SWOSU Football Game Notes | at No. 19 Henderson State | 10.3.2026

SWOSU Football heads to Arkadelphia Saturday to face unbeaten No. 19 Henderson State following a 28-7 road victory over Oklahoma Baptist. The Bulldogs enter at 1-3 after their strongest defensive performance of the season, while the Reddies improved to 4-0 with a 20-7 win at Southern Arkansas.

Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. from Carpenter-Haygood Stadium at GeoSurfaces Field. Saturday pairs SWOSU's nationally ranked defense with a Henderson offense averaging 550.0 yards per game, second-most in NCAA Division II.

SIX THINGS TO KNOW

1. KEEP IT ROLLING
SWOSU visits unbeaten Henderson State Saturday at 1 p.m. The Bulldogs earned their first win last week at Oklahoma Baptist, 28-7, while the Reddies improved to 4-0 with a 20-7 win at Southern Arkansas.

2. DEFENSE SETS THE STANDARD
SWOSU held OBU to 126 yards, its fewest allowed in the GAC era and fewest overall since 2006. The Bison rushed for just 39 yards and never reached the red zone. Their only touchdown came on a fumble return.

3. ETHERIDGE DELIVERS
Braxton Etheridge completed 15-of-20 passes for 166 yards and three touchdowns without an interception in his first collegiate start. Baylor Nash, a 2025 First Team All-GAC selection, caught his first two scores of the season as SWOSU scored a season-high 28 points.

4. STRENGTH MEETS STRENGTH
Henderson leads the GAC in total offense at 550.0 yards per game, averaging 272 rushing and 278 passing. SWOSU ranks third in total defense at 262.0 yards allowed and first in passing defense at 108.5.

5. PRESSURE POINT
SWOSU leads the GAC with 14 sacks; Henderson has allowed just one. The Reddies also rank third in third-down offense at 56.8%, while the Bulldogs rank second in third-down defense at 30.5%.

6. MIGHT AS WELL
Both SWOSU wins over Henderson in the GAC era have come in Arkadelphia: 17-13 in 2011 and 35-31 in 2018. The Bulldogs look to snap a six-game series skid after falling 35-32 last season in Weatherford.

SCOUTING HENDERSON STATE

2025: 8-3 (8-3 GAC)
Head Coach: Greg Holsworth (3rd Season)
Preseason GAC: 4th
2026 Record: 4-0 (4-0 GAC)

Henderson State enters Saturday unbeaten and newly ranked No. 19 in the AFCA poll and No. 23 by D2Football.com. The Reddies defeated Southern Arkansas 20-7 last week, controlling possession for 41:27.

Henderson ranks second nationally in total offense at 550.0 yards per game, sixth in rushing at 272.0 and seventh in scoring at 44.5 points per contest. Quarterback Austin Ledbetter has thrown for 1,003 yards and eight touchdowns, helping the Reddies rank third nationally in passing efficiency. Four offensive line starters returned, and the unit has allowed just one sack through four games.

Maddox Davis leads the team with 22 catches for 347 yards, the most receiving yards in the GAC. Taylin Paskel and Jerrale Powers each have three touchdown catches.

Defensively, Henderson is allowing 15.3 points per game, tied for 12th nationally, and ranks ninth in passing efficiency defense. Opponents have completed 48.6% of their passes with two touchdowns and six interceptions. The Reddies have collected 11 takeaways, including five fumble recoveries, while committing just three turnovers.

Henderson leads Division II in turnover margin at plus-2.0 per game, plus-eight overall, and ranks 11th nationally in time of possession at 33:41. Kicker Ryan McDonnell is 5-for-6 on field goals, including 3-for-3 from 40 yards or longer, with a long of 48.

SERIES SNAPSHOT

All-Time Series: Henderson State leads, 13-3
GAC-era: Henderson State leads, 12-2
GAC-era in Arkadelphia: SWOSU is 2-4
Current streak: Henderson State, W6
Last SWOSU win: 2018, 35-31

Last three:
2025: L, 32-35
2024: L, 17-35
2023: L, 0-56

BULLDOG BITES

DEFENSE MAKES HISTORY: SWOSU held OBU to 126 yards, its fewest allowed since joining the GAC in 2011 and fewest overall since 2006. The Bison never reached the red zone, and their only touchdown came on a fumble return.

