ARKADELPHIA, Ark. - The Henderson State football team returns to the gridiron for the kickoff of the 2023 season when the East Central Tigers square off with the Reddies under the lights at Carpenter-Haygood Stadium at GeoSurfaces Field Thursday, Aug. 31 at 7 p.m. Henderson has won three consecutive season openers as well as the last two contests against ECU in Arkadelphia, with HSU's last loss at home against the Tigers coming in 2017.
 
STORYLINES: SETTING THE SCENE
Henderson State returns 16 starters from last season's 8-3 squad, including 2022 GAC Freshman of the Year quarterback Andrew Edwards and Second Team All-Region running back Korien Burrell. With seven offensive and nine defensive players among the returners, the experienced Reddie group was picked third in the 2023 GAC Preseason Poll. New offensive coordinator Andrew Loudenback will have to find a way to replace All-America wide receiver Xavier Malone and Second Team All-Region tight end Mike Benning.
 
The East Central Tigers posted an historic season in Ada, Oklahoma in 2022, culminating in a Fun Town RV Heritage Bowl victory over Texas A&M-Kingsville to secure ECU's first nine-win season since 1993. Former head coach Kris McCullough is now at UT-Permian Basin while the Tigers will welcome a new signal caller in place of 2022 All-GAC Honorable Mention quarterback Kenny Hrncir. The orange-and-black, which was picked sixth in the conference, does return reigning GAC Defensive Player of the Year linebacker Devon Roush.
 
REDDIES REPORT: OFFENSE
Last season, Henderson boasted one of the premier offenses in the GAC, ranking third in total offense and 13th in NCAA Division II with 443.9 yards per game. The Reddies possessed one of the most balanced attacks in the nation, throwing for 235.4 yards per game while rushing for 208.5 yards – 20th in the country - serving as one of just three teams in DII to average at least 235 passing yards and 208 rushing yards.
 
Highlighting the seven returning offensive starters is redshirt sophomore quarterback Andrew Edwards. The Bentonville High School product burst onto the scene in 2022 with 2137 yards, 21 touchdowns and four interceptions on 63.7 percent (146-229) passing through nine starts after beginning the year in a back-up role, earning himself GAC Freshman of the Year. Backing up Edwards is true freshman Jordan Allen of Tatum, Texas, who is one year removed from becoming just the third quarterback in Longview High School history to throw for 40 career touchdowns.
 
Returning to lead Henderson's rushing attack is Second Team All-Region running back Korien Burrell, who became the first HSU player to rush for 1000 yards in a season since 2015. Ahead of the 2023 campaign, Burrell was one of just three running backs in the GAC placed on the D2 Football Elite 100 Watch List. Tag teaming the Reddie backfield alongside Burrell is Jaquarion Turner, a junior transfer from Stephen F. Austin, and Fredrick O'Donald who, before missing the majority of 2022 with injury, led the unit as a true freshman with 5.9 yards per carry. Also back to assist the Reddie ground game is Jeremiah Davis, who posted a season-high 104 rushing yards in last season's finale against Ouachita Baptist.
 
One of the tasks for new offensive coordinator Andrew Loudenback in 2023 will be replacing a large chunk of HSU's passing game. All-America wide receiver Xavier Malone, who is now with the Atlanta Falcons, All-Region tight end Mike Benning and wide out Matt Childers, all of whom were lost to graduation, were responsible for 76.6 percent of HSU's receiving yards last season. The Reddies have produced an All-America wide receiver each of the last three seasons.
 
Chris Hatzis, a returning receiver who caught 13 passes for 207 yards and a score in just four games in 2022 before sitting out the rest of the year due to injury, will look to lead the young red-and-gray receiving corps. Alongside Hatzis will be third-year wide out Elijah George and true sophomore Jody Easter to make up what will seem to be the core of HSU's receiving output. True freshmen Micah Greene and Sekou Konate will look to get added into the mix.
 
One of the more veteran offensive line units in the GAC will suit up for the Reddies this fall, as four starters return with a combined 98 career games played between them. Two 2022 Second Team All-GAC selections lead the way in center Connor Justus and guard Blaise Smith. Each started every game last season, with Smith starting 22-straight games dating back to the 2021 campaign. Alongside them are guard Robert Dunham, who has appeared in 31 career games, and tackle Brandon Bishop, who started every contest at left tackle in 2022 as a true sophomore.
 
