It’s been seven years since Arkansas Tech University last defeated a nationally-ranked football team.
Kyle Shipp, ATU head football coach, believes the Wonder Boys (2-0) are capable of changing that when they face nationally 20th-ranked Henderson State University (2-0) at 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21, at Carpenter-Haygood Stadium in Arkadelphia. Live coverage will be available on KCJC 102.3 FM, the EAB Media Group app and www.arkansastechsports.com.
“The big thing is to just keep believing in what we’re doing,” said Shipp. “We believed we were going to be 2-0 going into this game, and we are. Now, it’s about just doing our job. If we do our job in all aspects, take care of the football and eliminate stupid penalties, at the end of the night we’ll have a chance to win this game. The belief is there with our guys and we are playing very confident football. This is going to be a fight for four quarters. I expect nothing less.”
Arkansas Tech defeated then-23rd ranked Henderson State 26-3 in Arkadelphia on Sept. 9, 2017. HSU has since won the last five meetings in the series, four of which have been decided by seven points or less. The Reddies came to Russellville and earned a 27-24 victory over Arkansas Tech last season.
One change in the dynamic going into 2024 is that Scott Maxfield has retired as Henderson State head football coach after 18 seasons on the job. Maxfield brought four conference titles to the Loveliest Village on the Ouachita River and broke Ralph “Sporty” Carpenter’s school record for career wins with 134.
Maxfield was succeeded as HSU head coach by his defensive coordinator since 2017, Greg Holsworth. The Reddies have yet to miss a beat, racking up a 41-17 win over East Central University and a 34-17 victory over Southeastern Oklahoma State University to begin the 2024 season.
Henderson State, the Reddies’ friends across the street at Ouachita Baptist University and Harding University have dominated the Great American Conference since it began competition in 2011. There are 12 GAC football championship trophies in existence. All 12 are in Arkadelphia or Searcy.
Breaking through to join those programs in the upper echelon of the GAC starts with beating one of them. Arkansas Tech will attempt to take that step on Saturday night.
“I’m excited for our kids to be in this position,” said Shipp. “I told them in our team meeting the other day that we haven’t been in a meaningful September game in a long time. This is fun. There are going to be a lot of eyes on this game. That’s exciting for our program. I believe in our kids and our game plan. If we do the right things and take care of that football, I believe in our chances in this one.”
Talk to you on the radio.
Tech Tidbits is a column written by Sam Strasner, ATU director of university relations and radio play-by-play voice for ATU football and basketball.
