TURNOVERS COSTLY FOR REDDIES
Oct. 31, 2009
by Troy Mitchell

Henderson State turned the ball over a season-high three times as the Reddies fell to Harding University 27-22, Saturday at First Security Stadium in Searcy, Ark.
Trailing 22-21 with 6:00 left to play in the game, the Bison offense worked its way through the Reddie defense and scored on a 10-yard run by Dominic Blood to provide the Bisons the winning score with 2:43 to play in the game. 
On the Reddies’ failed to convert on 4th-and-3 from the Bison 44 and turned the ball over on downs with 1:12 to play in the game end seal the victory for Harding.
Things got started in the second half for the Bisons. Trailing 10-7 to begin the half Harding scored 14 points in the first 2:30 as Josh Powell hit Jeremy Holt from 41 yards out, then Kennard Henderson picked up a Kenard Springer fumble and went 50 yards for the a touchdown to make the score 21-10 with 12:32 to play in the third quarter.
The Reddies, 3-6 on the year and 3-4 in the Gulf South Conference, opened the game driving the ball 83 yards on 15 plays capped by a 8-yard run by Kenard Springer.

Harding answered scoring on a 24-yard pass play from Powell to Tyler O’Quin to tie the score at 7-7 with 11:08 to play in the half.
The Reddies then took the lead with 37 seconds to play in the half as freshman Blake Allan kicked a career-long 45-yard field goal to make the score 10-7 at the break.
After Harding’s explosive start to begin the second half, the Reddies slowly began to climb back into the game as Henderson put together a 7-play, 49-yard drive with Nick Hardesty avoiding three Bison defenders and hitting Jazz Scott in the back of the end zone for a 4-yard score with 3:39 left in the third quarter.
The fourth quarter began with Henderson State pinning Harding back deep at the 2-yard line. The Reddies then pressured Powell and offensive lineman Chris Ross held a Reddie in the end zone and the Henderson defense was credited with a safety to make the score 21-19 with 14:21 to play in the game.
On Harding’s next drive, Luke Landri intercepted a Powell deflected pass and rumbled 25 yards down to the Bison 30.
However, the Reddie offense could not move the ball and on 4th-and-15, Michael Buse was interfered with by a Bison defender to keep the drive alive and spot the ball on the Harding 20.
Again the Reddie drive stalled on the Bison 16, and Allan remained perfect on the year hitting a 33-yard field goal to give the Reddies a 22-21 lead with 6:00 to play in the game.
Springer ended the day with a career-high 171 yards on 32 carries, but the junior fullback had two costly fumbles.
Henderson State controlled the ball for 42:11 but managed 351 yards of offense, while Harding continued to force numerous Reddie turnovers and kept the Henderson offense flustered.
Powell completed 19-of-29 passes for 250 yards for the Bisons, while Hardesty completed just 12-of-28 passes for 114 yards.
The Reddies will finish the season next weeks as Henderson State makes the shortest road trip in the college football, when the Reddies face Ouachita Baptist, Saturday, Nov. 7 beginning at 1:30 p.m.