ARKADELPHIA, Ark. -- All eyes will be on Searcy this weekend, as 15th-ranked Henderson State travels to #2 Harding in a battle of the only remaining undefeated teams in the GAC. It will be a battle of the two best scoring offenses in the league and between HSU's top-ranked scoring defense and Harding's third-best unit. 

Defending national runner-up Harding has survived multiple scares this season, including trailing Southeastern Oklahoma 21-7 in the second quarter last week. The Bisons were also a two-point conversion away from falling at Ouachita Baptist three weeks ago. 

REDDIES REPORT: OFFENSE 
The Reddie offense was without starting quarterback Austin Ledbetter in last week's win against Northwestern Oklahoma. However, sophomore Jordan Walker stepped right in and kept the line moving. Walker, who had been used in specific packages through the first five games, threw for 264 yards and a touchdown while leading the team with 101 yards on 13 carries and two additional scores.

This week's matchup pits two of the best scoring offenses in the nation against two strong defensive units. Henderson ranks 13th in the nation (second in the GAC) with an average of 41.7 points per game, while Harding leads the GAC and is sixth in the nation, averaging 45.5 points per contest.

Furthermore, the two teams rank in the top 20 nationally in yards per game: HSU ranks fifth in the country, averaging 529.5 yards per game, while Harding ranks 17th, averaging 456 yards per game.

Henderson remains the only school in Division II that ranks in the top 15 in both passing and rushing offense. The Reddies rank 15th in the nation in passing, averaging 281.5 yards per game, and 12th in rushing, averaging 248 yards per game.

One key to the Reddies' success has been their ability to convert on third downs. HSU ranks second in the country with a 56 percent conversion rate on third downs, trailing only Kutztown, which is converting at a 68.9 percent clip.

REDDIES REPORT: DEFENSE

Henderson's defense continues to lead the conference in points per game allowed. The unit surrenders only 16.8 points per game, which ranks 18th in the country; Ferris State leads the nation with 5.2 points per game allowed.

For the first time this season, HSU committed more turnovers than they forced. However, that did not take from their league-best turnover margin. The Reddies are tied for first in the GAC (East Central) and 15th nationally in turnover margin at +1.17, less than a turnover per game from nation-leading Pace and Valdosta State.

The key to Saturday's win defensively was getting to the Northwestern quarterback. Henderson managed to sack NWOSU signal-caller Jacob Jones six times and registered nine total tackles for loss. Amarion Pulliaum led the way for the Reddies with 2.5 sacks, while Mulumba Wa-Kalonji and Lloyd Wyatt each managed two tackles for loss.

The Reddie defense still paces the conference and ranks fifth in the country in pass efficiency defense. HSU holds opposing passers to a rate of 95.81, which is calculated using opponents' passing statistics when going against Henderson's defense. The eight interceptions by Reddie players is the third-most in Division II.

REDDIES REPORT: SPECIAL TEAMS 

HSU boasts one of the league's top kickoff return units. Henderson is averaging 24.4 yards per return, led by Taylin Paskel, who ranks seventh nationally with 31.1 yards per return.

Kicker Ryan McDonnell was named to the 2026 Fred Mitchell Award Midseason Watch List earlier this week. This award is given to the top kicker in any non-FBS division in college football. McDonnell is the only kicker in the Great American Conference that made the watchlist.

THE OPPONENT: HARDING

Harding began the season ranked second in the AFCA poll and has not yielded that ranking since. The Bisons made the national championship game a season ago, falling to Ferris State 42-21. 

The Bisons' bread-and-butter is their flexbone offense, and that offense continues to produce year over year. This season, Harding leads the GAC in fourth-down conversions (100%), passing yards per completion (31.13), red zone offense (100%), rushing offense (414.5 ypg), scoring offense (45.5 ppg), sacks allowed (0.17 per game), and team passing efficiency (235.98).

HU's offense continues to be led by fullback Andrew Miller. The senior leads the conference in rushing touchdowns (14), rushing yards (824), points per game (14.0), and total touchdowns (14).

The Harding defense did not change schemes with the promotion of defensive coordinator Roddy Mote; they still bring a lot of pressure, as evidenced by their conference-leading total defense (233.2 yards allowed per game), scoring defense (17.8 ppg), and fewest first downs allowed (76)

The Bisons special teams unit is led by slotback/returner Jeff Regan: the freshman leads the conference in all-purpose yards per game, kick return yardage, and kick return touchdowns. Furthermore, kicker Dean Roberts is five-of-six on field goal attempts this season, which leads the conference.

THE COACHING MATCHUP 

Reddie coach Greg Holsworth sits alone in seventh place all-time with 22 wins as head football coach. He passed Bo Sherman with last week's win over NWOSU, and holds the highest win percentage of any coach in program history (minimum five games).

Roddy Mote was named head coach of the Harding Bisons on January 6, 2026, following nine seasons as the team's defensive coordinator. He helped lead the team to the 2023 national championships and to the 2025 national championship game. He returned to Harding after a career coaching high school, primarily at Harding Academy in Searcy, where the team won state championships in 2012 and 2015.

LIVE STATS AND ADDITIONAL LIVE COVERAGE 
Visit hsusports.com/coverage to view live stats and video coverage. This week's game will stream for free on Harding's HU16, linked at the top of the page and available on Roku.