Box Score COMMERCE, Texas - The Southeastern defense held Texas A&M-Commerce to 185 total yards and the Savage Storm offense scored three times en route to a 31-6 trouncing of the Lions in the 2012 season opener at Memorial Stadium in Commerce, Texas.
The win snaps an eight-game losing skid for Southeastern which dated back to the final eight games of the 2011 season.
The Storm will be back on the field on Sept. 15 when they open the home portion of the schedule at 6 p.m. against Southern Arkansas at Paul Laird Field.
Izzy Eziakor and
Josh Garcia each turned in five tackles to lead the team and
Houston Slemp turned in put SE on the board with a 79-yard interception return.
The Storm offense turned in 335 yards of total offense highlighted by 195 yards on the ground.
CJ Kirk led the way with 80 yards and two scores on 15 carries, while
Ladarius Abrams chipped in 70 yards on 15 carries.
Jercolby Bradley was solid in his first effort since taking over the quarterback duties this fall, completing 10-of-16 passes for 140 yards and one touchdown. He added 27 yards rushing on 14 carries.
Keelen Green hauled in a team best three receptions and had 35 yards, while
Anthony Gale had a team-high 47 yards and the lone receiving score.
The Storm dominated the game in time of possession with 39:52 which included a monster 19 play, 99 yard, 12:00 drive in the fourth quarter to put the final points of the game on the board.
Slemp put Southeastern on the board with a 79 yard interception return with 46 seconds to play in the first quarter. He turned in the first interception return for a score since Noe Lopez went 60 yards for a score against Central Oklahoma in 2009.
Chris Peoples stretched the lead to 10-0 at the 8:16 mark of the second quarter with a 28 yard field goal that capped a 43 yards drive that took 12 plays.
SE would add more points just before the halftime break when Kirk scored the first of his two TD's on a 23 yard trot with 1:50 remaining in the half.
The Lions would get on the board first in the second half when Tevin Godfrey hauled in a three-yard pass from Deric Davis, but failed on the two point try to leave SE up 17-6.
That would stretch to 24-6 less than two minute later when Bradley would find Gale for a 38 yard touchdown pass, the first of his career.
CJ kirk would finish the scoring off by capping the massive 99 yard drive in the fourth quarter with a one yard run that fashioned the final of 31-6.
The Storm defense only recorded 44 tackles as they held TAMUC to just 43 offensive plays on the day.
Russell Hurst and
Dominique Turner each recorded a sack, while five different players broke up passes on the night.
