No. 10 Harding vs. Henderson State -- GAME NOTES

#10 Harding Bisons (3-0, 3-0) vs. #20 Henderson St. Reddies (3-0, 3-0)
Sept. 23, 2023 • 6 p.m. • Arkadelphia, Ark. • Carpenter-Haygood Stadium

Starting 11 for Harding vs. Henderson St.
Below are 11 Facts and Stats about this week's game. You can read the full game notes by clicking on the link.

Harding carries a seven-game winning streak into action this weekend against Henderson State ... it is tied with Frostburg State (Frostburg, Maryland) for the longest winning streak in D2.
KEY STAT: Harding leads the GAC and ranks fourth in D2 with seven interceptions, while Henderson State has attempted 91 passes this season without throwing an interception.
This will be the 59th meeting between HU and HSU with the Reddies leading 34-23-1 ... Harding has won three of the last four meetings and five of the last eight ... Harding has won the last four meetings in Arkadelphia ... Harding is 19-37 since 1997 against nationally ranked NCAA II teams ... the Bisons have lost their last two against nationally ranked teams with their last win coming on Nov. 20, 2021 vs. No. 24 Washburn (W, 30-14) ... Harding's last road win over a nationally ranked opponent was on Oct. 16, 2021 at No. 9 Henderson State (W, 46-21).
No. 12 Harding, who had lost only five turnovers all season, could not overcome four turnovers last season and fell 15-14 to Henderson State in Great American Conference action at First Security Stadium. A late turnover on downs led to Henderson State's game-winning field goal with 6:40 left to play.
Harding is ranked No. 10 in the AFCA Top 25 Coaches Poll ... Harding has appeared in 55 consecutive AFCA polls ... first time Harding has been in the top 10 since placing No. 7 in the Sept. 26 poll last season ... Harding is 11th in the D2Football.com poll and No. 5 at MassingRatings.com.
Harding leads D2 with 363.7 rushing yards per game ... HU rushed for 424 yards vs. Arkansas-Monticello and has rushed for 300 or more yards 98 times since going to the flexbone in 2010 ... offensive lineman Hunter Willis graded out at 100% on 36 plays vs. UAM and earned GAC Offensive Player of the Week.
Harding's defense has allowed only 40 first downs through three games, the lowest figure in the GAC and tied for ninth among D2 teams who have played three games.
Harding quarterback Cole Keylon has scored a rushing TD in four straight games and in six of the last seven ... needs one rushing TD and two passing TD to become the sixth Harding player with 10 career rushing TD and passing TD.
Harding fullback Blake Delacruz ranks second in the GAC and third in D2 with seven rushing TD ... with 23 rush yards and 3 TD vs. UAM, became the 43rd Bison to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a career and moved into 10th at HU with 18 career rushing TD.
Harding linebacker Clark Griffin has led HU in tackles in all three games ... leads HU with 24 tackles and 5.0 TFL ... eighth in the GAC with 8.0 tackles per game, fourth with 1.7 TFL per game and fourth with 5.0 solo tackles per game ... set career highs with 11 tackles and 3.0 TFL vs. UAM.
OPPONENT WATCH: Henderson St. leads the GAC and ranks second in D2 with 4.67 sacks per game ... the Reddies are 2nd in the GAC and 12th in D2 in rushing defense, allowing only 63.3 yards per game ... QB Andrew Edwards leads the GAC with 278.0 passing yards per game and is third with seven passing TD.

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Players Mentioned

#26 Blake Delacruz: RB; 5' 8"; Junior

#24 Clark Griffin: LB; 5' 9"; Sophomore

#15 Cole Keylon: QB; 6' 0"; Sophomore

#74 Hunter Willis: OL; 6' 2"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#26 Blake Delacruz
: 5' 8"; Junior
: RB

#24 Clark Griffin
: 5' 9"; Sophomore
: LB

#15 Cole Keylon
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: QB

#74 Hunter Willis
: 6' 2"; Senior
: OL