ARKADEPLHIA, Ark. – Oklahoma Baptist put up a good fight against the Reddies of Henderson State but fell into an insurmountable hole that led to a 51-24 defeat inside Carpenter-Haygood Stadium on Saturday afternoon. OBU moves to 1-8 (1-8 GAC) on the season, while HSU improves its record to 8-2 (8-2 GAC).
The Bison had a slow start in the first quarter. Its first drive halted following an interception on a third-down pass attempt.
Henderson capitalized on the Bison's miscue, driving 60 yards before being held to a field goal to chart the contest's first points.
HSU carried a 3-0 lead in the second stanza where they'd tack on 14 more points. For OBU, it was a quarter filled with fervent efforts to cut into the deficit.
Following an 11-play, 60-yard drive, the Bison put points on the board. Kicker Guillermo Garcia Rodriguez nailed a 26-yarder to give his team three points and tie the Oklahoma Baptist record for career field goals. Garcia Rodriguez moves his total to 13, a match of Luke Wendl's sum from 2019.
Oklahoma Baptist would reach paydirt once more before the half, courtesy of the efforts of sophomore Nate Anderson. He punched the ball in from three yards to record his first career touchdown and mark the tally 24-10 before intermission.
Despite OBU's momentous end to the half, Henderson State jumpstarted the third with a touchdown catch by Matt Childers at 11:17 to move its advantage to 31-10.
The Bison refused to go down without a fight, though. In its next drive, quarterback Streeter landed a sneaky handoff to Buddy Bizzell, who rushed three yards and secured a touchdown. The action capped a 10-play, 66-yard drive.
But the Reddies wouldn't let this stand and scored on the next drive. Afterward, the OBU defense answered and forced the Reddies to punt for the first time as the score read 44-17 going into the last quarter.
The Bison's fourth-quarter activities were highlighted by a 14-yard touchdown connection from Amari Jessie to Thomas Meadough in the back corner of the endzone with 47 seconds left.
Henderson State racked up 606 yards, including 338 yards on the ground, while Oklahoma Baptist garnered a total of 268.
Streeter finished with 127 yards on 17-31 passing and an interception. Streeter added 15 rushing yards, including a game-long 10-yard scamper. Jessie stepped in late to record 14 yards through the air and seven yards on the ground.
Bizzell led the rushing attack with 72 yards and a score, averaging 8.0 yards per tote. EJ Moore charted 29 yards, while Anderson scored once.
Keilahn Harris caught six passes for 58 yards to steer the receiving corps, while Michael Marshall collected 27 yards on three catches.
Trajan Lands charted 10 tackles, while Kaleb Peters had nine stops. Caden Hall, Elijah Tomlin, and Taurean Smith each recorded a tackle-for-loss.
OBU will return home next Saturday, November 12, for a 6 p.m. matchup with Southern Nazarene on Senior Night inside Crain Family Stadium.
