ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – No. 18 Henderson State will get the back half of the 2023 season started Saturday when it hosts (RV) Southern Arkansas Saturday for Homecoming at Carpenter-Haygood Stadium. Kickoff for the week six showdown between the old AIC rivals is set for 2 p.m.
 
STORYLINES: SETTING THE SCENE
Since suffering its first loss of the season, No. 18 Henderson State has won its last two games by double digits, including a 42-28 victory over Southern Nazarene most recently. Henderson will now host Southern Arkansas, both of which are 5-1. This is the first time both teams have met with a 5-1 record or better at least six weeks into a season since 2012 when the Reddies were 7-0 and the Muleriders were 6-1 upon their meeting. With Saturday being the 86th matchup between the two programs, Henderson leads the all-time series, 47-36-2.
 
Similar to Henderson St., (RV) Southern Arkansas has been dominant since losing its only game of the season to No. 5 Ouachita Baptist. The Muleriders have defeated its last three opponents by an average of 30.7 points per game. This past Saturday, SAU defeated Oklahoma Baptist 63-24 for its highest scoring output since a 66-42 win against Arkansas-Monticello in 2014.
 
REDDIES REPORT: OFFENSE
Henderson State racked up a season-high 302 rushing yards Saturday against Southern Nazarene as Jeremiah Davis (144) and Fredrick O'Donald (108) became the first HSU duo to rush for more than 100 yards in the same game since October 1, 2022. After accumulating just 19 yards his first three games this season, Davis has recorded 212 yards on 27 carries – 7.9 yards per attempt – and one touchdown in his last two outings.
 
Davis and O'Donald's rushing numbers were both career highs while wide receiver Chris Hatzis also saw a career day. Hatzis caught just four passes Saturday, turning them into 146 yards and two touchdowns for his second game of 2023 with multiple touchdowns. The former LSU-transfer is now pacing the team with 390 receiving yards and five touchdowns, both of which rank second in the GAC.
 
The Reddies are fifth in the league in scoring offense (31.8 ppg), total offense (400.3 ypg) and rushing offense (179.0 ypg) while being fourth in passing offense (221.3 ypg). Henderson is one of only two teams in the conference to be top five in all major offensive statistical categories (Ouachita Baptist). The red-and-gray is also third in the league with an offensive efficiency of 154.0.
 
For the first time this season, quarterback Andrew Edwards was kept upright all game as HSU's offensive line did not allow a sack to the Crimson Storm. The Reddies are now seventh in the GAC with 12 allowed sacks through six games, though nine of them came in the first three contests of the season. That offensive line will need to continue its strong play this weekend as Southern Arkansas is fifth in the league with 15 sacks, averaging two a half per outing.
 
Henderson's passing offense will look to exploit a Southern Arkansas pass defense that is allowing a GAC fourth-most 201.5 yards per game through the air. The Reddies' aerial attack has not been as potent lately, however, with Edwards posting fewer than 200 passing yards in each of the last three games. This is only the second time since the start of the 2012 campaign Henderson has thrown for fewer than 200 yards in three consecutive games in the same season.     
 
REDDIES REPORT: DEFENSE – SPECIAL TEAMS
Henderson State held Southern Nazarene, the nation's second best rushing team coming into this past Saturday's matchup, to its third fewest yards on the ground this season. That rush defense also forced two fumbles, recovering one of them. Cameron Thomas forced a fumble on SNU's first drive of the second half, which Josh Brown pounced on as HSU scored one play later to extend a 14-point lead to a 21-point margin.
 
Reddie defensive end Dylan Ndambuki saw his best game of the season in limited action, sacking Crimson Storm quarterback Gage Porter twice as part of HSU's three sacks on the afternoon. That is the most sacks SNU's run-heavy offense has allowed this season. As a unit, Henderson has a GAC-most 21 sacks, which is tied for the fifth most in all of NCAA Division II. Southern Arkansas, thanks to dual-threat quarterback OB Jones, has only given up 11 sacks this season.
 
Senior defensive back Tim Jennings logged his first interception of his HSU career against Southern Nazarene Saturday. As SNU was threatening deep in Reddie territory in the final minute of the first half, Jennings corralled a tipped Crimson Storm pass off the receiver's hands to keep HSU's margin at 14 heading into the break. Henderson is tied for seventh in the conference with four interceptions.
 
28 points on Saturday was tied for the most points the red-and-gray have allowed this season as HSU is allowing the third fewest points in the league at 22.3 points per game. Through six games, the Reddies have allowed just 134 points, which is the fewest a Henderson defense has given up in that time span since 2019. That season, HSU finished as the third best scoring defense in the GAC at 19.8 points allowed per contest.
 
Henderson's kicking game struggled on Saturday as HSU missed its lone field-goal attempt while averaging just 30.5 yards per punt on its two punts. Kicker Kolby King was a perfect 6-for-6 on extra-points as he has made all but one this season. The Reddies have kicked 24 extra-points this season – tied for the fourth most of any GAC team in 2023 – and have the third best percentage in the league on a minimum of 20 attempts.
 
Punt returner Devon Adams took back two punts for 46 yards, including a long of 30 back to Southern Nazarene's 40-yard line on SNU's first punt of the game. That short field allowed HSU to score five plays later for a quick 14-0 lead less than nine minutes into game time. Adams is second in the conference with 10.3 yards per return on a league-most 15 returns. Jody Easter saw four kickoff returns for 68 yards and a long of 22.
 
