Henderson State trying to spread word it’s real deal

— Win or lose today, Henderson State’s 2012 football season will go down as the best in school history.

The Reddies have ridden their Spread offense into the NCAA Division II playoffs for the first time following a 10-0regular season, the first undefeated and untied finish in the program’s 105 years.

But when Henderson State, the No. 2 seed in Super Region 3, squares off against No. 3 Missouri Western State (11-1) at noon, it will be facing a team that has advanced to the playoffs the past four seasons and has spent this fall navigating one of Division II’s toughest schedules.

“We’re like the new kids on the block,” Henderson State Coach Scott Maxfield said. “We’re moving into the new neighborhood. We’ll have to see how we match up.”

Missouri Western State is coming off the school’s first playoff victory, 57-55 in triple overtime last week against Minnesota-Duluth, which won national championships in 2008 and 2010. Missouri Western State defeated 2009 champion Northwest Missouri State the week before and 2011 champion Pittsburg State on Oct. 20.

Along with those accomplishments, the Griffons arrive in Arkadelphia carrying with them the reputation of Division II’s best football league. Seven of the past eight Division II title games have included a team from the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association, and the league has won five national titles since 1991.

Henderson State breezed through the Great American Conference this season, a second-year league that consists of six Arkansas schools that have enjoyed sporadic playoff success since the schools began moving from NAIA to Division II in the 1990s.

An Arkansas school has advanced to the Division II playoffs nine times since 1997, and the five schools that have done so have a combined 4-8 record. Take out two playoff victories by Central Arkansas, which moved from Division II to Division I in 2006, and current GAC schools are 2-7 in the playoffs.

“I think we’ve got a lot to prove,” Maxfield said. “A lot of people that don’t know anything about Henderson State, the Great American Conference, probably don’t have a lot of respect for us right now. They don’t know much about us so, rightfully so. We haven’t done anything yet on a national stage.”

Bob Eblen, a national columnist for D2football.com, said the GAC is perceived by many Division II football followers as a league made up of schools that couldn’t compete in their previous leagues. The six Arkansas schools in the GAC came from the Gulf South Conference, while the league’s three Oklahoma schools came from the Lone Star Conference.

“I think most people have a fairly negative view of the GAC,” Eblen said in an e-mail. “Harding’s performance last week [a 35-0 loss to Northwest Missouri State] didn’t help with that perception and gave ammunition to those who didn’t believe the GAC deserved two playoff teams.”

Missouri Western State Coach Jerry Partridge believes in the strength of his conference but wouldn’t say that gives his team an advantage.

Partridge, whose mother is from Monticello and father is from Gould, said he didn’t know much about the Reddies until the playoff pairings were announced last week, other than their prolific offensive numbers sparked by quarterback Kevin Rodgers, a finalist for Harlon Hill Trophy given to Division II’s top player, and a speedy group of receivers.

“After watching the film, I wasn’t proven wrong,” Partridge said. “They’re fast, and they throw the ball well. They’re fast and quick and electric.”

Partridge said his team hasn’t seen an offense that throws as much as the Reddies, who have the third-best passing offense in Division II at 374.2 yards per game.

The Griffons are more balanced. Harlon Hill Trophy finalist Michael Hill has run for 1,996 yards, and their average of 282.2 rushing yards per game led the conference. Quarterback Travis Partridge also has passed for 2,342 yards and 28 touchdowns and thrown 9 interceptions.

“[Hill] is very powerful,” Maxfield said. “I don’t think we’ve seen a back comparable to him.”

Today’s game HENDERSON STATE VS. MISSOURI WESTERN STATE WHEN Noon today WHERE Carpenter-Haygood Stadium, Arkadelphia TICKETS $10 for adults, $5 for students RECORDS Henderson State: 10-0;

Missouri Western State 11-1 SEEDS Henderson State: No. 2 in Super Region 3; Missouri Western State: No. 3 in Super Region 3 SERIES First meeting COACHES Henderson State: Scott Maxfield (49-34 in eighth season);

Missouri Western State: Jerry Partridge (123-63 in 16th season) RADIO KDEL-FM, 100.9, in Arkadelphia INTERNET hsusports.com

Sports, Pages 23 on 11/24/2012

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