ARKADELPHIA -- Henderson State is 6-0 for the first time since 2014, but the Reddies will face Harding this afternoon for the first time since the Bisons defeated the Reddies 14-13 in 2019.
The Reddies finished 9-2 in 2014, taking a 7-0 record into their contest against Harding after the Bisons scored with 14 seconds left. HSU is currently ranked No. 9 in the American Football Coaches Association poll, while the Bisons (5-1) are ranked No. 20.
Reddies quarterback Adam Morse (126-184-7-1,726, 20 TDs), who was named the Great American Conference offensive player of the week last week, has not faced the Bisons, but L'liott Curry (48-734, 9 TDs), his top receiver, caught five passes for 76 yards in the 2019 contest. HSU also has plenty of ground attack options with Duce Sproles (66-332, 5 TDs), Kris Morris (59-292, 2 TDs) and Darius Austin (33-198, 4 TDs) leading the way.
Harding quarterback Preston Paden (9-20-0-248, 2 TDs, 70-335 rushing, 3 TDs) rushed 25 times for 47 yards in two starts against HSU and is 6-of-10 passing for 106 yards and a touchdown. Fullback Cole Chancey (125-561 rushing, 11 TDs) put up 269 yards and a touchdown in his three previous meetings against the Reddies.
Kickoff at Carpenter-Haygood Stadium is set for 2 p.m.
MULERIDERS HOST WONDER BOYS
EL DORADO -- After an 0-4 start, Arkansas Tech (2-4) has picked up back-to-back wins while Southern Arkansas (2-4) is on a four-game skid entering the Murphy USA Classic.
The Wonder Boys averaged 21.0 points in their first four games, but they have scored a combined 89 points in the past two weeks. Quarterback Jack Lindsey (104-177-6-1,136, 9 TDs) combined for just 297 yards in his first three games, but he has averaged 279 over the last two while rushing for 187 yards and two touchdowns.
Muleriders quarterback Hayden Mallory (128-208-8-1,570, 14 TDs) leads an offense that features wide receiver Micah Small (35-630, 8 TDs) and tailback Jariq Scales (114-663 rushing, 4 TDs). The team is sixth in scoring offense with 28.3 points per game but 10th in scoring defense (35.8 ppg).
Kickoff at El Dorado's Memorial Stadium is set for 2 p.m.
BOLL WEEVILS HOST TIGERS
MONTICELLO -- No. 11 Ouachita Baptist (5-1) comes into today's contest against Arkansas-Monticello (4-2) off a 40-10 win over Southwestern Oklahoma State and defeated the Boll Weevils 35-7 in their last meeting in 2019.
The Tigers are ranked at No. 11 in both the AFCA and D2Football.com polls, and their offense revolved around a powerful ground attack led by T.J. Cole (119-779, 5 TDs) and Kendel Givens (75-465, 15 TDs). OBU is second in NCAA Division II with 293 rushing yards per game, but quarterback Grant Allen has passed for 494 yards against just one interception in 60 attempts.
The Weevils' offense is run by quarterback Demilion Brown (98-161-6-1,283, 10 TDs, 89-447 rushing, 7 TDs). Jonero Scott (15-114 rushing, 2 TDs) took over the the team's leading running back last week while wide receiver C.J. Parham (34-472, 4 TDs) is fifth in the league in receiving yards.
Kickoff at Willis "Convoy" Leslie Cotton Boll Stadium is set for 2 p.m.