HSU Sporty Bowl spring game set for Saturday

ARKADELPHIA -- Henderson State will conclude its spring football workouts with the 17th Annual Sporty Bowl Saturday at Carpenter-Haygood Stadium/Ruggles Field.

Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. Attendance is free.

This year's Sporty Bowl will consist of four 12-minute quarters, with both teams playing under modified rules and limited offensive and defensive schemes.

Fans will have the opportunity to meet the coaches and players following the game. Concessions, along with Reddie Gear, will be available to purchase with all proceeds benefitting Reddie football.

A reception for all former Reddie players will take place in the Donor Room at the south end of the stadium prior to the game beginning at 9 a.m. Speakers include former Reddies Jodie Carter (1969-73), Mike Mack (1977-1980) and Mark King (1986-90). All former players, alumni and family members are invited to attend.

King, now the head football coach at Foreman High School, will be presented the annual Sporty Carpenter Award at halftime.

The award is named for Sporty Carpenter, who was the Reddies' head coach from 1971-89, compiling 119 victories and leading Henderson to five Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference titles.

The award is presented each year to a former Reddie football player or Henderson alum who has pursued a career in coaching football and has exemplified excellence on and off the field.

In his second season as head coach at Foreman, King led the Gators to the 2017 Class 2A state football championship.

For his accomplishment, King was named Farm Bureau Coach of the Year, Little Rock Touchdown Club Coach of the Year, 42 Sports Coach of the Year and was selected to coach in the Arkansas High School Coaches Association All-Star Game.

King was an offensive lineman for the Reddies from 1986-90, earning All-AIC honors in 1989. He was a preseason All-American selection in 1990.

Following his playing days, King served as a student assistant coach at Henderson in 1991-92. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Education in 1995.

King began his coaching career in 1996 as head junior high football and track coach at Ashdown. In 1998, he moved up to the high school, where he served as offensive and defensive line coach.

In 1999, King was named defensive coordinator at Ashdown, serving in that capacity for the next eight years. He later earned the head coaching position at Parkers Chapel in 2009. He led the Trojans to their first-ever winning season at 8-3, as well as the school's first playoff appearance.

King moved on to become head coach at Horatio High School in 2012 and guided the Lions to their first seven-win season in 10 years.

In 2016, King took over at Foreman, which finished 1-9 in 2015. The Gators went 8-4 in King's first year, advancing to the second round of the state playoffs.

In his nine years as a head coach, King has a 55-44 record including a 13-1 mark in 2017.

Sports on 04/10/2018

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