REDDIES REPORT: DEFENSE – SPECIAL TEAMS
Henderson's rush defense proved elite last season, allowing the second fewest yards on the ground in the conference at 140.5 yards per game despite four of the six best statistical rushing teams in the country being in the GAC. The Reddies will look to be just as dominant in 2023 as they return all four starters on the defensive line from a year ago, including Second Team All-GAC defensive end Gary Lewis, who led the unit with 10 tackles for loss and five sacks as a redshirt freshman. Also returning is Shaq'ke Robinson, who backed up Lewis in both categories with six tackles for loss and four sacks.
 
An already solid linebacker room appeared to get even stronger in the offseason with the addition of West Liberty-transfer Zach Dixon, who was named a 2022 All-MEC Second Team recipient while finishing eighth in Division II with four forced fumbles, and Fred Lewis from Southwest Mississippi Community College. Lewis led SWMCC in tackles in both years of being with the team while being named All-National for the 2022 campaign. Returning from last year for Henderson is Jakob Neel, who led all Reddie defenders with 63 tackles, including 4.5 tackles for loss.
 
After the 2022 season, head coach Scott Maxfield brought in former Angelo State head coach Will Wagner to coach up an HSU secondary that finished 12th in the GAC after allowing 245.4 passing yards per game. Prior to being at ASU, Wagner served as an assistant at national powerhouse Northwest Missouri State for 11 seasons, helping the Bearcats to 10 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association championships, seven national championship games and three national titles.
 
Junior defensive back Cameron Thomas, after battling injury all last season, returns as one of the more experienced players for the Reddies' secondary, having played in all 22 games of his college career. As a true freshman, Thomas tallied three interceptions and 7 pass deflections before increasing that number to nine in 2022. Opposite Thomas looks to be a mix of College of the Canyons-transfer Josh Doyle and redshirt sophomore Kolbi Crawford.  
 
In the backend of the secondary, Henderson returns safety Tim Jennings, who was third on the team in 2022 with 49 total tackles, including three tackles for loss. A new face for the red-and-gray is redshirt freshman Kirby Owens II, who played his high school ball at Joe T. Robinson out of Little Rock, Arkansas. Coming in at nickle is redshirt sophomore Antonio Wiley Jr., who has been with the program for three years and made nine appearances in 2022.
 
One of the most consistent positions HSU has had over the past three seasons has been at long snapper as 2022 Honorable Mention Thomas Hathorn started all three years for the Reddies without a single botched snap prior to transferring out at the completion of last season. Tristan Heaton covered both kicking and punting duties, averaging 39.7 yards per boot, including a long of 53, while making 12-of-18 field goals on the year prior to joining Hathorn in the transfer portal.
 
Reddie fans will see the most change of any position group in special teams as far personnel is concerned with Henderson replacing their kicker, punter and long snapper from a year ago. The HSU coaching staff went out and got transfers at each position, including long snapper Connor Villalpando from UTEP, punter Axel Robertson from Navarro College and kicker Kolby King from Kilgore College.
 
Last season, the aforementioned Jody Easter gave a spark to the Henderson return game, leading the way with 390 total return yards on 19 attempts for an average of 20.53 yards per return as a true freshman, including a long of 48. The Reddies will have a new punt returner in 2023 after Braden Boykin exhausted his eligibility. In 2022, defensive back Devon Adams served as the reserve return man.
 
SCOUTING EAST CENTRAL
On the heels of one of its most successful seasons in 30 years, East Central will attempt to build on the momentum generated from 2022 with a new head coach and quarterback. With the departure of last year's All-GAC Honorable Mention quarterback Kenny Hrncir, the Tiger with the most experience under center in an orange-and-black uniform is former Mary Hardin-Baylor transfer Kameron Williams, who threw just two passes last season for 56 yards.
 
While ECU will also need to replace its top rusher from 2022, senior Miles Davis saw plenty of time in a back-up role, seeing 101 carries for 444 yards and five touchdowns, while also serving as a receiving threat out of the backfield, catching 26 balls for 320 yards. In last year's victory against the Reddies, Davis was the Tigers' second leading receiver, claiming 64 yards on three receptions. In fact, Davis is East Central's top returning rusher and receiver from a year ago.
 
