game notes at hsu22

Football Jon Chidester, Assistant AD/Media Relations

Football Begins New Era on the Road at Henderson State

SWOSU at (RV) Henderson State
Arkadelphia, AR | 7:00 P.M.
swosuathletics.com/coverage

For Complete Game Notes, Click HERE (pdf)

Setting the Scene
  • SWOSU Football begins a new season with a new coaching staff and predominantly new roster, and will jump into the thick of the Great American Conference schedule right away against a Henderson State team that finished 9-2 in 2021 and is picked to finish fourth in the league
  • With a mixture of some familiar names from 2021 returning and an influx of new faces courtesy of a strong recruiting effort from the new staff, excitement is once again in the air surrounding Bulldog football             
  • Dating back to 2018, SWOSU is 3-1 in season openers -- an odd stat that SWOSU would love to continue the trend of following Thursday's match up
  • Henderson State has its own question marks to answer to entering 2022, specifically on offense where they will look to replace an All-Conference quarterback (Adam Morse) and All-American wide receiver (L'liott Curry)         
The Opponent
  • Henderson State has eclipsed nine wins in each of the last two seasons, an accomplishment they have not done consecutively since 2014-15
  • The Reddies averaged 40.5 points and 494 yards per game last season on offense, both league leading, but will need to do it on the backs of different play makers following the loss of Morse and Curry
  • HSU has been a consistent player in the Great American Conference year in and year out with three GAC titles to their credit and only one season with a record below .500 since the league began over 10 years ago
  • The Bulldogs are 2-8 all-time against the Reddies, but both of those wins have come on the road in Arkadelphia
  • HSU received votes in the AFCA Preseason Rankings Poll, but did not crack the top 25        
SWOSU Offensive Notes
  • Of the 11 positions on the field, SWOSU will start five returning players from the 2021 roster including three offensive linemen: Isaac Foster, Chase Parker, and Myles Moye, and two skill position players: Jacob Karsak and Deshon Moreaux
  • Offensive fire power should come from incoming transfers, as SWOSU will showcase a new quarterback, running back, and two wide receivers just from the starting list alone. Three of the four came to Weatherford following previous stops at Division I schools
  • The Bulldogs ranked 11th last season in the conference in total offense by averaging 331.9 yards per game
  • 20.5 points per game by the Bulldogs was the second lowest scoring attack in the league
  • Running the football was not the strong suit in 2021. SWOSU was the only team in the GAC who did not average triple digit rushing yards per game (82.5)
  • The Bulldogs did rank fourth in the league in passing at 249.5 yards per game, bu threw a league-leading 17 interceptions
  • Wide receivers Deshon Moreaux and Tailon Garrett will provide GAC experience to the offense. The pair listed combined for 41 catches and four touchdowns a year ago
  • Kenny Graham returns for SWOSU as the second leading rusher from a year ago, though is not listed on the 2-deep as a potential rusher who will get consistent reps early on
  • SWOSU quarterbacks were sacked 18 times last season, the fifth fewest in the GAC
SWOSU Defensive Notes
  • On defense, SWOSU will see more familiar faces with eight returning players from the 2021 roster projected to start in week one
  • The defense allowed 33.1 points per game last season, ranking them eighth in the league
  • The defensive line will need to be up for the challenge of improving upon an allowed 214.9 rushing yards per game
  • RJ Powell should provide experience up front with a returning 42 tackles, 6 QB hurries, and one forced fumble on the defensive line
  • SWOSU's pass rush tallied 12 sacks in 2021, ranking them 11th in the GAC
  • The secondary caught five interceptions on the year, ranking them 12th in the league in that category. SWOSU also did not score a defensive touchdown last season.
  • Derrius Franklin accounted for two of those interceptions. He, just like Powell, also notched 42 tackles a year ago
  • Seven of 11 in the starting lineup are listed as underclassman, including three sophomores who all will patrol the second level of the defense: Logan Engle, Logan Monroe, and Ashton Hamby
  • Engle is the second leading tackler on the team from a year ago. He totaled 46 tackles in just eight games
  • Monroe tallied 39 tackles a year ago in 10 games. Hamby just seven.
SWOSU Special Teams Notes
  • Field goals last season: 2/7
  • 50 punts last season; 33.74 yards net average
  • Averaged 17 yards return on kickoff and 11.83 yards on punts
  • SWOSU Special Teams will feature a new kicker and punter in 2022 in Jaren Van Winkle, a transfer from junior college
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Players Mentioned

Derrius Franklin

#9 Derrius Franklin

DB
6' 1"
Junior
Kenny Graham

#22 Kenny Graham

RB
5' 10"
Sophomore
Chase Parker

#64 Chase Parker

OL
6' 4"
Redshirt Freshman
RJ Powell

#92 RJ Powell

DL
6' 2"
Sophomore
Logan Engle

Logan Engle

ILB
6' 2"
Freshman
Tailon Garrett

Tailon Garrett

WR
5' 8"
Freshman
Jacob Karsak

#80 Jacob Karsak

TE
6' 3"
Freshman
Deshon Moreaux

#12 Deshon Moreaux

WR
6' 0"
Senior
Ashton Hamby

#15 Ashton Hamby

DB
5' 10"
Sophomore
Logan Monroe

#24 Logan Monroe

LB
6' 1"
Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Derrius Franklin

#9 Derrius Franklin

6' 1"
Junior
DB
Kenny Graham

#22 Kenny Graham

5' 10"
Sophomore
RB
Chase Parker

#64 Chase Parker

6' 4"
Redshirt Freshman
OL
RJ Powell

#92 RJ Powell

6' 2"
Sophomore
DL
Logan Engle

Logan Engle

6' 2"
Freshman
ILB
Tailon Garrett

Tailon Garrett

5' 8"
Freshman
WR
Jacob Karsak

#80 Jacob Karsak

6' 3"
Freshman
TE
Deshon Moreaux

#12 Deshon Moreaux

6' 0"
Senior
WR
Ashton Hamby

#15 Ashton Hamby

5' 10"
Sophomore
DB
Logan Monroe

#24 Logan Monroe

6' 1"
Sophomore
LB