WEATHERFORD, Okla. - (RV) Henderson State recorded a season-high four interceptions - three in the second half - and two second-half pick sixes to post its second consecutive shutout of the season, downing Southwestern Oklahoma State, 56-0.
Henderson (8-2) has defeated its last two opponents by a combined score of 107-0 and has outgained them, 942-202.
Andrew Edwards totaled 321 yards and four touchdowns, including 186 yards and three touchdowns in the 4 minutes and 46 seconds of first-quarter possession time while wideout
Chris Hatzis saw more receiving yards by himself than SWOSU's entire team's yardage, 147-117.
Darrick Rose Jr. and
Paul Manning each recorded a pick-six while
Daymon Burns and
Josh Murray added an interception to give HSU a season-high four interceptions and two pick-sixes. The last time Henderson had one pick six was Oct. 30, 2021. The Reddies added five sacks as they now have a single-season Henderson record 38 sacks in the GAC era.
On the second play of the game, Edwards found Hatzis on a short out-route, which Hatzis took 77 yards to pay dirt. From there, the Reddies were off and running, scoring touchdowns on four of their next five drives while the defense forced three SWOSU three-and-outs in the opening half.
Henderson's second offensive possession mirrored the first with Edwards finding
Micah Greene for a 38-yard touchdown on the second play of the drive. Edwards' third touchdown of the first-quarter came on a 15-yard scramble before Southwestern saw its longest drive of the game with a 14-play, 41-yard drive, ending in a turnover-on-downs on HSU's 24-yard line.
The Reddies added a pair of rushing scores from
Jeremiah Davis and Edwards before the halftime whistle as teams went to the locker room with the 35-0 Henderson advantage. From that point on, the defense took over.
Henderson's defense allowed just one drive of more than 17 yards in the final two periods as all the scoring of the third stanza came from the red-and-gray defense. Rose Jr. recorded the first score off a tipped pass which the Bryant, Arkansas, native took back 36 yards the other way.
Manning was responsible for the second defensive score as the third quarter came to a close, stepping in front of his man for an easy 25-yard touchdown.
The final score came from running back
Korien Burrell on HSU's second-to-last possession of the game. After back-up quarterback
Jordan Allen moved the ball to the Southwestern 41-yard line, Burrell cut it up the middle for the final nail of the coffin to extend the lead to 56-0.
Henderson State will return to Arkadelphia for the much-anticipated 96th Battle of the Ravine Saturday, Nov. 11. Kickoff from Cliff Harris Stadium is set for 1 p.m.
