ADA, Okla. -- After trailing through one quarter on Saturday, Henderson State scored 24 unanswered points and pitched a shutout in the final 45 minutes as the Reddies defeated East Central, 31-10, to stretch their winning streak to three games.
Henderson (4-3) trailed, 10-7, after the first quarter to the Tigers (2-5) but took control in the second. After a 38-yard field goal from Temo Martinez tied the game at 10-10 and the defense got a three-and-out on East Central's next possession, the Reddies' offense kicked into gear.
The Reddies used a seven-play, 62-yard drive, capped off by a seven-yard scoring strike from Richard Stammetti to Querale Hall. The ensuing extra point put Henderson in front, 17-10.
Another stand by the defense gave the Reddies the ball back at their own 15-yard line with just under seven minutes to go in the first half and, once again, the offense came through with a long drive. Henderson marched 85 yards in 10 plays and took 4:41 off the clock as Stammetti found Hall from 24 yards out to give the Reddies a 24-10 cushion at the break.
Henderson extended its lead in the third quarter with another scoring drive. The Reddies used a 47-yard completion from Stammetti to Zecharius Nash-Kelly to jump-start a six-play, 76-yard march, which was sealed by Hall for the third time. His third touchdown was a one-yard plunge into the end zone as Henderson took control at 31-10.
The entire second half was a grind for the East Central offense, as the Reddies held the Tigers to just 87 second-half yards. The bulk of the yards (77) came on the final drive of the game when the Tigers drove down to the Henderson 3-yard line only to be turned away on three straight plays.
The running backs starred again for the Reddies. Logan Moragne carried 15 times for 134 yards and the Reddies' first score, while Hall had 80 rushing yards, 46 receiving yards and three total touchdowns.
Stammetti was an efficient 18-for-24 passing for 208 yards and two touchdowns with an interception. His favorite target on the day, Ben Johnson, caught eight passes for 103 yards.
Cameron Sonnier led the way defensively with seven tackles and two tackles for loss on the defense. Fellow linebacker Cameron Schulz had two tackles for loss and a sack.
In the win, Henderson outgained the Tigers, 427-276, behind a balanced offensive attack which ran for 219 yards and passed for 208. The Reddies averaged 7.2 yards per play on the day.
The Reddies' return to Carpenter-Haygood Stadium and Ruggles Field on Saturday at 2 p.m. against Southeastern Oklahoma State. The Savage Storm upset previously undefeated Southern Arkansas (6-1), 21-0, on Saturday in Durant, Okla.
Sports on 10/14/2018