In D-II matchup, Harding trounces Henderson State

ARKADELPHIA — Harding University’s defense wasn’t perfect, but it certainly was opportunistic Thursday night in the Bisons’ 41-17 season-opening victory over Henderson State at Carpenter-Haygood Stadium.

Defensive back Frank Herbert scored the game’s first touchdown on an 11-yard fumble return, and defensive end T.J. Winslow twice sacked Henderson State junior quarterback Richard Stammetti and jarred the ball loose each time, setting up Harding fumble recoveries that led to touchdowns.

Harding, ranked No. 7 in the NCAA Division II preseason coaches poll, scored 21 points off Henderson State fumbles, and the offense mixed in some big plays in the passing game to squelch the Reddies each time it looked as if they might get back into the game.

Henderson State trailed 10-0 early, got within three points on the game’s first offensive touchdown, then got within two touchdowns twice in the second half — 24-10 and 31-17 — only to see Harding’s offense respond with touchdowns.

The Reddies (0-1, 0-1 Great American Conference) moved the ball in spurts after being held to 6 yards on their first 11 plays, which included a lost fumble that turned into the game’s first touchdown, an 11-yard scoop and score by Herbert.

They gained 57 of their 86

first-half yards on their touchdown drive that cut Harding’s lead to 10-7.

Henderson State picked up another 70 yards on their first drive of the third quarter, which included a 51-yard pass from Stammetti to Zecharius Nash-Kelly that set up a field goal to cut Harding’s lead to 24-14.

Harding’s only turnover, a lost fumble after a wild scramble midway in the third quarter, put Henderson State in business at the Harding 31, trailing 24-10.

The Reddies got to the 22 in two plays but shifted out of an unconventional formation on third and 1, and couldn’t get the first down.

They went for it on fourth and 1, but Logan Moragne was tackled short of the firstdown marker and Harding took over with 6:58 to play.

It took nearly 22 minutes for the game’s first offensive touchdown, when Stammetti hit Ben Johnson for a touchdown on a 26-yard pass play with 4:25 to go in the half.

The jolt to the Harding defense woke up the Bisons offense, which gained 118 yards on their next 16 offensive plays, scoring twice in a span of 3:17 to take a 24-7 halftime lead.

Henderson State cut Harding’s lead to 24-10 on Temo Martinez’s 32-yard field goal with 11:56 to play in the third quarter.

The big play for the Reddies was a 51-yard pass completion from Stammetti to Nash-Kelly that put the Reddies in scoring position at the Harding 22.

Harding came out running, but Henderson State’s defense held the Bisons to 55

yards on their first 18 plays. The Reddies’ offense and kicking game contributed to Harding taking a 10-0 lead at the 4:25 mark of the first

quarter.

Angel Esparza’s first punt

went 21 yards to the Reddies’ 27, and the Bisons scored on a 25-yard field goal by Cameron Scott with 4:39 to play in the quarter.

Harding scored the game’s first touchdown on Henderson State’s first offensive play after the ensuing kickoff on Herbert’s scoop and score with 4:25 left in the quarter. The Reddies got back into the game with a 5-play, 57-yard drive that included 3 rushes for 31 yards by Moragne and ended with a 26-yard touchdown pass from Stammetti to Chase Lodre on a post pattern.

Harding, held to 55 yards on its first four possessions, got its Flexbone going on an 8-play, 90-yard drive in 4:26 and scored on a 22-yard pass from Preston Paden to Taylor Thompson with 4:17 to play in the half.

Harding’s defense set up the Bisons’ second offensive touchdown when Winslow sacked Stammetti, who fumbled and Michael Mounga recovered at the Henderson 20.

Four rushes by Romar Reades put the ball on the 1, where Paden sneaked into the end zone with 1:10 to play in the half.

The NCAA’s new faircatch rule on kickoffs saved Henderson from another fumble when officials ruled that Zac Newbell signaled a fair catch before juggling the ball and eventually fumbling it at the 10.

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