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Harding University Athletics

28
Winner Henderson State HSU 1-0 , 1-0
20
Harding HU 0-1 , 0-1
Winner
Henderson State HSU
1-0 , 1-0
28
Final
20
Harding HU
0-1 , 0-1
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
HSU Henderson State 14 7 7 0 28
HU Harding 7 6 0 7 20

Game Recap: Football | | by Scott Goode (8/31/17)

No. 15 Harding Drops Season Opener 28-20 to Henderson State

SEARCY – Henderson State scored on two big plays, and 15th-ranked Harding had two turnovers deep in Henderson territory as the Reddies defeated the Bisons 28-20 Thursday in Great American Conference play at First Security Stadium.

It was the season opener for both teams. Harding goes on the road Saturday, Sept. 9, to meet Southern Arkansas in Magnolia. Southern Arkansas also lost its opener 28-21 to Arkansas Tech. Henderson State, now winners of 28 consecutive GAC road games, hosts Arkansas Tech in week two.

Key Moments
  • Trailing by eight points late in the game, Harding recovered an onside kick at the 50 yard line with only 57 seconds remaining in the game. The Bisons drove to the Henderson State 25 but an interception sealed the victory for the Reddies.
  • Harding quarterback Terrence Dingle scored his second 1-yard touchdown of the game to culminate a 14-play, 75-yard drive and set up the onside kick.
  • Henderson State took a 28-13 lead with 1:09 left in the third quarter on a fake punt. The Reddies lined up with four receivers wide to the left, but punter Cody Mikell rolled to the right and threw a short pass to tight end AJ Smith, who raced down the sidelines for a 46-yard touchdown.
  • Harding had a chance to answer back but fumbled inside the Henderson State 5-yard line with 12:02 left in the fourth quarter.
  • Harding took advantage of a fumble by Henderson State on the opening kickoff. The Bisons scored two plays later on a 30-yard touchdown pass from Dingle to Grant Kimberlin.
  • Henderson State responded with a 72-yard touchdown pass from Andrew Black to Crissean Williams Caver on the second place of its next drive.
Harding Leaders
  • Senior Zach Shelley rushed for 109 yards on 10 carries, his second career 100-yard game. Shelley also had 41 kickoff return yards and led Harding with 150 all-purpose yards.
  • Dingle completed 4-of-8 passes for 101 yards and a touchdown.
  • Kimberlin had two receptions for 41 yards.
  • Junior linebacker Sam Blankenship led Harding with 10 tackles and forced a fumble.
Henderson State Leaders
  • Henderson State rushed for only 99 yards. Cecil Langston led the team with 30 yards on six carries.
  • Andrew Black completed 18-of-30 passes for 246 yards and two touchdowns.
  • Ben Johnson had seven receptions for 80 yards and one touchdown, all in the first half.
  • Malik Brown and Cam Sonnier led Henderson State with 11 tackles each. Sheldon Watson had five tackles and two interceptions.
Facts and Figures
  • Harding entered the game with an 11-game regular season winning streak and a nine-game home winning streak. Henderson State was the last team to defeat Harding at First Security Stadium, 22-17 in 2015.
  • Harding had won seven of its last eight openers.
  • Thursday's game was the first for Harding's Paul Simmons as head coach.
  • Henderson State now leads the series 33-19-1.
  • Harding held a 35:50-24:10 time of possession advantage, and had the ball for 21:02 in the second half. Harding ran 46 plays in the second half to Henderson State's 19.
  • Henderson State converted six of its first seven third downs but only one in the second half.
 
 



 
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