Storm Stumble on Homecoming vs. #23 HSU

DURANT, Okla. – Southeastern's offense put together 405 total yards but was unable to overcome four second-half turnovers in a 41-27 Homecoming loss to No. 23 Henderson State on Saturday afternoon at Paul Laird Field.
 
The loss drops the Savage Storm to 107 overall and in Great American Conference play heading into its final road game of the season, a Nov. 2 trip to Russellville, Ark., to take on Arkansas Tech at 2 p.m.
 
SE put together a balanced offensive effort with 405 total yards of offense that included 183 yards rushing and 222 yards through the air.
 
Daulton Hatley got his second-straight start at quarterback and threw for 222 yards and two touchdowns while completing 17-of-40, but was picked off four times, all in the second half.
 
Felton Hatcher was his top target on the day with five grabs for 102 yards and a touchdown, while Katrell Blakely hauled in four catches for 48 yards and a score.
 
The ground attack was led by Rashod Polk who reeled off 71 yards on seven carries, averaging 10.1 ypc with a long of 41 yards, while Ryan Taylor had 63 yards on eight totes with a 47 yard touchdown run.
 
Defensively, Conner Swope made his return to the lineup and picked up where he left off with a game-high 13 tackles, while Scooter Baker added 10.
 
Jeremiah Baltrip added nine stops along with an interception and a pass breakup, while Keelan Chilton added an interception as well, returning it 33 yards, while also breaking up a pass.
 
Andrew McBeth logged a sack as well.
 
Pablo Tarango collected a pair of field goals, hitting from 24 yards and 37 yards while also going 3-of-3 on PAT.
 
The Storm defense held on the opening drive of the game and forced a three-and-out and after an 11 yard punt the offense took advantage of the excellent starting field position, driving 47 yards on nine plays capped by a Hatley to Blakely seven yard TD strike for the early 7-0 lead.
 
The Reddies answered on the ensuing drive with a 15-play, 75 yards drive that took 6:36 off the clock and was capped by a Logan Moragne one yard TD run to even the score at 7-7.
 
On the second play of the second quarter the Storm would regain the lead as Tarango would connect on a 24 yard field goal at the 14:53 mark to go ahead 10-7.
 
HSU would again respond and take the following drive 76 yards, this time on 10 plays before Querale Hall scored from seven yards out to put the Reddies ahead 14-10 with 9:19 to go in the half.
 
After a fruitless SE drive, Henderson State would put together another 70-yard drive capped by a Richard Stammetti pass to L'liott Curry for a three-yard TD, but the PAT was off the mark leaving the score 20-10 with 3:33 to play in the half.
 
Southeastern would take advantage of the remaining clock, taking its next drive 82 yards on seven plays with the highlight coming on a 47 yard Taylor TD run to close the gap to 20-17 with 46 seconds to play in the half.
 
That would hold to be the halftime score.
 
The teams traded punts to open the second half, but then HSU would snag its first interception, returning it to the Storm 15 yard line and four plays later Stammetti would find Curry for a three yard score to take a 27-17 lead with 9:21 to play in the third quarter.
 
After the teams again traded punts the Storm would suffer its second turnover of the quarter as this one was returned by Mercardo Anderson 17 yards for a touchdown to open up a 34-17 lead with 5:29 to go in the third.
 
Southeastern would collect points on its next drive as Tarango would cap a 55 yard drive with a 37 yard field goal to close the score to 34-20 with 2:05 to go in the third quarter.
 
The Reddies would tack on one more score early in the fourth quarter as Stametti hit Chase Lodree for a 20 yard TD connection to take a 41-20 lead with 11:47 to play.
 
The Storm responded on its next drive as an eight-play, 75 yard drive was capped by a Hatley to Hatcher 15 yards touchdown strike to cut the deficit to 41-27 which would prove to be the finals core.