SE Just Short of Downing #9 HSU

DURANT, Okla. – Southeastern forced a pair of turnovers and had ninth-ranked Henderson State on the ropes, but were unable to get on the board in the second half and saw a potential game-winning field goal swing wide with 1:28 to play, sealing a 13-11 loss in the season opener on Thursday night.
 
The loss drops the Savage Storm to 0-1 to open the year and is the seventh-straight loss in the series.
 
Despite allowing 407 yards of total offense, the defense provided stops, holding the Reddies to a 2-of-12 effort on third downs while forcing two turnovers.

The turnovers came on back-to-back second quarter drives, first with Trent Hannah forcing a Jaquan Cole fumble which was recovered by Bobby Jackson, while the next HSU drive ended when Raheem Wilson picked off an Andrew Black pass and returned it 32 yards.
 
The interception would set up the Storm touchdown and also move Wilson to just two picks away from matching the school record of 16 for a career.
 
Wilson led the defensive charge with eight tackles, two for a loss, along with an interception and three pass breakups.
 
Troy Parker added six tackles, with a trio of Jackson, Derrick Leonard and Jaden Moore at five apiece.
 
The defense recorded four sacks on the contest and eight tackles for a loss total.
 
Wilson was not the only one pursuing some all-time history as Kaymon Farmer hauled in a game-high six receptions which ties him with Daniel Nichols for the most receptions in a career with 192.
 
CB Cantwell was efficient in his first career start at quarterback, hitting 16-of-21 for 147 yards and a touchdown, but was picked off once.
 
He was also swift of foot as he was only sacked twice and managed to pick up 20 yards on seven carries.
 
Faremer was his top target with six grabs for 61 yards, while Bryce Steele hauled in five for 59, along with a touchdown and a two-point conversion.
 
Anterric Maxey, Ty Miller and Jordan Hester each snagged a reception as well, while Devlon Wortham picked up two.
 
Ronnie Green led the rushing attack with 76 yards on 19 carries, while Wortham checked in at 51 on 14 carries.
 
Both teams were slow out of the blocks with SE picking up the game's first first down on the fourth overall drive of the contest.
 
After the game's first six drives ended in punts it was HSU which got on the board first when Houston Ray connected on a 31 yard field goal with 1:15 to go in the first quarter.
 
The Storm would answer on its ensuing drive after going 43 yards in 10 plays before Joel Carlos connected on a 34 yard field goal with 13:19 to go in the first half to knot the game at 3-3.
 
The team's traded fruitless drives after that, with SE forcing back-to-back turnovers, and using eight plays and 3:26 following the second one to take the lead on a Cantwell to Steele pass for 19 yards, complete with an acrobatic catch.
 
Jake Walters would roll out on a fake on the ensuing PAT and again find Steele to open up an 11-3 lead with 5:29 to go in the half, and thanks to a Ray missed field goal on the following drive the score would hold at 11-3 at the halftime break.
 
Ray would get another chance in the third, converting from 32 yards to cut the Storm lead to 11-6, which was the score heading to the final quarter.
 
However, HSU would score its touchdown just 56 seconds into the final frame and open up a 13-11 lead.
 
The Storm would twice get into Reddie territory on its final two drives, but come up short, with the last one ending with a Carlos field goal from 34 yards out missing wide left with 1:28 to play, giving the ball back to HSU who was able to run out the clock.