As with the ECU quarterback and running back room, a new leading wide receiver will have to emerge. Davis and tight end Jackson Allen are the only two returners among East Central's six leading receivers from 2022. Similar to Henderson, 71.5 percent of the Tigers' receiving production from last season is no longer with the team.
 
On the defensive side of the ball, possibly the most important defensive piece in the entire conference returns as linebacker Devon Roush will look to defend his GAC Defensive Player of the Year title. Roush will be leaned on heavily this season once again as he is the only returning defensive starter from last year's regular season finale. In 2022, ECU was the top ranked GAC defense in scoring, sacks and third downs.
 
East Central won the special teams battle over Henderson in Ada last season as kicker Alexis Lopez was responsible for 11 of ECU's 31 points, hitting tries of 47, 26 and 21 yards while also adding a pair of extra-points. The Tigers will try to replace that production from a new face as both Lopez and kickoff specialist Oscar Simon are no longer with the team. One of the conference's best punters is back for the Tigers in Reece Conner, who averaged 40.38 yards per boot, which was fourth in the league.  
 
In addition to a large majority of the ECU starters receiving an overhaul ahead of the 2023 season, five of seven assistant coaches will be replaced, including now-interim head coach John Litrenta, who was the Defensive Coordinator. Four of the five assistants who departed after last season were on the defensive side of the ball. In addition to a new defensive look on the staff, Matt Walter and Rafael Aguilar will serve as the new offensive coordinator and offensive line coach, respectively.
 
THE COACHING MATCHUP
Henderson St. head coach Scott Maxfield, after already being the winningest coach in Great American Conference history, surpassed legendary coach Sporty Carpenter for the most wins in program history after a 37-27 victory over Arkansas-Monticello. Maxfield now begins his 18th season in Arkadelphia and holds a 125-62 all-time record. Henderson is 8-3 against East Central under Maxfield.
 
John Litrenta is currently serving as East Central's interim head coach in place of former head coach Kris McCullough, who is now at Texas-Permian Basin. Litrenta served as ECU's Assistant Coach and Defensive Coordinator for five years before being elevated to the interim position. In 2022, Litrenta had the Tiger defense ranked among the Top-10 pass defenses in Division II as well as being the top ranked GAC defense in scoring, sacks and third downs.
 
THE LAST MEETING
Turnovers plagued Henderson St. on a dreary day in Ada, Oklahoma, as East Central shocked the Reddies with a 31-10 victory from Koi Ishto Stadium. Henderson had four turnovers on the afternoon, including two fumbles in the first quarter, as ECU trailed for just 24 seconds of the contest. The Tiger defense held the red-and-gray to just three points in the second half, including a scoreless fourth quarter.
 
Landon Ledbetter got the start at quarterback that October day, accounting for 244 total yards, one touchdown and one interception. Burrell led the ground attack with 60 yards on 13 carries while Xavier Malone had a game-high 96 receiving yards and a score. The Reddie defense, led by Jakob Neel's 10 tackles, logged five tackles for loss, but was unable to get to ECU quarterback Kenny Hrncir.
 
Hrncir saw one of his best games of the season against HSU that day, completing 20-of-36 passes while accounting for 307 total yards and three touchdowns. The passing attack of the Tigers out-gained that of the Reddies, 296 to 192. Defensively, East Central matched Henderson with five tackles for loss while adding two sacks and four takeaways. 2022 Defensive Player of the Year Devon Roush spearheaded the effort with 12 tackles, half a sack and a forced fumble.
 
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 street 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 such as the Reddie Walk taking place on the road between the Field House and the Duke Wells Center at 5:40 p.m., 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.

A new attraction for fans at home football games this fall will be the Anheuser-Busch Touchdown Tent, which will offer spectators 21 years of age and older the opportunity to purchase beer and watch the game from within the confines of the fenced-in beer garden. The Touchdown Tent will be located behind the end zone on the north end of Carpenter-Haygood Stadium in front of the scoreboard.

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. All students, faculty or staff with a valid Henderson State ID will be admitted for free, as will children five years old and younger.
 
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.