SE Drops Opener on Game's Final Play

Box Score ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Despite 228 yards rushing from Devlon Wortham, Southeastern saw its season opener dashed on the game's final play in a 30-29 loss at Southern Arkansas in Magnolia, Ark.
 
But even with the rushing performance it was a bad exchange on a handoff with 1:31 to play that will stick with the Storm.
 
SAU would take that turnover and march 61 yards on 10 plays with a pair of fourth-down conversions which included the game's final play which was a 24 yard connection from Si Blackshire to Aaron Johnson on a hail mary in the back corner of the endzone to tie the game at 29-29.  The Dylan Nowak PAT with no time on the clock would seal the 30-29 final.
 
The loss leaves SE 0-1 heading into its home opener on Sept. 13 against Arkansas-Monticello at 6 p.m. at Paul Laird Field.
 
Wortham cracked the 200-yard rushing mark against SAU for the second-straight season and scored three touchdowns.
 
Ryan Polite turned in 75 yards rishing and Ronnie Green added 49 on the ground.
 
Polite was 12-of-23 through the air with just 84 yards, but did find Franky Okafor for a 34 yard touchdown strike.
 
Kaymon Farmer hauled in five receptions and Anthony Foster added three catches.
 
Thomas Curry led the team in tackles with nine, while Chad Tucker was right behind with eight stops as well as a fumble recovery and an interception.
 
Troy Parker added an interception as well while Raheem Wilson blocked a PAT in the third quarter.
 
The two hour lightning delay prior to kickoff showed in the first quarter as neither team could get on the scoreboard and both teams were hit with a fumble likely due to wet conditions.
 
The Storm did its work in the opening frame on the ground with 87 rushing yards thanks to 34 yards on four carries by Polite, 32 yards on four carries by Wortham and Green added  21 yards on three carries.
 
Polite completed a pair of passes to Kaymon Farmer for 13 yards.
 
SAU saw Si Blackshire put up 44 yards through the air on 3-of-4 passing and added 27 yards on 11 carries on the ground.
 
The Muleriders threatened by driving to the Storm five yard line but a mishandled snap was recovered by Chad Tucker.
 
More lightning caused a 51 minute delay early in the second quarter and the teams retook the field with 13:33 to go in the second quarter at 9:27 p.m.
 
After returning to play the teams traded fruitless possessions before the Storm took over at its own 36 yard line and marched 64 yards on eight plays with a pair of third down conversions including the 28 yard touchdown run from Wortham to put SE up 7-0 with 6:09 to go in the half.
 
The Muleriders wasted little time in answering with a four play 75 yard drive that included a 43 yard run by Deandre Jenkins and a 17 yard TD pass from Blackshire to Aaron Johnson to knot the game at 7-7 with 4:33 to go in the half.
 
SE opened the second half with the ball after winning the toss and deferring, but was unable to move the ball on the first drive of the second half.
 
The Muleriders did move the ball with a 23 yard run by Blackshire then an 18 yard connection from Blackshire to Johnson to move the ball to SE's 23 yard line.
 
The Storm defense then stepped up and Tucker picked off an overthrown Blackshire pass in the endzone to end the drive and get the ball back.
 
After SE could do nothing with its ensuing drive and after a 52 yard Jared Heim punt SAU took over at their own 44 yard line and drove the ball 56 yards on five plays before Blackshire capped the drive with a one yard run for a score and a 14-7 lead with 8:10 to play in the third quarter.
 
SE needed exactly one play to answer as Wortham broke free from his own 24 yard line and 76 yards later knotted the score at 14-14 with 7:49 to play in the third.
 
However, SAU would again march the ball down the field and Blackshire would cap an eight play, 74 yard drive with a 10 yard run.
 
Raheem Wilson would break through on the PAT and record a block to keep the score 20-14 with 4:40 to go in the third quarter.
 
With just over a minute to go in the third quarter SE forced its third takeaway when Troy Parker picked off a Blackshire pass of the shoestrings of the receiver at the Storm 40 yard line.
 
Following the pick the Storm took advantage of a 15 yard Green run and a 16 yard Polite run to end the third quarter.
 
Polite then opened the fourth quarter by connecting with Franky Okafor for a 34 yard TD strike to put Southeastern up 21-20 with 14:50 to play in the game.
 
SAU answered with a 71 yard drive that took 11 plays but bogged down inside the SE 15 yard line which led to Dylan Nowak connecting on a 29 yard field goal to stake the Muleriders to a 23-21 lead.
 
Wortham cut loose for his second long TD run of the day by taking the third play of the drive 45 yards for the touchdown and following a Polite to Nick Sioson two-point conversion SE took a 29-23 lead with 8:26 to play.
 
SE would force SAU to punt on its ensuing drive and take over at their own 20 with 5:44 to play looking to run out the clock.
 
Wortham and Polite would lug the ball down the field for the next six play, but on the seventh play the ball would get away from Wortham on the exchange and the Muleriders' DeMario Thomas would recover at the SAU 39 yard line with 1:31 to play.
 
The Muleriders would make the Storm pay by driving the ball 61 yards on 10 plays that ended on a Blackshire connection to Aaron Johnson in the back corner of the endzone and following the Nowak PAT with no time on the clock SAU would steal the 30-29 win.