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Harding University Athletics

2024 Football story image vs. Henderson State.jpg
0
Henderson St. HSU 3-1 , 3-1
66
Winner Harding HAR 4-0 , 4-0
Henderson St. HSU
3-1 , 3-1
0
Final
66
Harding HAR
4-0 , 4-0
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
HSU Henderson St. 0 0 0 0 0
HAR Harding 28 21 10 7 66

Game Recap: Football |

No. 1 Harding Rolls Past No. 20 Henderson State, 66-0

SEARCY, Ark. — Top-ranked Harding unleashed a dominating performance, routing No. 20 Henderson State 66-0 on Saturday night in Great American Conference at First Security Stadium.

The Bisons (4-0, 4-0) amassed 546 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on the ground, led by Braden Jay's 162 yards and three scores on just four carries. Blake Delacruz added 34 yards and four touchdowns on 16 carries. Harding had a season-high 618 total yards.

It was the ninth time a Harding player rushed for four touchdowns in a game and the second time for Delacruz.

Harding's stifling defense held Henderson State (3-1, 3-1) to just 47 rushing yards and 125 passing yards, forcing two interceptions and three total takeaways.

Andrew Edwards, Henderson State's quarterback, completed just 7 of 19 passes for 125 yards and two interceptions. Jalen Abraham led the Reddies with 59 receiving yards on two catches.

The Bisons wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, as Jay broke loose for a 69-yard touchdown run on Harding's first play from scrimmage. The extra point attempt was good, and Harding led 7-0 just 1:10 into the game.

After a three-and-out by Henderson State, Kendale Allen intercepted Edwards at the HSU 35, setting up Harding's second scoring drive. Delacruz capped the four-play, 20-yard drive with a 2-yard touchdown run, extending the Bisons' lead to 14-0.

Harding's defense continued to stifle the Reddies, forcing another punt that set up the Bisons' third scoring drive. Delacruz scored his second touchdown of the quarter from 2 yards out, capping a nine-play, 38-yard drive that made it 21-0 Harding.

Jay added his second touchdown of the half, a 44-yard run with 2 seconds remaining in the quarter, to give Harding a 28-0 lead.

The Bisons continued to pour it on in the second quarter, with Delacruz scoring his third touchdown of the half from 1 yard out. Cole Keylon's 35-yard run set up the score, and Magnus Lepak's extra point attempt made it 35-0 Harding.

Jay added his third touchdown of the half, a 35-yard run with 4:59 remaining in the half, to extend the Bisons' lead to 42-0.

Delacruz capped the half with his fourth touchdown, a 3-yard run with 45 seconds remaining, to give Harding a 49-0 halftime lead.

In the second half, Harding continued to dominate. Magnus Lepak kicked a 23-yard field goal to extend the lead to 52-0 with 7:52 remaining in the third quarter.

Malik Young added a 3-yard touchdown run with 6:02 remaining in the third quarter, making it 59-0 Harding.

In the fourth quarter, Andrew Miller scored from 14 yards out with 6:06 remaining, ending the scoring for Harding.

Henderson State struggled to find any momentum, with Edwards throwing his second interception of the game to Lamont Cox in the third quarter.

The Reddies, who had only four first downs in the game, were forced to punt seven times.

With the victory, Harding extended its winning streak to 23 consecutive games, the longest active streak in the NCAA and the longest streak ever by a college football team in the state of Arkansas.

The Bisons also achieved a program first, scoring more than 50 points for the fourth straight game.

Harding's stifling defense has allowed just 17 points over its last five games, the fewest ever allowed by the Bisons over a five-game span.

The Bisons go on the road next week to take on Southwestern Oklahoma. Kickoff in Weatherford is at 2 p.m.
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