2017 REDDIE FOOTBALL GAME NOTES • PAGE 1 SCHEDULE GAME 1: AUG. 31, 2017 • 7 P.M. AUG. 31, 2017 • 7 p.m. HENDERSON STATE VS. at Harding Searcy, Ark. HARDING First Security Stadium • 6000 SEPT. 9, 2017 • 6 p.m. FIRST SECURITY STADIUM • 6000 • SEARCY, ARK. ARKANSAS TECH Arkadelphia, Ark. CHS/Ruggles Field • 9600 HSU FACES 2016 GAC CHAMPION IN SEASON OPENER Henderson State begins its quest for a fourth Great American Conference SEPT. 16, 2017 • 6 p.m. title in six years with a big test on Thursday night, when the Reddies kick off NORTHWESTERN OKLAHOMA the season against the defending GAC champion Harding Bisons at 7 p.m. Arkadelphia, Ark. in First Security Stadium in Searcy, Arkansas. CHS/Ruggles Field • 9600 SEPT. 23, 2017 • 6 p.m. REDDIE REPORT at Southwestern Oklahoma The Reddies return two talented quarterbacks from 2016 in junior An- Weatherford, Okla. drew Black and senior Evan Lassiter. Black, who started in 10 of 11 games Fast Lane Field • 5000 last season, finished second in the GAC in passing efficiency after complet- ing 64 percent of his passes for 2000 yards and 13 touchdowns, and also SEPT. 30, 2017 • 2 P.M. finished sixth in the conference in total offense, averaging 223.6 total yards SOUTHERN NAZARENE per game. In addition to his arm, Black proved to be a dangerous weapon Arkadelphia, Ark. (Hall of Honor) with his feet as well last year, rushing for 570 yards and three scores. Lassiter, CHS/Ruggles Field • 9600 who started and led the Reddies to a win against Arkansas Tech, saw action Oct. 7, 2017 • 1 p.m. in all 11 games for the Reddies in 2016, completing 64.4 percent of his at Oklahoma Baptist passes for 1249 yards, eight touchdowns and just one interception. Shawnee, Okla. With the loss of 2nd Team All-GAC receiver Courtney Whitehead and Hurt Field • 2900 former All-American Al Lasker, the Reddies will turn to old faces to step up in the passing attack. Seniors Jacoby Lewis, Austin Bennett and Darion Oct. 14, 2017 • 2 p.m. Gray return after combining for 72 catches, 765 yards and three scores last at Southeastern Oklahoma season, as does junior big-play threat Ben Johnson, who averaged 25.3 Durant, Okla. yards per catch in 2016. Paul Laird Field • 5500 The Reddies’ offensive line brings back four starters from last year’s group, OCT. 21, 2017 • 2 p.m. which allowed just 15 total sacks, the fifth-best mark in the conference. EAST CENTRAL Senior All-GAC selection Justin Carpenter, along with seniors John Arkadelphia, Ark. (Homecoming) Laubacher, Corey Stitle and Jojo Grant will anchor an experienced front CHS/Ruggles Field • 9600 for the Henderson offense. Defensively, Henderson returns playmakers all over the field, beginning OCT. 28, 2017 • 2 p.m. with First Team All-Region linebacker Cam Sonnier, who led the Reddies SOUTHERN ARKANSAS with 15 tackles for loss last season. He will be backed up in the secondary Arkadelphia, Ark. (Senior Day) by senior ball-hawking safety Sheldon Watson, a Second Team All-GAC CHS/Ruggles Field • 9600 selection who scored two defensive touchdowns last season and picked off Nov. 4, 2017 • 3 p.m. four passes to lead the back end of the defense. Up front, the Reddies have at Arkansas-Monticllo one of the best pass rushers in the GAC in senior defensive end Sam Monticello, Ark. Johnson, who was a First Team All-GAC honoree last year after finishing Cotton Boll Stadium • 4500 second in the league in sacks with six. NOV. 11, 2017 • 1 P.M. GAME DAY FORECAST • AUG. 31 at Ouachita Baptist TEMPERATURE: 84 High 67 Low Arkadelphia, Ark. PRECIPITATION: 80% HUMIDITY: 82% SKIES: T-Storms WIND: E at 8 Cliff Harris Stadium • 6000 SUNRISE: 6:39 a.m. SUNSET: 7:34 p.m. 2017 REDDIE FOOTBALL GAME NOTES • PAGE 2 HARDING PREVIEW HARDING FACTS The Bisons enter 2017 riding high after capturing their first-ever GAC title last year. Harding rode a dominant defense and a machine-like triple option attack to a 13-1 record, which included two victories in the NCAA Tourna- ment over Central Missouri and Sioux Falls, before falling in the NCAA Quarterfinals to eventual National Champion Northwest Missouri State. In order to defend their GAC title, the Bisons will have big shoes to fill on both sides of the ball, including GAC Offensive Player of the Year, quarter- back Park Parish, Defensive Player of the Year, defensive end Trevon Bigelow, and All-GAC First Teamers, fullback Michael Latu, offensive lineman Eric Mitchell, defensive tackle Jensen Jackson, linebackers Daylan Skidmore and Scott Middleton, and cornerback Corey Bassett. Paul Simmons Perhaps the biggest departure for the Bisons, however, is that of former Head Coach head coach Ronnie Huckeba, who retired following the 2016 campaign after • QUICK FACTS • compiling a 69-40 record in his time with Harding and racking up 47 of those LOCATION: ........................................... Searcy, Ark. wins in the last five seasons. Stepping into the head role in Searcy is former FOUNDED: ........................................................ 