Football | 11/14/2014 12:35:00 PM
DURANT, Okla. – Southeastern will take the field for the 98
th time against East Central at 2 p.m. on Nov. 15, but Saturday's game will also have a sense of new as well with the long-time rivalry getting a new name as the Great American Classic presented by Landmark Bank.
The Storied rivalry is the second-longest collegiate rivalry in the state of Oklahoma behind the Bedlam Series played by Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, and is currently the fourth most played rivalry between Division II teams.
The first meeting came in 1909 when SE came away with a 49-0 victory, and over the 105 years since it has not only become one of the most played rivalries, it has become about as even as a series can be.
In the 97 previous meetings, Southeastern has won 45, ECU 46 and the teams have played to six ties.
The Tigers have won the last four contests dating to the 2010 season, with that win snapping a six-game Savage Storm winning streak.
SE will be looking for its seventh win overall on the season which would match the most wins since the 2009 season when the Storm posted a 7-4 record.
A win over ECU would also tie the teams at 6-4 in league play in a tie for fourth in the Great American Conference standings which would also mark the highest finish the Storm have posted since the formation of the conference.
Southeastern has turned in a fairly balanced attack on the year, leaning slightly toward the pass with
Ryan Polite averaging 227.9 yards per game passing with 17 touchdowns while completing 59.7 percent of his passes.
He has a foursome of favorite targets led by
Anthony Foster who has 48 catches on the season for 650 yards and three scores.
Franky Okafor is next in yardage with 436 yards on 27 catches, while
Kaymon Farmer is next in receptions with 41 for 370 yards and
Layton Dworaczyk leads the team in receiving TD's with five on 29 catches and 327 yards.
The Storm has also been stout on the ground with
Devlon Wortham leading the way with 734 yards on 112 carries with 10 touchdowns, while
Ronnie Green has been an effective change of pace with 553 yards and five TD's on 123 carries.
The SE defense is allowing 26.8 ppg, but has moved into third in the GAC in passing defense while allowing just 192.9 yards per game passing.
Thomas Curry leads the defense with 56 tackles on the year along with six tackles for loss, an interception and a fumble recovery, while
Chad Tucker is at 50 stops with an interception and a fumble forced and recovered.
The team has forced 20 turnovers on the season, with nine interceptions and 11 fumbles recovered.
The Tigers come into the contest at 6-3 overall and in conference play on the season, but were handed a 41-14 defeat against Harding last time out.
ECU is averaging 32.7 ppg with the offense led by Spencer Bond who has tossed for 2,095 yards and 16 touchdowns while completing 54.9 percent of his passes, while on the ground he has added 421 yards rushing and a team-best eight scores.
The Tigers have eight receivers with double-digit catches and more than 100 yards receiving on the year, led by Juwan Dotson who has 450 yards on 39 catches with four touchdowns. Dacid Moore leads the receiving corps in TD's with eight.
JoJo Snell paces the team's rushing attack with 683 yards on 88 carries with six touchdowns.
The ECU defense allows 27.3 ppg and is led by Jameel Whitney who has tallied 95 tackles along with an interception and a pair of forced fumbles.
The Tigers have forced 21 turnovers, with 14 coming via interceptions and another seven by fumble recovery.