AIR DEFENSE: SWOSU leads the GAC and ranks third nationally in passing defense, allowing just 108.5 yards per game. The Bulldogs also rank fourth in Division II in pass efficiency defense, holding opponents to 47.2% completions with four interceptions and just two passing touchdowns.

TOP-15 TEST: SWOSU ranks 13th nationally and third in the GAC in total defense, allowing 262.0 yards per game. Saturday brings its biggest statistical test yet against Henderson's offense, which ranks second in Division II at 550.0 yards per game.

PRESSURE MEETS PROTECTION: SWOSU leads the GAC with 14 sacks after collecting six at OBU. Henderson has surrendered just one sack through four games, setting up a matchup between the Bulldogs' pass rush and the Reddies' protection.

JACKSON PILES THEM UP: Keshaun Jackson ranks third in the GAC in tackles (41) and tackles for loss (7.0), and tied for third in sacks (4.0). He has also added an interception and two fumble recoveries through four games.

GET OFF THE FIELD: SWOSU ranks second in the GAC and 26th nationally in third-down defense, allowing conversions on 18-of-59 attempts (30.5%). Over the last three games, opponents have converted just 11-of-47 opportunities (23.4%).

THIRD-DOWN TURNAROUND: The Bulldogs converted 8-of-16 third downs at OBU, matching their total from the first three games combined. That improvement helped SWOSU sustain three scoring drives of at least 60 yards and hold the ball for a season-best 34:54.

FIND THE FOOTBALL: SWOSU leads the GAC with seven forced fumbles and is tied for second with five fumble recoveries. The Bulldogs have nine total takeaways, including interceptions by Jaylen Niedo and Delmontre Pryor last weekend.

NIEDO'S NEXT IMPACT: Jaylen Niedo added an interception and 1.5 sacks at Oklahoma Baptist to a season that already includes two blocked kicks. His interception gave SWOSU possession at the OBU 22, and the Bulldogs scored two plays later to take the lead for good.

FIRST & FAST START: Braxton Etheridge completed 75% of his passes in his first collegiate start, finishing 15-of-20 for 166 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. His first pass went 58 yards to DeAndre Beasley, setting up a touchdown just 19 seconds into the game.

NASH FINDS THE END ZONE: Baylor Nash caught his first two touchdown passes of the season at Oklahoma Baptist, scoring from eight and seven yards out. He finished with five catches for 47 yards after entering the game with four receptions for 54 yards through three weeks.

THE GAC'S TOP TWO: Saturday features the conference's top two receivers by yardage. Henderson's Maddox Davis leads with 347 yards, while DeAndre Beasley is second with 332. Beasley has accounted for nearly half of SWOSU's passing yardage and three of its six touchdown passes.

THREE BACKS, ONE PUSH: Keith Rockwell, Red Martel and Duce Hart combined for 204 rushing yards at Oklahoma Baptist. Rockwell led with 80, Martel added 67 and Hart contributed 57 with a touchdown.

ARKADELPHIA OPPORTUNITY: Henderson State moved to 4-0 and earned its first national ranking of the season, coming in at No. 19 by the AFCA and No. 23 by D2Football.com. SWOSU's last win against a ranked foe came in 2015, when the Bulldogs defeated No. 9 Ouachita Baptist 58-38 in Weatherford.

LAST TIME VS. HENDERSON STATE

SWOSU's late rally fell short in a 35-32 loss to Henderson State last season in Weatherford. The Bulldogs led 17-7 at halftime before the Reddies scored 28 unanswered points to take a 35-17 advantage.

MJ Rivers threw two late touchdown passes surrounding a recovered onside kick, pulling SWOSU within three points with 23 seconds remaining. A second onside recovery was negated by an offside penalty, and Henderson recovered the re-kick to seal the victory.

Rivers accounted for all four Bulldog touchdowns, throwing for 170 yards and three scores while adding 90 rushing yards and a touchdown. Felipe Tristan led SWOSU with eight tackles.

Henderson quarterback Andrew Edwards threw for 198 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 135 yards and another score. The Reddies finished with 497 yards of offense to SWOSU's 323, and neither team committed a turnover.