Cua’ Rose tied a 95-year old Arkansas Tech University record for interceptions in a game and the Wonder Boys snapped an eight-year winless drought against Henderson State University by defeating the nationally 23rd-ranked Reddies 26-3 at Carpenter-Haygood Stadium in Arkadelphia on Saturday night.
Rose intercepted three HSU passes, tying a school record first set by Paul Thompson against Southern Arkansas University in 1922 and later tied by Patrick Pesnell against the University of Arkansas-Monticello in 1999.
It was the second consecutive win over a nationally-ranked opponent for the Wonder Boys (2-0), who defeated then 22nd-ranked SAU in the season opener and now own victories over two of the top three teams in the 2017 GAC preseason poll.
Arkansas Tech took the opening kickoff and marched 83 yards on 12 plays, the last of which was an 8-yard touchdown run by Ty Reasnor. The extra point failed, and the Wonder Boys led 6-0 at the 9:49 mark of the first quarter.
Henderson State (1-1) pulled within 6-3 behind a 12-play scoring drive of its own. Julio Cervantes’ 28-yard field goal with 2:14 left in the opening period capped the drive and cut Tech’s lead in half.
The Wonder Boys’ defense came up with three turnovers in the second quarter, two on interceptions by Rose and the other on an interception by Jandt Weary.
Tech was unable to convert the first two turnovers into points, but the third time was the charm. Rose’s second interception led to a 16-yard touchdown pass from Reasnor to Tevin McKenzie with 33 seconds remaining in the first half. Eric Perez added the point after and the Wonder Boys went to the intermission with a 13-3 lead.
Tech added a pair of Perez field goals and an 18-yard touchdown run by Reasnor in the second half to put away its first victory over the Reddies since Oct. 24, 2009.
Rose’s record-tying third interception of the game came with 8:14 remaining in the third quarter.
ATU compiled 264 rushing yards, led by Bryan Allen with 10 caries for 83 yards.
The Wonder Boys will return home to face Oklahoma Baptist University for a 6 p.m. GAC contest at Thone Stadium at Buerkle Field in Russellville on Saturday, Sept. 16. Party at the Plaza will begin outside the stadium on Centennial Plaza at 3 p.m.
