KICKING OFF
After a year away from the gridiron due to the effects of COVID-19 in 2020, college football has returned in full force in 2021 and along with it, the numerous great traditions that are synonymous with the sport. Among those is Homecoming. For the first time since 2019, Arkansas Tech will welcome back alumni from all over the country to celebrate in a return to Russellville and the ATU campus.
Among those returning are special group of men that put together perhaps the best season of football ever at Tech as members of the 1971 Wonder Boys football team will be in attendance and are being honored at halftime in a celebration of their 50-year anniversary of starting the season 12-0 and playing for a NAIA National Championship.
In present time, the Wonder Boys will be faced with a tough task in their opponent, Henderson State. The Reddies are nationally-ranked and coming off their first defeat of the season a week ago. The 6-1 Reddies also bring an explosive offense to Russellville as Henderson has the top-ranked scoring offense in the GAC and the league's top-ranked total offense as well. Both of those marks also rank in the top-10 in all of NCAA DII.
The Wonder Boys will be looking to get back on track following a tough 34-17 against SAU at the Murphy USA Classic last week.
TECH TIDBITS
OFFENSE
» The Wonder Boys rank 11th in the GAC in total offense with an average of 338.4 ypg. On the ground the Wonder Boys average 150.0 ypg rushing to rank sixth in the GAC. Through the air, Tech ranks ninth in the GAC and averages 188.4 ypg.
» QB Jack Lindsey has been the Wonder Boys starter under center for their first seven games. He has totaled 1,234 yards through the air and tossed nine TDs. Lindsey has also added 190 yards rushing and two scores on the ground. Overall, Lindsey is averaging 203.4 yards of total offense.
» Senior tailback Caleb Batie is the team's leading rusher with 457 net yards. Batie has four rushing TDs. Freshman tight end Jordan Edington is also tied with Batie in rushing TDs with four.
» Redshirt freshman Joyrion Chase has the most receiving yards with 350 on 28 receptions. He also leads the team with two TD receptions.
DEFENSE
» The Wonder Boys rank ninth in the GAC in scoring defense with an average of 32.3 ppg allowed. They also rank ninth in total defense allowing an average of 399.3 ypg. On the ground, Tech's opponents average 212.1 ypg rushing to rank 11th in the GAC. Through the air, Tech's defense ranks sixth in the GAC averaging 187.1 ypg.
» As as team, the Wonder Boys have come away with seven turnovers with three INTs and four fumble recoveries. Jordan Furtch, Victor Hill, and Darryn Cain account for the three picks while Tyrus Fort has two fumble recoveries and Monte Toney and Koby Edwards the other two.
SPECIAL TEAMS
» Senior kicker Jesus Zizumbo is a perfect 22-of-22 on extra-point attempts and is 6-of-8 in field goal tries. Zizumbo is currently sixth all-time at Tech in made field goals with 24. He is two away from pulling into a tie for fifth all-time.
ABOUT HENDERSON STATE
LAST GAME
The Henderson State Reddies come into Saturday's game having lost their first game of the season last week at home to then No. 20-ranked Harding. The Bison spoiled the Reddies' Homecoming game and limited the high-octane offense of Henderson to just 21 points while piling up over 400 yards rushing themselves and scoring 46 points. Prior to the defeat, Henderson was ranked in the top-10 in the AFCA poll. The Reddies will remain a top-25 team and will check in at No. 20 heading into the game with the Wonder Boys.
THE COACH
The Reddies are coached by Scott Maxfield, who is in his 16th year as the head coach at Henderson State. In his time at the helm of HSU, Maxfield has amassed a 114-58 record and captured four conference championships (three GAC, one GSC) and has been named GAC Coach of the Year twice. Since joining the GAC is 2011, Maxfield has won 66 conference games, the second-most in league history. During that time, Maxfield's Reddies have won nine or more games five times.
SCOUTING THE OFFENSE
Offensively, the Reddies feature a multiple offensive attack. Through their first seven games of year, HSU has the top-ranked scoring offense in the GAC at 43.9 ppg and the top-ranked total offense with an average of 483.4 ypg. Through the air, the Reddies are averaging 282.4 ypg to rank second in the GAC. On the ground, HSU is averaging 201.0 ypg to rank third in the GAC.
The leading rusher thus far has been Duce Sproles with 341 yards gained. He also leads the team in rushing TDs with five. Kris Morris is second in rushing yards with 329.
In the passing game, the Reddies have one of the top QBs in the league in Adam Morse. Thus far, Morse has thrown for 1,977 yards and 21 touchdowns. His yards and TDs rank second in the GAC.
The leading receiver for SAU is L'liott Curry with 834 yards on 57 receptions. His receptions rank second in the GAC while his TD total leads the league.
SCOUTING THE DEFENSE
Defensively, the Reddies base out of the 3-4 scheme and currently rank fourth in scoring defense, allowing 25.9 ppg. Their total defense ranks seventh in the GAC allowing 383.7 ypg of total offense by their opponents. Through the air, HSU ranks eighth in the GAC with 202.0 ypg. On the ground, the Reddies allow an average of 181.7 ypg and rank seventh in the GAC.
Individually, Henderson State has one player with 40 or more stops in Jacob Greenfield with 45. As a team, the Reddies have forced 19 turnovers with 14 INTs and five fumble recoveries. Dedric O'Bryant has been the top ball hawk with four INTs and six pass breakups.
THE SERIES
This will be the 93rd meeting all-time between Arkansas Tech and Henderson State in a series that dates back to 1920. Remarkably, the all-time series is tied 44-44-4. Playing almost annually as conference opponents in the AIC and GSC, Tech and HSU also became charter members of the GAC in 2011. In that time span, HSU leads the series 7-1. Dating back to when both schools made the jump to NCAA DII in 1995, HSU holds a slim 13-11 lead.
