Coach Gwaine Mathews and the University of Arkansas - Monticello Boll Weevils will try for it's third consecutive win this Saturday as the team travels to Arkadelphia to face Henderson State in a Gulf South Conference contest at Carpenter-Haygood Stadium.

   Standing in it's path is a tough and talented Henderson State team that ranks at or near the top of the Gulf South Conference in most defensive statistical categories. This Saturday, the Boll Weevils will look to pick up it's first win over Henderson State since a 55-50 shootout win in 2003.

   “This Henderson State team is for real,” said Mathews. “They’ve got one of the top defensive units in the conference.”

   Mathews hopes that UAM’s rejuvenated offense will be up to the task this coming weekend in Arkadelphia. The Boll Weevils have turned in back-to-back 40-point performances and have jumped to the top of the GSC’s total offense rankings.

   The Boll Weevils were able to win it's final non-conference game against Missouri-Rolla after racking up nearly 500 yards of offense in a game where even Mathews conceded not everyone had their best day. “I think we started off a bit sluggish offensively at the beginning of the game,” said Mathews. “Scott (Buisson) was just a little off this game. He had some trouble finding his receivers early. They gave us some different defensive looks that we hadn’t seen and it slowed us down.”

   Still, the Boll Weevils were able to hit it's stride on the ground with a 322-yard rushing performance. Tailback John L. Williams rushed for 95 yards and three touchdowns on 21 carries, while Delvin Shipp picked up 82 yards rushing on 15 carries and Johnny Polite added another 58 yards on 12 carries.

   Another bright spot for the Boll Weevils after the Missouri-Rolla game was it's defensive effort late in the game that saw both Lavar Wyatt and Jerome Perez score touchdowns on turnovers for the Boll Weevils. “That’s the first time in my career since I’ve been a defensive coordinator that we’ve scored two defensive touchdowns,” said Mathews. “I think we’re starting to find our niche a little bit.”

   Linebacker Larry White leads the GSC with 44 tackles, averaging 8.8 per contest, and Wes Ables ranks fourth in the league with 38 tackles, averaging 7.6 per game; while Lavar Wyatt leads the GSC in passes defended.

   “Brett Naquin is really starting to play well as well, and Scooter White has really started to elevate his game,” said Mathews. “The play of our defensive backs has really helped us in our two wins.”

   The Boll Weevils will hope to be able to put up points against a Henderson State defense that has only allowed 16 points per game, while trying to contain a talented Reddies offensive unit that has averaged 26.4 points per game.

   The Reddies have turned to the tandem of Garrett Manning and Northwestern State transfer Rock Charpentier at quarterback. Manning is HSU’s second-leading rusher, while also averaging 130 passing yards per game. HSU’s receiving corps is led by Greg Godfrey, who has scored four touchdowns in five games this season.

   The Reddies showed it's resolve this past weekend, rallying from a 17-10 deficit in the fourth quarter with 27 unanswered points to pick up a 37-17 win at West Georgia.

   While the Reddies have consistently improved on offense, Mathews is still most impressed with the dominating HSU defense. “This is a team that is doing it on defense,” said Mathews. “They’ve got a senior-laden defense with a lot of starters back. They’re a very good, very solid, very sound football team.”

   Still, Mathews is hopeful about the Weevils’ chances this coming weekend. “Right now, we have a little confidence and that’s something we haven’t had since I’ve been here,” said Mathews. “I think if we can go out there defensively, get some stops, and not put our offense in a bind, we’ll be okay. If we can hang around, we’re going to be more and more dangerous in this game.”

   “I think our football team knows we have to play for 60 minutes regardless of who we play,” said Mathews. “Other than Sam Houston, this will be the most talented team we’ve played all year; and in some areas I think that they’re better than Sam Houston.

“This is a big ballgame. There’s no doubt about it. The way I look at it if we win this game we could be playing North Alabama at homecoming for a shot at the conference championship. That’s how we’re going to look at it.”

   Kickoff from Carpenter-Haygood Stadium is set for 3 p.m. Saturday. The game will be broadcast live on KHBM-FM 93.7 in Monticello, and simulcast online at www.uamsports.com.