season (SAU). 

- Henderson made a jump after its terrific showing against SNU and now ranks fourth in the conference in both scoring defense (24.7 points per game) and total defense (373.8 yards per game). the Reddies' rush defense is fifth in the league (170.6 yards per game) and its pass defense is seventh (203.2 yards per game). 

SCOUTING OKLAHOMA BAPTIST
- Oklahoma Baptist enters Saturday's showdown riding high as winners of its last three games. OKBU is 6-3 this season and 3-1 at home in Shawnee, Oklahoma. Two of the Bison's three losses this year came to nationally ranked Harding and Ouachita Baptist. The Bison have never beaten Henderson State and are 0-6 in the series since joining the GAC.

- The Bison are led by their explosive offense which ranks No. 17 nationally in scoring (37.7 points per game) and No. 19 in total offense (449.8 yards per game). OKBU is particularly dangerous through the air and throws for 295 yards per game.

- Seasoned quarterback Preston Haire is the trigger man for the Bison offense. Haire was the 2019 GAC Offensive Player of the Year and a nominee for the Harlon Hill Award. This season, Haire has 2626 passing yards, a GAC-leading 30 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He has thrown for three or more touchdowns in six games this fall.

- OKBU has two dangerous weapons in the receiving game in the form of Keilahn Harris and Josh Cornell. The duo has combined to record 138 catches for 1659 yards and 24 touchdowns this year. Both players have over 10 touchdown receptions. Oklahoma Baptist also boasts a very capable rushing attack, led by running back Tyler Stuever, who has carried 179 times for 924 yards and eight scores in 2021. Stuever has run for 200 yards and five touchdowns in his last two contests against Southeastern and SAU.

- Defensively, the Bison are No. 8 in the GAC in scoring defense (32.6 points per game) and No. 9 in total defense (393.3 yards per game). OKBU has surrendered 30 or more points in six games this fall and is 3-3 in those contests. Oklahoma Baptist has been strong against the run and is third in the league in rush defense (147.6 yards per game), but has struggled against the pass and is 12th in the conference in pass defense (245.8 yards per game). The top weapon for the Bison defensively is linebacker Josh Arnold, who leads the GAC with 16.5 tackles for loss.

THE COACHING MATCHUP
- Henderson State is led by head coach Scott Maxfield, who is 116-58 in his 17 years and 16 seasons at the school. Maxfield is three wins away from tying HSU legend Sporty Carpenter for the most wins in program history (119). In his career with the Reddies, Maxfield is 6-0 against Oklahoma Baptist. He earned the 100th win of his career in Shawnee in the 2019 season-opening win over the Bison.

- Oklahoma Baptist's head coach is Chris Jensen, who is 36-50 overall in eight years with the program. Jensen has transformed OKBU in the last several years into arguably the top GAC program in the state of Oklahoma. The Bison have won their last 15 games against Oklahoma-based DII programs and have not lost to a GAC school from Oklahoma since 2017.

THE LAST MEETING
- Henderson State put on an aerial exhibition in the first half, and then held off an Oklahoma Baptist rally late, to defeat the Bison 35-28 in the season opener and give head coach Scott Maxfield the 100th win of his illustrious career at the school.

- Senior quarterback Richard Stammetti put on a show during the first-ever game under the lights at Crain Stadium, and finished 21-for-32 through the air for 357 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions. In his first game at HSU, L'liott Curry had eight catches for 178 yards and three-touchdowns — the best day by a Reddie receiver since 2016.

- The Reddies jumped out to a 21-0 lead in the early going, but OKBU rallied and forced an onside kick with seconds remaining. Henderson recovered to preserve the win, which improved it to 10-5 in season openers under Maxfield. 

HOW TO BUY ONLINE TICKETS FOR SATURDAY
- For fans planning to attend Saturday's Henderson State football game in Shawnee, Oklahoma against Oklahoma Baptist, be advised that Oklahoma Baptist has gone completely digital for ticketing and tickets for the 2 p.m. contest can only be purchased online. Oklahoma Baptist will no longer be accepting on-site cash or credit card payments for any ticketed athletic events.

- Tickets are $10 general admission with children five years of age and younger admitted for free. Tickets can be purchased online HERE. Once a ticket has been purchased, fans will have the ability to either print their purchased tickets or scan their electronic ticket from their phone upon arrival at the gate. Bar codes for mobile ticket purchases will become available for download on the day of the game.

- In order to purchase online tickets through Oklahoma Baptist's website, you must create an online account. Simply begin the process of purchasing an online ticket by choosing the "General Admission" seating area on the visitor's side of the stadium and selecting the quantity of tickets you intend to purchase. Once you continue through to payment, you will be asked to create an account using your email address and debit or credit card information. Use promo code, "KARIP" through Friday to receive half off your general admission ticket purchase. 

OKLAHOMA BAPTIST CLEAR BAG POLICY
- Beginning this fall, Oklahoma Baptist has implemented a clear bag policy at football games. Clear bags must fit within the current size guidelines for entry, typically 12" w x 6" d x 12 h". Additionally, one gallon clear plastic bags, and small clutch style purses no larger than 6.5" x 4.5" will be permitted. Consistent with OBU policy, exceptions will be made in the case of medically-necessary and/or childcare-related articles. All carried items and entrants are subject to search.

WHERE 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 FM in Gurdon, and KZYP 104.1 FM/1310 AM in Malvern. 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.