November 10, 2001

Southern Arkansas Outscores Henderson State 56-35

Magnolia, Ark.---Southern Arkansas University and Henderson State University closed out the 2001 football season here Saturday by scoring a combined 91 points. The Muleriders scored first and never trailed to win the offensive shootout 56-35 as both the ‘Riders and Reddies scored season high’s. It was SAU’s sixth straight win over HSU.

The win allowed first-year SAU head coach Steve Quinn to finish 5-5 overall and 5-4 in the Gulf South Conference while first-year Reddie coach Jesse Branch closed out 1-10 overall and 1-8 in the GSC after snapping a 19-game HSU losing streak last week by defeating Arkansas-Monticello.

The ‘Riders needed only two plays to score the game’s first touchdown. Quarterback Ted Williams passed on first down to wide receiver Nik Lewis for 30 yards and Williams kept over right tackle the next play to score untouched from the HSU 41. Saul DeLa Cruz booted the first of eight PAT attempts and the game only 39 seconds old.

Midway the first quarter, defensive end Joey Robinson forced HSU quarterback Blake Christenson to fumble and defensive end Mike Webb recovered on the Reddie four. Freshman halfback Torrance Jones scored from there and DeLa Cruz converted, 14-0, 6:21 on the clock.

Before the period ended, HSU tied it up. The Reddies marched 75 yards in nine plays to score when halfback Steve Carter went up between two SAU defenders to haul in a 31-yard pass. Zach Elbert tacked on the extra point with 4:13 left in the opening period, 14-7.

After forcing the ‘Riders to punt, HSU covered 44 yards in seven plays with fullback Nick Brumfield plunging the final yard and Elbert’s toe made it 14-14 with 50 seconds remaining in the quarter.

The ‘Riders scored twice in the second stanza to go up 28-14 at the half. SAU crunched out 83 yards in nine plays with Lewis scoring on a 27-yard pass from Williams. DeLa Cruz converted with 2:19 left in the half, 21-14.

Less than a minute later, SAU was on the scoreboard again. Christenson was intercepted by All-GSC linebacker Eddie Key on the Henderson 43. Fullback Larnell Sinegal burst up the middle to score untouched from that point. DeLa Cruz toed it to 28-14 with 1:35 remaining in the half.

The ‘Riders scored the only touchdown of the third quarter when freshman halfback Rodney Hill dashed 35-yards down the left sideline on an option pitch for a touchdown. The drive covered 52 yards and took four plays. DeLa Cruz split the uprights to make it 35-14 with 8:31 on the clock.

The Reddies refused to fold with two quick fourth quarter scores to make it uncomfortable for the ‘Riders. Christenson passed to split end Davin Washington for 14 yards to finish a 14-play, 80-yard drive on the first play of the final period and only five seconds off the fourth-quarter clock.

Henderson pulled within 35-28 when Brumfield crashed over from the four to climax a 63-yard march and Elbert toed the PAT with 11:34 remaining and the Reddies were smelling a possible second-straight upset.

SAU quickly answered with Jones dashing wide right down the sideline for 66 yards and a touchdown on a second and one play from the SAU 34. DeLa Cruz toed it to 42-28 with 10:37 left.

The ‘Riders added the clincher with Williams passing to Jones for a 25-yard scoring strike and DeLa Cruz kicked it to 49-28 with 6:56 remaining. This touchdown came after defensive end D.C. Chandler recovered a Christenson fumble on the SAU 48.

Both the ‘Riders and Reddies added one more touchdown. Southern Arkansas made it 56-28 with 3:43 remaining when senior halfback Forrest Curry returned to action to score from the one and DeLa Cruz converted. The drive had to cover only 32 yards after cornerback Jordan Babineaux recovered a fumble by Christenson.

HSU scored the final touchdown with only 1:21 to play when Christenson passed complete to halfback Chip Reeves for the final 20 yards and Elbert booted the PAT. The drive covered 73 yards and took eight plays.

SAU had 29 first downs and HSU 24, SAU rushed for 431 yards and HSU had 201, HSU passed for 197 yards on 15 completions in 33 attempts with two picked off and SAU had 130 yards through the air on nine completions in 22 attempts with none intercepted. The ‘Riders had 561 yards total offense and the Reddies 398. HSU lost three of six fumbles and SAU only one of two. The ‘Riders were penalized 12 times for 129 yards and the Reddies five for 40. HSU punted five times for a 37.4 average and SAU five for 32.6.

Jones, a 162-pound speedster from Cotton Valley, La., rushed for 146 yards on 12 carries, a 12.2 average, scored twice by rushing and caught a 25-yard pass for a touchdown. Williams, a 187-pound sophomore from Pineland, Tex., had 81 yards rushing on 10 carries, one for a touchdown, and completed nine passes in 22 attempts with no interceptions for 130 yards and two touchdowns. Hill, a speedy 164-pounder from Shreveport (Byrd), had 62 yards in only seven totes and a touchdown, Sinegal, a 212-pound sophomore from Port Arthur (Jefferson), Tex., had 53 yards on only four attempts and a touchdown and Lewis, a 190-pound sophomore from Jacksboro, Tex., caught five passes for 100 yards and a touchdown for SAU.

Defensively, Eddie Key, SAU’s leading tackler, finished his career with 18 tackles against the Reddies, seven solos, one for a loss, had a interception, broke up two passes and had a sack for a loss of nine yards. Sophomore safety Austin Taylor, a sophomore from Sheridan, was next with nine tackles, four unassisted.

Brumfield led HSU’s rushing efforts with 78 yards on 12 carries and scored twice. Christenson completed 15 of 33 pass attempts for 197 yards and three touchdowns and was intercepted twice. Mark Mouton, a 237-pound senior linebacker, had 13 tackles for the Reddies.

The SAU victory assured nine Mulerider seniors playing their final game of not having a losing season in their collegiate career. They were offensive linemen Trey LaValle, Farmerville, La.; Shane Clancy, Bryant; Rory Green, El Dorado; and Kyle Sanders, Benton; Curry, Big Sandy, Tex.; Key, Longview (Pine Tree), Tex.; Webb, Fort Smith (Southside); Robinson, DeBerry (Carthage), Tex.; and reserve linebacker Belvis Duffield, Houston (Aldine), Tex.