Savage Storm Fall to No. 8 Bisons

SEARCY, Ark. – Southeastern saw a 17-14 lead after one quarter disappear as No. 8 Harding scored 49 unanswered points over the final three quarters as the Savage Storm fell 63-17 on Saturday night in Searcy, Ark.
 
The loss drops the Storm to 4-3 overall and in Great American Conference play heading into a home matchup with Arkansas Tech at 2 p.m. on Oct. 22 at Paul Laird Field.
 
Ronnie Green led the SE offense with 116 yards on 17 carries with a score and a long run of 47 yards.
 
Devlon Wortham added 58 yards on just three carried with a 43 yard run.
 
SE finished with 203 yards on the ground.
 
CB Cantwell went 16-of-28 through the air for 174 yards and a score.
 
Anterric Maxey-Meshileya finished as the leading receiver with five catches for 83 yards and a touchdown.  Kaymon Farmer added five catches of his own for 24 yards, while Ty Miller hauled in three for 28.
 
Michael Sumrall lead the defense with seven stops, while Gant Kiolbassa recorded six tackles.
 
Raheem Wilson and Orlando Swift chipped in five stops, with Wilson recording a tackle for loss, as did Trent Hannah and Justin Young.
 
Young also recorded a forced fumble which was recovered by Bobby Jackson.
 
Joel Carlos finished the day with a pair of PATs and a 22 yard field goal while averaging 37.7 per punt on six kicks.
 
Harding scored first after taking its opening possession 50 yards on six plays for a 7-0 lead just under three minutes into the contest.
 
The Storm found its answer on the ensuing drive as Green would break free for a 47 yard score to knot the game at 7-7at the 10:54 mark.
 
After Jake Walters would recover his own onside kick at the SE 48 yard line the Storm would need just two plays before Cantwell would connect with Maxey-Meshileya for a 44 yard touchdown and a 14-7 lead at the 10:14 mark of the first quarter.
 
The Bisons would use six plays to move the ball 46 yards and even the game at 14-14 with a Michael Latu rushing score with 6:58 to go in the quarter.
 
After starting the following drive at its own five yard line a 43 yard Wortham run would move the Storm to midfield and they would drive down to the HU five before Carlos hit from 22 yards to take a 17-14 lead which would be the score after one quarter.
 
However, on the first play of the second quarter Harding would score just its third touchdown through the air on the year to take a 21-17 lead.
 
They would add touchdown runs of 74 yards and 42 yards while forcing the Storm to punt, opening up a 35-17 lead midway through the second quarter.
 
The next two Southeastern drive would end in interceptions, with the Bisons taking advantage of the short field following the second one to score on the ground and take a 42-17 lead.
 
SE would be forced to punt on its final drive of the half with just seconds ticking on the clock, but HU would add one more sting with a 69 yard punt return TD to leave the Storm in a 49-17 hole at halftime.
 
HU would tack on another score in the third to open up a 56-17 advantage.
 
Justin Young would force a Terrence Dingle fumble late in the third quarter which was recovered by Bobby Jackson, but the Storm was unable to take advantage of it.
 
The Bisons would add a fourth quarter score to fashion the final of 63-17.