Henderson State Drops Homecoming Game against ATU
Oct. 24, 2009

Henderson State dropped its home finale against Arkansas Tech on Saturday afternoon at Carpenter-Haygood stadium in Arkadephia, Ark. by a score of 44-14, falling to 3-5 overall and 3-3 in the Gulf South Conference. 
Tech set offensive school records in passing yards, receiving yards and receptions in the win, as HSU was outgained 334 yards to 543 yards on the day.
Henderson State drove deep into Arkansas Tech territory to open the game, but turned the ball over on downs when a 4th-and-11 pass play intended for Chris Evering was broken up in the end zone.
Tech then drove 84 yards in 10 plays, capped by a 22 yd td pass from Graziano to TE T.J. Langley to make the score 7-0 in favor of the Wonderboys.
Junior Reddie Kenard Springer broke a big gain on the first play of HSU’s following drive, but then was forced to fumble on the second play of the drive, and Tech took back over after Terrance Boykin recovered the ball for ATU.
Graziano capped Techs next drive with a touchdown to Frantz Simeon to get Tech the lead 14-0 with just under five minutes remaining in the first period.
Josh Sipho led the Reddies with 152 receiving yards on five grabs, and Mike Wightman led the team defensively with 12 tackles, including nine solo stops.
The Reddies converted a key third down conversion when Hardesty (18-of-33, 297 yards) found George Lewis for the first down inside Tech territory. Hardesty then found Michael Buse for an eight yard touchdown strike on the last play of the period to cut the ATU lead to 14-7 as the first quarter came to an end.
Tech drove 16 plays on its next possession, within range for a 22 yard field goal by Travis Cockerham to extend its lead to 17-7 with 8:41 remaining in the first half.
After the Reddies were forced to punt, Tech again drove down the field, scoring after marching 64 yards, capped by a Tim Childress one yard touchdown plunge to extend its lead to 24-7.
Nathan Nall entered the game for HSU and was picked off at midfield, with 2:00 remaining in the half.
Graziano then capped a 53 yard scoring drive with a pass to Turner, who totaled nine catches on the day, and the Reddies trailed 31-7 at halftime.
After a Tech score and missed PAT to begin the third quarter, Hardesty found Sipho (5 catches, 152 yards) for 82 yards to cut the Tech lead to 37-14 with 7:59 left in the third period.
Taylor Stone then intercepted a Graziano pass at the goal line and returned it to the 16 yard line, before Hardesty found Evering for a 30-yard completion to midfield. Hardesty then converted a third down conversion with a 19 yard rush, moving the ball to the Tech 27 yard line. But a pass intended for Lewis was intercepted by Tario Dansby of the Wonderboys, ending the Reddie threat with just over four minutes remaining in the period.
HSU faced a fourth down with ten seconds remaining in the third quarter, trailing 37-14 with six yards to go. But Hardesty was sacked on the play by Tech’s  Brandon Wright, and the Tech offense again took control of the ball.
Graziano then found Simeon (14 catches, 229 yards) for a touchdown on a play that broke Tech single season record for passing yards and receiving yards in a single game, and made the score 44-14.
Henderson State came into the game leading the GSC in average rushing yards per game, but was held to 37 net yards on 20 carries. Tech controlled the time of possession, having the ball for 34:14.
Sipho led the team in receiving, while Michael Buse totaled 32 yards and a touchdown.
Mike Wightman led the Reddies on the defensive side, with 12 tackles. Antonio Leak totaled eight tackles, while Micah McDonald earned seven stops.
Henderson State will travel to Searcy, Ark. to play Harding next Saturday with opening kickoff set for 2 p.m.