(October 5, 2019) ARKADELPHIA, Ark. — Henderson State got three touchdowns from Logan Moragne and four interceptions from its defense to blitz Northwestern Oklahoma State 47-7 on Saturday afternoon at Carpenter-Haygood Stadium and Ruggles Field.
Leading 17-7 at the half thanks to touchdowns from Moragne and L’liott Curry, the Reddies out-scored the Rangers 23-0 in the third quarter to take full control of the game.
After the second field goal of the day from Temo Martinez started the third, HSU put together a nine-play, 59-yard drive, which was capped by a 6-yard touchdown run from Moragne, to extend its lead to 27-7. On the first play of the ensuing drive for NWOSU, freshman safety Patrick Jones jumped the route by the Rangers’ receiver and returned the first interception of his career 36 yards for a score.
Now up 33-7, the Reddies forced another three-and-out on the next Northwestern drive and their momentum continued thanks to Braden Boykin, who returned the Ranger punt 45 yards down to the NWOSU 4-yard line. Henderson cashed in three plays later courtesy of Moragne once again. His 1-yard plunge was the exclamation point of the big third quarter which allowed HSU to ease to its third-straight home win.
Moragne finished with 18 carries for 64 yards and a career-high three touchdowns to lead the HSU offense. Receiver L’liott Curry finished with eight catches for 125 yards and one touchdown, while quarterback Richard Stammetti was 17-of-31 and threw for 198 yards and the one score to Curry. Running back Darius Austin also had a good day on the ground and led the team with 67 rushing yards on just seven carries.
Defensively, the Reddies got interceptions from Dedric O’Bryant, Rickey Henderson, Trevor Pipkin and the pick-six from Jones to cap another dominant effort on that side of the ball. Henderson held NWOSU to just 217 yards of offense and 71 yards in the second half. The HSU defense has now held three of its first five opponents to under 300 yards of total offense. Freshman Jakob Neel led the Reddies with six tackles and a tackle for loss.
The Reddies’ 4-1 start is their best record to open a season since 2016, when they began 5-0. The win is the biggest margin of victory for HSU since its 67-21 victory over Oklahoma Baptist in 2016.
Henderson (4-1) will look to take its winning ways on the road next Saturday, Oct. 12, when it faces Southwestern Oklahoma State at 3 p.m. in Weatherford, Oklahoma.
Defense Dominates as Reddies Beat NWOSU 47-7
