Box Score RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – When No. 23 Henderson State needed them most, the Reddie defense rose to the occasion, stopping Arkansas Tech on a 4th and 1 late in the game to help solidify the 27-24 victory from Simmons Bank Field at Thone Stadium in Russellville Saturday night.
 
Henderson (3-0) sacked Arkansas Tech (0-3) quarterback Taye Gatewood five times, including back-to-back sacks from Tyler Strain and Denzel Walter on ATU's final possession to seal the victory for the visiting Reddies.
 
Andrew Edwards accounted for 345 total yards, including being HSU's leading rusher on the night with 89 yards, and logged a pair of touchdowns. Running back Jaquarion Turner saw the most work of any Henderson back, seeing 17 carries for 79 yards and his first touchdown as a member of the red-and-gray.
 
Timieone Jackson led Henderson in receiving for the second time this season, catching a team-high 10 passes for 66 yards and a score. Tight end Cayden Davis recorded a season-high 97 yards on just three receptions, including a long passing play for the day of 44 yards. 
 
The Reddies opened up the scoring quick on their first drive of the game with a 14 play, 75 yard touchdown drive capitalized by a Turner one-yard plunge into the endzone. A field goal on ATU's opening drive was answered by another Reddie touchdown, this time an Edwards 22-yard rush, to make it a 14-3 ballgame.
 
Late in the second quarter and into the third, Henderson was only able to manage two field goals as Tech began its comeback. After tying things up at 17-17 at intermission, Kolby King's second field goal of the day reestablished the HSU lead, 20-17, at the 10:37 mark of the third quarter.
 
Less than four minutes later, after the Reddies forced a quick ATU possession, Henderson found its first touchdown since early in the second period on an Edwards-to-Jackson 11-yard pass to the flat that opened a 27-17 advantage, thanks also in large part to the red-and-gray defense. Arkansas Tech was unable to get the ball across midfield for the entire 15-minute frame, being forced into three three-and-outs.
 
An HSU turnover-on-downs deep in Tech territory early in the fourth opened the door for the Wonder Boys to finally work the ball down the field, eventually finishing with six as the lead was cut back down to three, 27-24. Another turnover-on-downs handed ATU back the ball with 4:22 remaining and the chance to head down the field for a potential game-winning score.
 
Several plays later and Arkansas Tech found itself facing a 4th and 1 at HSU's 20-yard line with a chance to either take the tie with a field goal or convert and leave the door open for a game-winning touchdown. Head coach Kyle Shipp elected to go for it as the ball was placed in the belly of Wonder Boy running back Jordan Edington on what was his lone carry of the night.
 
With a slew of Reddies holding the ATU ball carrier, linebacker Zach Dixon came in and stuck the Wonder Boy runner short of the line to gain as Henderson took over on downs with 1:54 remaining in regulation, the three-point lead still intact.
 
Three straight running plays from Henderson forced Arkansas Tech's final timeout with 38 seconds left as HSU punted it away to the home team's 40-yard line. Without a timeout remaining, Tech's final effort to continue play was squandered with back-to-back sacks from Strain and Walter before Josh Brown picked off a desperation heave as the clock struck zeros.
 
No. 23 Henderson State will return home to Carpenter-Haygood Stadium at GeoSurfaces Field where it will host the nation's current No. 11 team, the Harding Bisons in a matchup of nationally ranked conference rivals. Kickoff from Arkadelphia is set for Saturday, Sept. 23 at 6 p.m.