1924 ENROLLMENT: ................................................. 6,885 defensive coordinator Paul Simmons, who has been on staff at Harding for ATHLETIC DIRECTOR: ....................... Greg Harnden the past 11 years and has been in charge of the defense since 2010. COLORS: ......................................... Black and Gold Despite the departures of many key players and their head coach, the STADIUM: ................. First Security Stadium (5,000) Bisons still have a great deal of talent coming back from a team that fin- ished first in both scoring offense and total defense in 2016. • COACHING STAFF • Returning for Harding are First Team All-GAC selections senior running HEAD COACH: ................................... Paul Simmons ALMA MATER: .................................. Harding (1995) back Zach Shelley, who has rushed for 1811 yards and 17 touchdowns in RECORD AT HU : ...................................... First Year his career, senior safety Daylon Markham, who recorded 76 tackles and CAREER RECORD : .................................. First Year three interceptions last season, and offensive linemen Bryce Bray and Gavin ASSISTANT COACHES: ........................................... De Los Santos, who were two of the bedrocks of the Bisons’ rushing attack Roddy Mote ............ Defensive Coordinator/LBs Chris Hill ....... Offensive Coordinator/QBs & FBs in 2016. Matt Underwood ....................... Wide Receivers Henderson State was the last team to beat Harding in First Security Luke Tribble ............................. Defensive Backs Stadium back on Oct. 10, 2015, when then-freshman quarterback Andrew Romas Roberson ...... Assistant Defensive Line Black scored late to give the Reddies a 22-17 victory. Since then, the Bisons Kevin Chism ................................ Offensive Line Kenny Wheaton ............... Offensive Consultant have won nine-straight contests on their home field in Searcy. Eric Mitchell .......................... Graduate Assistant Ethan Morriss ...................... Graduate Assistant 2016 FINAL GAC STANDINGS Dimitri Donald ....................... Graduate Assiatant Paul Norton .......................... Graduate Assistant GAC RECORD OVERALL RECORD TEAM W L Pct. W L Pct. Stk. • TEAM INFORMATION • Harding 11 0 1.000 13 1 .929 L1 2016 Record ..................................................... 13-1 Southern Arkansas 9 2 .818 9 3 .750 L1 GAC Record: ........................................... 11-0 (1st) Henderson State 8 3 .727 8 3 .727 L1 LETTERMEN RETURNING: .................................... 35 Ouachita Baptist 7 4 .636 7 4 .636 W3 LETTERMAN LOST: .............................................. 23 Southeastern Okla. 7 4 .636 7 4 .636 W2 STARTERS RETURNING: ....................................... 8 Arkansas Tech 6 5 .545 6 5 .545 L1 STARTERS LOST: ................................................ 14 Southwestern Okla. 5 6 .455 5 6 .455 W1 • 2017 SCHEDULE • Arkansas-Monticello 4 7 .364 4 7 .364 L2 A31 Henderson State 7 p.m. Northwestern Okla. 4 7 .364 4 7 .364 L3 S9 at Southern Arkansas 6 p.m. Oklahoma Baptist 2 9 .182 2 9 .182 L7 S16 Southern Nazarene 6 p.m. Southern Nazarene 2 9 .182 2 9 .182 W1 S23 at Oklahoma Baptist Noon East Central 1 10 .091 1 10 .091 L8 S30 Arkansas-Monticello 6 p.m. THURSDAY’S SCHEDULE O7 at Ouachita Baptist Noon Northwestern Oklahoma at Ouachita Baptist 6 p.m. O14 at Northwestern Okla. 2 p.m. Southeastern Oklahoma at Southern Nazarene 6 p.m. O21 Southwestern Okla. 2 p.m. Southern Arkansas at Arkansas Tech 7 p.m. O28 at Southeastern Okla. 2 p.m. SATURDAY’S SCHEDULE N4 East Central 2 p.m. East Central at Oklahoma Baptist Noon N11 at Arkansas Tech 2 p.m. Southwestern Oklahoma at Arkansas-Monticello 6 p.m. 2017 REDDIE FOOTBALL GAME NOTES • PAGE 3 LAST YEAR vs. HARDING HSU QUICK FACTS Henderson State was plagued by five first-half turnovers as the No. 5 Reddies GENERAL INFORMATION lost to No. 16 Harding 35-3. Harding scored 21 points off of Henderson’s LOCATION: ........................................... Arkadelphia, Ark. turnovers including two defensive scores. FOUNDED: ............................................................... 1890 The first turnover occurred when Reddie receiver Al Lasker slipped and Tony ENROLLMENT: .......................................................... 3,634 NICKNAME: ......................................................... Reddies Becton would pick off Andrew Black’s pass at the HSU 47. SCHOOL COLORS: ...................................... Red and Gray The Henderson defense would hold and force a punt by the