SE Returns Home for Halloween Showdown

Football | 10/29/2015 3:26:00 PM

DURANT, Okla. – Southeastern will set out to snap its losing skid when it returns home for a Halloween matchup against Southern Arkansas at 2 p.m. on Oct. 31 at Paul Laird Field.
 
Saturday's gameday is sponsored by Shamrock Bank.
 
The first 100 fans through the gates on Saturday will receive jersey t-shirts courtesy of Mix 96.1 FM and any elementary school students in costume will get free admission to the game.
 
Savage Storm fans can catch the action on the all-new Southeastern Sports Network which features six affiliates throughout the southeastern corner of the state while also broadcasting audio and streaming video live on the internet at GoSoutheastern.com/SESportsNet.
 
Jay Lindly will bring you the action along with Joey McWilliams, Ed Meacham and Bob Sullins with the game carried locally in Durant on Mix 96.1 FM.
 
The Savage Storm come into the weekend with a 3-5 record overall and in Great American Conference play, and are aiming to snap a three-game losing streak that was extended with a 57-37 road loss at Arkansas tech a week ago.
 
The Muleriders enter the contest at 5-3 on the year overall and in conference play and are also coming off a loss, theirs a 29-28 last-second loss at Henderson State.
 
The two teams have made a habit of playing close games, and in the four previous meetings dating back to 2011 the teams have split in wins and no game was decided by more than a touchdown.
 
SE remembers too well the 2014 matchup in which SAU connected on a hail-mary as time expired to snag a 30-29 win in last year's season opener.
 
But it was just a season prior when the teams combined for 106 points and over 1,100 yards of total offense in a 56-50 Southeastern win.
 
The Storm offense this season is putting up 432.8 yards of offense per game and scoring 32.3 ppg, while SAU comes in averaging 488.1 per game and 36.6 ppg.
 
Ryan Polite has powered the SE offense with 2,336 yards of passing and 15 touchdowns while completing 59.5 percent of his passes, and is nearing the 5,000 yard passing mark for his career at Southeastern.
 
Franky Okafor has been his favorite target with 51 catches for 673 yards and seven touchdowns, but Kaymon Farmer has hauled in 48 receptions for 397 yards.  Farmer's 1,582 career yards puts him fifth on the all-time list as a junior.
 
Polite has spread the ball around as well, with five other receivers who have double-digit catch totals.
 
The rushing game has had its highs and lows on the year, but comes into the weekend averaging 140.8 yards per game, led by Ronnie Green who has 477 yards and eight touchdowns on 117 carries.
 
The Storm defense has been stellar against the pass, leading the GAC in pass defense by allowing just 141.8 yards per game through the air. But have given up 218 ypg on the ground for 359.9 yards of total offense, while opponents are scoring 31.3 ppg.
 
The defense is paced by Kevin Jones' 61 tackles, while Nicholas Sierra and Trent Hannah have added a pair of sacks.
 
Raheem Wilson has turned in 35 stops on the year and snagged four interceptions, returning two of them for touchdowns, including a 64 yard return just last week.