SE Set For Great American Classic

DURANT, Okla. – Southeastern will close out the 2018 regular season on Nov. 10 at 2 p.m. when it travels the short drive up the road to Ada, Okla., to take on long-time rival East Central for the 102^nd time in the Great American Classic.
 
The Savage Storm come into the final weekend of the season with a 5-5 record on the season and looking to snap a three-game losing skid, losing those games by a combined 21 points.
 
The Tigers come into the annual rivalry event off a win over Arkansas tech, but are 3-7 overall on the year.
 
The SE-ECU rivalry is the second longest in-state rivalry in Oklahoma behind the annual Bedlam matchup – also being played on Nov. 10 – and Saturday's meeting will be the 102^nd in history.
 
Southeastern took the first meeting 49-0 back in 1909 and the series has been a brawl ever since, with the Storm using a four-game winning streak from 2014 through 2017 to regain the series lead, holding a 49-46-6 advantage.
 
Over the last eight meetings, the average margin of victory has been 6.9 points, with each team putting together a four-game streak.
 
This season the Storm will take its nationally-ranked defense on the road looking to shut down the Tiger offense.
 
SE's pass defense is the top rated unit in all of Division II, holding opponents to 119.1 yards per game through the air, while its overall total defensive yardage allowed ranks sixth at 249.6 per game and its scoring defense is ninth in the nation with 15.6 ppg allowed.
 
Conner Swope paces the defense with 103 tackles per game, matching the best mark posted by an SE player in the DII era. He is joined by Seu Luafatasaga who has tallied 60 stops on the year, including seven for a loss and added a pair of interceptions, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. He also returned a fumble for the only defensive score of the season.
 
Daquawn Brown and Luke Craddock lead the secondary with Brown ranking 14^th in the nation and tops in the GAC in passes defended with 14, while Craddock has added five and an interception.
 
The offense has done most of its damage via the air as Rollin Kinsaul has averaged 164.6 ypg passing while completing 59.4 percent of his passes with six touchdowns.
 
His top target a week ago was Braxton Kincade who had 100 yards on five catches, bringing his total to 483 yards on 37 receptions this season.
 
Kenneth Burks leads the rushing attack and has scored 11 touchdowns on the ground this season while putting up 687 total yards.
 
ECU comes into the weekend averaging 15.4 ppg on offense while allowing opponents 28.1 ppg.
 
The Tigers have put up 120.8 ypg through the air with David Cornwell leading that charge with 702 yards and six touchdowns while completing 47.7 percent of his passes.
 
His biggest threat on the season has been Trinity Benson who has 42 receptions for 484 yards and four scores.
 
On the ground, Tyson Jones has put up 353 yards and three scores, while Benson has added 329 yards rushing and five touchdowns.
 
Justin Hayden leads the defense with 73 tackles and has added three interceptions, while Andre Shelton and RJ Williams are both at 65 stops or more.