ARKADELPHIA, Ark. -- Henderson State returns to its home field for the second time in as many weeks when it hosts Harding for 2025 Homecoming. The Homecoming royalty ceremony is scheduled to begin at 12:30 p.m., with kickoff scheduled for 1 p.m.
STORYLINES: SETTING THE SCENES
Henderson State comes into Saturday's game riding high after its first shutout of the 2025 season: a 59-0 defeat of Northwestern Oklahoma State. The Reddies compiled over 500 yards of total offense for the third time in six games in 2025 and are second in the GAC in both scoring offense and scoring defense. HSU has outscored opponents 239-101 this season.
Nationally-ranked Harding comes into the game leading the Great American Conference in scoring offense and defense. The Bisons average 43 points per game and lead all of NCAA DII in scoring defense with an average of just 5.5 points per game surrendered this year. They have only allowed 33 points total to opponents this season in six games.
First place in the GAC standings is on the line Saturday. Harding is currently alone in first place and the only unbeaten team remaining in the conference. A Reddie victory would move Henderson State into a potential three-way tie for first place with Harding and Southern Arkansas.
REDDIES REPORT: OFFENSE
The Reddie offense put on a show in last week's win over Northwestern Oklahoma; they scored at least two touchdowns in each of the game's four quarters and showed a balanced attack, scoring four touchdowns through the air and three on the ground.
In just over two quarters of action, quarterback
Andrew Edwards had an impressive offensive showing. The senior from Bentonville racked up 238 yards of total offense and three touchdowns: 46 and 56-yard passes, both to
Micah Greene, and a 14-yard rushing score. Edwards remains the league leader in passing yards, touchdowns, and completion percentage and ranked 17th in all of Division II in touchdown passes.
The HSU running back committee continues to be effective, regardless of who is in the backfield. Six different players have accounted for 13 touchdowns scored on the ground this season. Edwards and
Jeremiah Davis each have four, while
Chris Gannaway has two.
Dylan Jones,
Trent Haygood, and
Fredrick O'Donald each have a single rushing score. The Reddies are fourth in the GAC and 31st in the nation with 197.3 yards rushing per game.
REDDIES REPORT: DEFENSE
The Reddie defense scored just its second defensive touchdown of 2025 in Saturday's win.
Leo Morris returned an interception 51 yards for a score, the first pick-six since
Kolbi Crawford returned an Arkansas Tech pass last season.
Morris also scored HSU's other defensive score this season, a fumble recovery in the season opener against Southern Nazarene. Morris is the first Reddie since teammate
Paul Manning (2023) to score multiple defensive touchdowns in a season.
The Henderson defense ranks second in the Great American Conference in most major statistical categories, including total and scoring defense, sacks, and rushing defense, and they lead the league with 10 interceptions.Â
REDDIES REPORT: SPECIAL TEAMS
Henderson State continues to lead the GAC in punt return yards and attempts. The Reddies are just one of two teams in the league to have more than 100 total punt return yards, and they remain the only team to have returned a punt for a touchdown in the GAC in 2025.
Kicker
Ryan McDonnell was only needed once on Saturday, nailing a first-quarter field goal from 43 yards out. His five field goals this season are tied for fourth in the GAC.
THE OPPONENT: HARDING
As has been the norm for Harding the past several seasons, their calling card is their defensive prowess. The Bisons defense leads the conference in third down conversion defense, defensive touchdowns, fewest penalties, red zone defense, rushing defense, scoring defense, tackles for loss, and total defense. They allow the second fewest first downs in the nation while having Division II's best scoring defense, yielding just 5.5 points per game.
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Harding's offense is rolling just as effectively as their defense in 2025. The Bisons are first in the GAC and seventh in the nation in scoring offense with 43.2 points scored per game despite throwing the ball just 20 times this season. Of the 453.2 yards Harding accumulates per game (12th best in the country), the Bisons gain 425.7 yards per game on the ground, which is the best in all four divisions of NCAA football. The next closest team, Division III Salisbury, averages 340 yards per game on the ground.
While the Harding offense uses a variety of backs to carry the ball, senior slot back Braden Jay is the headliner. The Cabot, Arkansas native leads the GAC in rushing touchdowns (6th nationally), rushing yards (11th), points scored (9th), and total touchdowns (10th). Jay has run for 669 yards this season on just 39 carries and averages over 17 yards per carry.
THE COACHING MATCHUP
Henderson State head coachÂ
Greg Holsworth enters his second season as head football coach, and looks to improve upon last season's 8-3 campaign. The eight wins were the most by a first year head coach in program history, and also provided the best winning percentage by a first year coach in school history.
Paul Simmons is in his seventh season as the head football coach at Harding. The former defensive coordinator is a Harding graduate, and was inducted into the Harding Athletic Hall of Fame in 1999. Harding has played in 24 postseason games in Simmons' tenure, including the 2023 Division II National Championship, a 38-7 win over Colorado School of Mines.
LIVE STATS AND ADDITIONAL LIVE COVERAGE
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hsusports.com/coverage to view live stats and video coverage.
