Henderson State continues to flip its offensive script.
After leaning heavily on the pass the previous three seasons, the Reddies are much more balanced this fall.
Coach Scott Maxfield said it's a simply playing to a new strength after quarterback Kevin Rodgers and wide receiver Darius Davis completed their eligibility last season.
Rodgers and Davis hold every major school passing and receiving record.
"We've kind of had to transform our deal a little bit from what we were," Maxfield said. "We lost some guys that did things well, things that we don't do as well now."
With Rodgers (13,678 career passing yards) and Davis (3,686 career receiving yards) as catalysts, Henderson gained 73 percent of its 18,069 total yards the previous three seasons through the air.
Henderson has 1,783 total yards through five games this fall, with 859, or 48 percent, via the ground.
The Reddies' rushing output the last three weeks -- all victories -- has climbed from 125 yards, to 227 to 305 on Saturday against previously unbeaten Arkansas Tech.
In its 17-7 victory over Arkansas Tech, junior tailback Jaquan Cole ran 27 times for a school-record 245 yards and 1 touchdown (88 yards).
Kenny Fells, one of the greatest players in Henderson history, set the previous record of 243 yards in 1985.
"We had to change it, and that's part of coaching," Maxfield said, referring to a more run-heavy philosophy this fall. "You've got to adjust your coaching style to try to be successful and do what your kids can do to give your team a chance to win."
Henderson's rushing total last week was its highest since gaining 305 yards in the 2012 regular-season finale against Ouachita Baptist.
The Reddies have thrown for only 181 yards the last two weeks. Rodgers averaged 333.6 passing yards per game in his career.
"The first couple of games, we came out and we tried to do some of the things we were doing in the past," Maxfield said. "That wasn't successful for us. We got together and decided to do some things differently."
Henderson (4-1, 4-1 Great American Conference) is at Harding (4-1, 4-1) Saturday night.
The Bisons won last year's meeting, 28-24, ending the Reddies' 30-game regular-season winning streak and 27-game GAC winning streak.
HENDERSON STATE
Making a move
A.J. Tucker came to Henderson State to catch passes. He's still doing it, but now on the other side of the ball.
Tucker, who moved from wide receiver to cornerback about a month ago, had his first career interception in Saturday's 17-7 victory over Arkansas Tech.
Tucker, a 6-2, 210-pound sophomore from Little Rock Central, also had 3 unassisted tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 1 assisted tackle and 1 pass breakup against the Wonder Boys.
Tucker's pass deflection led to an interception in the end zone by junior safety Darius Thomas early in the fourth quarter.
Reddies Coach Scott Maxfield said Tucker has "worked himself into a starting position" with his play the last few weeks.
"He's a heck of an athlete," Maxfield said. "We had to get him on the field. He's brought something to our defense that we didn't have. He's a big, physical corner, that's hard to get around."
Tucker caught 7 passes for 157 yards and 1 touchdown last fall as a redshirt freshman.
Tucker was a wide receiver and safety at Central, where he played with a broken thumb as a senior in 2012. He was on the recruiting radar of several FBS and FCS schools before signing with the NCAA Division II Reddies.
Extra points
Ouachita Baptist moved from No. 24 to No. 20 in NCAA Division II in the American Football Coaches Association Top 25 following Saturday's 26-21 victory over Harding. ... Harding is No. 22 in the AFCA poll. ... Henderson State remains tied for first in NCAA Division II with 14 interceptions through five games. ... Harding (366.6), Ouachita (274) and Arkansas Tech (273) rank second, eighth and 10th, respectively, in rushing yards per game in NCAA Division II. ... Arkansas-Monticello is a GAC-best 11 of 11 on red-zone scoring opportunities. ... Southern Arkansas freshman quarterback Barrett Renner is No. 8 in NCAA Division II in total offense (358 yards per game). ... Ouachita honored Rex Nelson at halftime of Saturday's homecoming game with Harding by renaming the home radio booth at Cliff Harris Stadium after the longtime play-by-play voice of the Tigers. Nelson, a Ouachita graduate, has put together one of the largest football radio networks in NCAA Division II.
Sports on 10/09/2015