Despite committing four turnovers and a subpar offensive performance, the eighth-ranked Henderson State Reddies rolled to a 42-0 victory over Northwestern Oklahoma, Saturday in Alva, Okla.
Limited to its lowest offensive output of the season, Henderson State scored nearly every way possible, but failed to score a passing touchdown for the first time since 2011.
Playing in heavy winds with gusts upward of 25 miles per hour, the Reddies utilized the ground game as Henderson totaled 155 yards rushing and a season low 219 passing yards.
It took just two plays and 37 seconds for the Reddies to strike following a 57-yard kickoff return by Corey Chappell.
On the second play from scrimmage, Ryan McDonald went straight up the middle for a 17-yard score to put the Reddies on top 7-0 with 14:23 left in the first quarter.
The Reddies turned to its defense for the next score as Zack Richardson blocked Kevin Ditch’s 43-yard field goal attempt and Chris King took the football and raced 70 yards to pay dirt to put the Reddies on top 14-0 with 6:05 remaining in the opening quarter.
Henderson State, 5-0 on the season and 4-0 in the Great American Conference, increased its lead to 21-0 just before the end of the first quarter asKeaton Stigger plunged in from 1-yard out for his seventh touchdown of the year.
Stigger then scored his second touchdown of the game as the senior from Collierville, Tenn. scored on a two-yard plunge to cap off a 14-play, 65-yard drive to make the score 28-0 with 4:54 left in the half.
On Northwestern’s next possession, Tim Llewellyn picked off a Reid Miller pass and scooted 25-yards to increase Henderson’s lead to 35-0 with 3:09 remaining in the half.
Henderson’s lone score of the second half came with 1:45 remaining in the third quarter as Richardson picked off a Miller pass and returned it 36-yards.
Kevin Rodgers struggled Saturday completing 20-of-30 passes for 181 yards while having three interceptions. Rodgers failed to throw a touchdown pass for the first time in his 23-game history as a Reddie.
Robert Jordan led the Reddie receivers with eight receptions for 94 yards.
Daniel McCoy, in his first game back since suffering an injury against McKendree, led the Reddie rushing game having 70 yards on 21 carries. McDonald ended the day with 68 yards on 15 carries.
The Rangers, 0-5 on the season, were limited to 129 yards of offense on 55 plays.
Led by Ricardo Mendez and Stigger, the Reddie defense recorded their first shutout since a 71-0 win over Arkansas-Monticello on Oct. 6, 2012. Both Mendez and Stigger ended the game with five tackles each.
Henderson State will next play host to Southwestern Oklahoma on Saturday, Oct. 12 with kickoff slated for 3 p.m. at Carpenter-Haygood Stadium. The game will be Henderson’s Homecoming. Tailgating events begin at 11 a.m. Homecoming festivities begin at 2:30 p.m. with the announcement of the 2013 queen and court.
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