Box Score ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Southeastern spent much of the night spinning its wheels and that coupled with seven turnovers allowed Ouachita Baptist to put up 21 points in the second quarter and pull away in the second half as the Savage Storm fell 45-7 on Saturday night in Arkadelphia, Ark.
The loss drops SE to 1-3 on the year and 1-3 in Great American Conference play after losing its third-straight game on the heels of its 56-50 win over Southern Arkansas in the season opener. Meanwhile, the Tigers improve to 3-0 on the year and 3-0 in league play.
The first half looked like something out of an Alfred Hitchcock movie for the handful of Southeastern fans that made the trek to southwestern Arkansas as the first five Storm drive each ended in a turnover, three of which were in the red zone, with one of those being an interception that was returned 99 yards for a touchdown.
To add insult to injury, the first drive of the second half ended on a fumble after SE crossed into OBU territory.
In stark contrast, OBU scored a field goal on its first drive and punted on its second, but then scored on three-straight drives by putting the ball in the end zone.
When the dust settled on the first half SE trailed 24-0with 21 points coming off turnovers.
The Storm held a decisive advantage in plays ran on offense and time of possession, holding the ball for 34:31 and running 102 plays on offense.
SE finished with a 468-to-462 edge in total yards, but averaged 4.6 yards per play on the night as opposed to the Tigers' 8.6 ypp.
There were a sampling of bright spots for the Storm as the dynamic duo of receivers in
Kaymon Farmer and
Anthony Foster continued to show why they are two of the most consistent pass catchers in the GAC. Farmer hauled in 13 receptions for 110 yards, while Foster had 7 for 109. Foster becomes the first receiver to post four-straight 100-yard receiving performances since Romar Crenshaw did it against Tarleton State, Abilene Christian, Northeastern State and Midwestern State during the 2001 season.
The Storm running game bounced back from a tough night against Henderson State, putting up 132 yards total behind a 70 yard night from
Ladarius Abrams and a 53 yard performance by
Devlon Wortham who also scored the team's lone touchdown.
Nick Sioson had his toughest night as SE's starter thus far, going 27-for-53 for 298 yards with no touchdowns and four interceptions while also getting sacked five times.
Backup
CB Cantwell saw his first action of the year in the fourth quarter and was 3-of-6 for 38 yards.
Greg Jackson paced the defense in stops with nine, while
Chad Tucker added six and
Eric Walker chipped in five.
Raheem Wilson forced the only takeaway SE recorded with an interception early in the second half.
The game got off to a slow start with OBU putting up a field goal on its opening drive, but the score would remain 3-0 after the first quarter.
However the story would change in the second quarter as OBU's Devon Cousins picked off Sioson and returned it 99 yard to take a 10-0 lead early in the second.
The Tigers would then take possession on back-to-back turnovers inside SE's own 30 yardline, and each ensuing drive lasted three plays before OBU pushed its lead out to 24-0 where it stood at the half.
Ouachita added a 72 yard Chris Rycraw TD run late in the third quarter to push its lead to 31-0 after three quarters.
Wortham would finally get SE on the board when he capped a 13 play drive that lasted 3:25 and covered 58 yards before he plunged in from one-yard out with 14:23 to play in the game.
The Tigers, however, would add a Steven Kehner to Drew White TD pass with 13:05 to play and a Brandon Marks touchdown run from two yards out with 5:38 remaining to fashion the 45-7 final score.
The Savage Storm will now return home to lick its wounds before hosting Texas A&M-Commerce for Homecoming on Oct. 5 at 2 p.m. at Paul Laird Field in the only non-conference matchup of the year.
