Reddies looking for best start since 2014
ARKADELPHIA — Henderson State is off to its first 5-0 start since 2016, and a win over East Central today will give the team its first 6-0 start since 2014.
The Reddies (5-0), ranked No. 9 in the American Football Coaches Association poll and No. 21 in the D2Football.com poll, enter off a 27-24 victory over Southeastern Oklahoma State last week while the Tigers (4-1) took a 38-17 win over Southern Arkansas a week ago. In their last meeting in 2019, the Reddies took a 48-17 win.
Led by a pair of sixth-year seniors — quarterback Adam Morse (106-154-6-1,369, 14 touchdowns) and receiver L’liott Curry (50-565 receiving, 6TDs) — while Deuce Sproles (55-298 rushing, 5 TDs) is one of the team’s top rushers. HSU’s offense is ranked No. 3 in Division II in points per game (45.4) and sixth in total offense (493.8 yards per game).
Kenny Hrncir (58-116-8-900, 8 TDs) leads the Tigers on the field. Running back Ontario Douglas was out for last week’s game and is not listed on the team’s two-deep depth chart.
Kickoff at Carpenter-Haygood Stadium is set for 2 p.m.
ATU HOSTS OKLA. BAPT.
RUSSELLVILLE — Arkansas Tech (1-4) used a 37-point second quarter to power to its first win of the season and aims for its second as it hosts
Oklahoma Baptist (3-2) today at Thone Stadium at Buerkle Field.
The Wonder Boys fell 43-31 to the Bison in 2019 but leads the overall series 4-3-1 (3-2 since both teams joined the GAC). Arkansas Tech defeated Southern Nazarene 51-41 last week while Oklahoma Baptist fell 31-7 to Harding.
Quarterback Jack Lindsey, a transfer from Arkansas, passed for 247 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 32 more with another score, his best performance yet. Lindsey is ninth in the leage in passing yards (754, 6 TDs) but has passed for over 200 yards in back-to-back games and is the league’s third-leading QB rusher with 206 yards. Caleb Batie (80-262 rushing, 2 TDs) and Joyrian Chase (19-225 receiving, 2 TDs) are the team’s leaders in rushing and receiving.
All-GAC quarterback Preston Haire (1,464 yds, 15 TDs) leads the Bison while targeting two of the top six receivers in the league — Keilahn Harris (47-565, 8 TDs) and Josh Cornell (36-364, 3 TDs). Averaging 40.7 points per game entering last week, the team scored just once — on its opening possession.
Kickoff in Russellville is set for 2 p.m.
HARDING HOSTS SNU
SEARCY — No. 21/9 Harding (4-1) is on a three-game streak after falling to Southeastern
Oklahoma State in Week 2, and the Bisons host winless Southern Nazarene (0-5) today.
The Crimson Storm have taken just one win against the Bisons, who are ranked 21st in the AFCA poll and No. 9 in the D2Football.com poll, while Harding leads the series 7-1 (6-1 GAC), and Harding took a decisive 31-3 victory in 2019. The Bisons enter today’s contest off a 31-7 win over Oklahoma Baptist while Southern Nazarene fell 51-41 to Arkansas Tech.
Harding has won 10 consecutive games at home as it hosts the Crimson Storm, which is on a 13-game skid, including 11 in the GAC. Cole Chancey (4,182 yards), the league’s alltime leading rusher, picked up 103 yards and three scores last week, and he needs just 33 yards to pass Alan Dixon (4,214, 197073) for the school record.
Harding leads Division II in rushing (358.8 ypg) and time of possession (38:12) and is No. 2 in fewest penalty yards per game (29.0).
Kickoff at First Security Stadium is set for 2 p.m.
MULERIDERS HOST SAVAGE STORM
MAGNOLIA — Southern Arkansas (2-3) looks to turn things around after losing three straight under first-year head coach Mike McCarty as it hosts Southeastern Oklahoma (4-1) today.
Both teams enter this week’s game off losses — the Muleriders falling 38-17 to East Central while the Savage Storm fell 2724 to HSU. SAU holds a 23-183 lead in the series while just barely staying ahead since joining the GAC (5-4).
The Muleriders are averaging 411 yards and 25.0 points per game while running back Jariq Scales leads the league and is sixth in Division II with 594 rushing yards. Quarterback Hayden Mallory (111-176-7-1,294, 12 TDs) is fourth in the league in passing while Micah Small (28446, 6 TDs) is fifth in receiving yards.
Safety Brock Floyd leads SAU with 33 tackles and two inteceptions and is the only Mulerider with a sack, forced fumble and fumble recovery this season. The team is allowing 34.2 points per game (10th GAC) and 456.8 yards per game (11 GAC).
Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. at Wilkins Stadium.
BULLDOGS HOST TIGERS
WEATHERFORD, Okla. — No. 12/12 Ouachita Baptist (4-1) recovered from its first GAC loss in four years with a 47-point win over Northwestern Oklahoma State last week and travels to face winless Southwestern
Oklahoma State today.
The Tigers hold a 12-4 (8-1 GAC) edge in the series and defeated the Bulldogs 26-21 in Weatherford in 2019. SWOSU fell 18-16 to Arkansas-Monticello last week.
OBU is No. 12 in both the AFCA and D2Football.com polls and is sixth in the GAC in total offense (387.4 ypg) and third in total defense (324.2 ypg). The Tigers average 40.4 points on offense while allowing just 22.6 defensively.
T.J. Cole (586 yds, 5 TDs) and Kendel Givens (356 yds, 12 TDs) lead the team on the ground while Xaylon Falls has returned two kickoffs for touchdowns (both 96 yards) and has added 126 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries, both last week. Isaac Edwards, who only played the second half, rushed for 190 yards and two touchdowns to earn the league’s offensive player of the week honor.
Kickoff at Flex-Chem Field at Milam Stadium is set for 3 p.m.
RANGERS HOST BOLL WEEVILS
ALVA, Okla. — Arkansas-Monticello (3-2) look to stay on the positive side of a even record as it travels to winless NWOSU.
The Boll Weevils have managed to pick up a positive record despite averaging just 22.6 points per game while allowing 32.4. The Weevils enter this week’s contest off a 18-16 win over SWOSU while the Rangers lost 64-17 to OBU.
Quarterback Demilon Brown is a dual-threat for the UAM offense with six rushing touchdowns while leading the team on the ground (55-381), and he has passed for 1,093 yards and seven TDs. The Weevils feature three talented receivers including CJ Parham (451 yds, 4 TDs), DeAndre Washington (236 yds, 2 TDs) and LaCedric Smith (184 yds, 1 TD).
NWOSU is 11th in the league in scoring (19.2 ppg) and ninth in total yards (355.4) The Rangers also are allowing an average of 45.4 points per game while allowing 516.4 yards per game.
Kickoff at Ranger Field is set for 4 p.m.