THE OPPONENT: (RV) SOUTHERN ARKANSAS
Southern Arkansas scored its most points in a GAC contest since 2014 with its 63-24 victory over Oklahoma Baptist last Saturday. The Muleriders had 30 first downs compared to the Bison's 17 and ran 32 more plays than their counterpart. Oklahoma Baptist was only able to run for 93 yards as the Muleriders rushed for 477 yards. In total, SAU outgained OKBU, 592-291, in the landslide victory.
 
Mulerider quarterback OB Jones was only asked to throw the ball 14 times as three different SAU runners ran for at least 100 yards while five players recorded a touchdown on the ground. True freshman running back Arkez Gomez led the busy backfield with 123 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries. Southern Arkansas is now second in the country with 288.5 rushing yards per game.
 
After running for 121 yards and three touchdowns against the Bison, the aforementioned Jones is leading SAU in rushing on the year with 608 yards and 10 rushing scores. The dual-threat Mulerider signal caller has accounted for 1661 total yards and 18 touchdowns while having thrown five interceptions. Jones is third in the GAC with 276.8 yards of total offense per game as he is second in the league in rushing yards and fourth in passing yards.
 
Joining Jones as the Muleriders' top rushing threat is Jariq Scales as both players are among the top four leading rushers in the league through six games. Scales, who was mentioned alongside HSU running back Korien Burrell on the D2 Football Elite 100 Watch List prior to the start of the year, has tallied 365 all-purpose yards and six total touchdowns in the last three games.
 
Similar to Henderson being in the top five in all major offensive statistical categories, Southern Arkansas is one of only three teams in the conference ranked in the top four in scoring defense (22.7 ppg, 4th), total defense (301.2 ypg, 3rd) and rushing defense (99.7 ypg, 2nd). In SAU's five wins, the most points given up was 24 to Oklahoma Baptist while it has held three different opponents below 20 points.
 
Leading the charge on the defensive end is senior linebacker Jacob Berry, who has 34 tackles, while junior defensive end Dawson Scott leads the team and is seventh in the GAC with seven tackles for loss. Scott is also sixth in the league with four and a half sacks. The Muleriders secondary is manned by Melvin Smith, who is leading the conference with 11 total pass break-ups, including an interception, and Zay Woods, who has two picks and four pass break-ups.   
 
THE COACHING MATCHUP
Henderson State head coach Scott Maxfield reached 130 wins at HSU this past Saturday with his team's 42-28 victory over Southern Nazarene. In Maxfield's all-time coaching career, he is one win shy of 160, holding a 159-75 record in what is his 23rd year overall as a head coach. Maxfield is 12-4 against Southern Arkansas while with the Reddies.
 
Head coach Brad Smiley is in his second year at the helm of the Southern Arkansas program as he has a 10-7 record in the two seasons. Smiley has already led his Mulerider squad to the same number of wins they achieved all last season, though the second-year SAU head coach did defeat Maxfield and the Reddies in his first game donning the blue-and-yellow against Henderson.  
 
THE LAST MEETING
Southern Arkansas handed Henderson St. quarterback Andrew Edwards his first loss as a starter last year in Magnolia, 28-24. A 9-7 lead after the first quarter turned into a 21-16 deficit at halftime. After a scoreless third quarter on either side, HSU took its first lead of the second half 47 seconds into the fourth before the Muleriders scored what would win up being the game-winning touchdown with 9:35 left in regulation.
 
After the Reddies took the lead in the final period, the red-and-gray defense forced Southern Arkansas into a three-and-out before HSU muffed the ensuing punt to give the Muleriders the ball back at Henderson's 38-yard line, which resulted in the go-ahead score seven plays later. The Reddies had two more opportunities to re-take the lead, but a three-and-out and a turnover-on-downs at the Mulerider 20-yard line gave SAU the victory.
 
Henderson's defense held SAU to 62 rushing yard on a meager 1.9 yards per carry, while also picking off SAU quarterback OB Jones twice. Offensively, the Reddies struggled on third down, converting on just three of 10 tries compared to SAU's eight successful attempts on 13 tries. Both quarterbacks tallied three passing touchdowns as Edwards recorded 353 total yards while Jones had 272 total yards.

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 two 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 at GeoSurfaces 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 can also be purchased digitally at hsusports.com/tickets. For more information on buying tickets online, CLICK HERE. Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for children. Children five years of age or younger are allowed free admission. All students, faculty or staff with a valid Henderson State ID will be admitted for free, as will children five years old and younger.

HOMECOMING INFORMATION
Saturday's game is Homecoming for Henderson State and there will be several events for alumni and students alike to participate in during the week in the lead up to Saturday's 2 p.m. kickoff.

Thursday. Oct. 12 at 7:45 p.m. is Heart and Key's Homecoming pep rally behind Caplinger Hall, which is open to students and the public. During the pep rally, the Top-10 candidates for the Homecoming Court will be revealed. At approximately 8:45 p.m. is the annual bonfire which will feature food and music.

Leading up to kickoff, Sodexo will be serving a Tailgate Menu for Homecoming around Wells from 12-2 p.m. Cost is $10 per person with taxes included. The menu consists of grilled chicken breast, hot dogs, hamburgers, veggie burgers (available upon request) and more! In addition, there will be a Reddie Tailgate at the front of Wells Gym from 11-2 p.m.

The presentation of the 2023 Homecoming Court will take place on GeoSurfaces Field in Carpenter-Haygood Stadium beginning 30 minutes before kickoff at approximately 1:30 p.m.

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.