Football Returns Home to Face Bison

Football | 9/18/2015 3:18:00 PM

DURANT, Okla. – Southeastern football returns home for Parent's, Friends and Family Day looking to shake a pair of narrow losses to start the season when it host conference newcomer Oklahoma Baptist at 6 p.m. on Paul Laird Field Saturday.
 
Saturday's game day is presented by Stuteville Auto Group, while Tailgate Alley, which begins at 3 p.m. on University Ave. in front of the field, will feature a barbecue cook-off and a concert by Reckless Kelly.
 
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.
 
SE comes into the weekend at 0-2 on the season and in Great American Conference play after back-to-back one-score losses to Henderson State and Ouachita Baptist.
 
In its 42-40 loss at OBU, the Storm rallied from a 35-13 deficit with 27 fourth-quarter points, missing a two-point conversion try after a TD with 31 seconds to play that would have tied the game.
 
Ryan Polite tied the 10^th best single game passing mark with 367 yards on 28-of-42 passing with three touchdowns, while on the year he is completing 64.2 percent of his passes for 662 yards and four scores across from just one pick.
 
His favorite targets have been Kaymon Farmer and Franky Okafor with 16 and 13 catches, respectively, while Okafor has 195 yards and three touchdowns in two games, while three others have at least 100 yards receiving.
 
The rushing attack has gotten off to a slow start for the season, with Ronnie Green leading the way early with 115 yards on 30 carries with a pair of scores in two games.
 
Kevin Jones is leading the defense with 13 tackles on the year, while defensive backs Rob Gardner and Raheem Wilson are right behind with 10 each.
 
Wilson and Jacoby Sanders each have an interception, while SE has three fumble recoveries, including last week's 73 yard fumble return for a score by Thomas Curry.
 
The SE offense is averaging 447.0 yards per game in the early going this season, while the defense has been improved, holding foes to 338.5 yards per game, despite getting outscored.
 
The Bison come into their third-ever GAC game as a tale of two games, opening the season by nearly knocking off nationally-ranked Harding in overtime, falling 20-19, before hitting the road to suffer a 50-7 loss at the hands of Arkansas Tech last week.
 
OBU is getting outscored 35.0-to-13.0 on the year, while splitting the offense evenly between the passing and running game, posting 97.0 yards per game through the air and 96.0 per game on the ground, while allowing foes an average of 475.0 yards of total offense.
 
Isaiah Mallory leads the rushing game with 40.5 yards per game and a score, while Dezmond Stegall and Jacob Ellis have each added a rushing touchdown.
 
Stegall has completed 62.1 percent of his passes on the year for 95 yards and a touchdown, while Blake Woodard has a 36.0 percent completion percentage for 97 yards.
 
Stephan Turner has been the top target with 11 catches for 87 yards, while Derek Serowski has the team's lone receiving TD.
 
Zach Bishop leads the defense with 20 tackles, while Jailen Garrett has added 17 stops and an interception.