Box Score

ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Henderson State senior quarterback Nick Hardesty passed for 448 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Reddies to a 33-28 victory over Harding on Saturday in Gulf South Conference play at Carpenter-Haygood Stadium.

Harding (3-4, 1-4) led 28-27 with 3:53 left in the fourth quarter after sophomore quarterback Chaz Rogers scored on a 10-yard run. Henderson State (5-3, 4-2) responded with a six-play, 70-yard drive that ended with Hardesty connecting with Josh Sipho on a 25-yard crossing route for the game-winning touchdown.

Harding entered the game as the least-penalized team in the GSC, averaging just over 50 yards per game in penalties. But the Bisons were hit with a rash of penalties in the second half, including several pass interference penalties that kept Henderson State drives alive. The officials flagged Harding 20 times for 153 yards, both school records. The Bisons had nine penalties in the third quarter alone.

Neither team scored in the first quarter, but both put 14 points on the board in the second. Harding's touchdowns came on a one-yard Josh Powell sneak and a 50-yard Jeremy Holt run around right end.

Holt had his second 100-yard rushing game of the season. He finished with 120 yards on 10 carries and the touchdown.

Harding took a 21-14 lead in the third on a two-yard run by Kale Gelles, that came after Henderson State botched the snap on a punt and gave the Bisons the ball at their own 2-yardline.

Henderson State then scored 13 straight points on a Hardesty two-yard run and field goals of 34 and 29 yards by Eric Torres. Harding ended the run and took the lead on Rogers' touchdown run.

Harding, which entered the game as the rushing leader in the GSC, rushed 52 times for a season-high 362 yards. Henderson State rushed for only 41 yards, but the passing game carried the Reddies.

Henderson State had three wide receivers with more than 100 receiving yards. Chris Evering had 10 catches for 106 yards; Jazz Scott had eight catches for 113 yards; and Sipho had six catches for 119 yards.

Harding returns to First Security Stadium next week for the first of three straight home games to end the season. The Bisons take on the Arkansas-Monticello Boll Weevils next Saturday for a 2 p.m. kickoff.