ARKADELPHIA, Ark. — Henderson State remained perfect on the season Saturday night, using a four-touchdown, 399-yard passing performance from quarterback
Austin Ledbetter to defeat Arkansas-Monticello, 35-24, at Carpenter-Haygood Stadium at GeoSurfaces Field. The Reddies improved to 3-0 on the season with the victory.
Ledbetter completed 22 of 26 passes for 399 yards and four touchdowns without an interception.
Maddox Davis led the Reddies receiving corps with nine catches for 161 yards and two touchdowns.
After Arkansas-Monticello opened the game with a touchdown, Henderson State answered with an 11-play, 75-yard drive. Ledbetter capped the drive with a 5-yard touchdown pass to Davis to tie the game at 7-7 with 4:40 left in the first quarter.
The Reddies took their first lead early in the second quarter. Ledbetter connected with
Jerrale Powers for a 32-yard touchdown on a six-play, 95-yard drive, putting Henderson State ahead 14-7.
Henderson State extended its lead on its next scoring drive.
Chris Gannaway broke loose for a 39-yard run to set up the Reddies inside the Arkansas-Monticello 35-yard line before
Myron Thrash Jr. scored on a 1-yard run. The touchdown gave Henderson State a 21-7 advantage with 7:28 left in the half.
Arkansas-Monticello cut the deficit to 21-17 with a field goal and touchdown before the Reddies closed the half with another explosive play: with seven seconds left before halftime, Ledbetter found Davis for a 59-yard touchdown. The score capped a three-play, 71-yard drive and sent Henderson State into halftime with a 28-17 lead.
The third quarter produced no scoring, but Henderson State opened the fourth quarter with a response to an Arkansas-Monticello touchdown that cut the margin to four points.
On the Reddies' next possession, Ledbetter connected with Micheal Jones for a 48-yard touchdown. The score came 50 seconds into the quarter and pushed the Henderson State lead to 35-24.
Jones finished with four receptions for 105 yards and a touchdown. Powers added four catches for 61 yards and a touchdown.
Henderson State's offense finished with 555 total yards, including 399 passing yards and 156 rushing yards. The Reddies averaged 10.1 yards per play.
The Henderson State defense recorded two interceptions and two sacks.
Leo Morris led the Reddies with eight tackles and an interception, while
Lanard Harris added six tackles.
Mulumba Wa-Kalonji recorded six tackles with 1½ tackles for loss and half a sack.
Henderson State held Arkansas-Monticello to 24 points and forced three turnovers. The Reddies also converted five of nine third-down attempts while allowing the Boll Weevils to convert four of 11.
HSU returns to action next week on the road at Southern Arkansas. Kickoff from Magnolia is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
