Savage Storm Drop Road Opener at No. 8 Harding

SEARCY, Ark. – Southeastern scored on its opening drive but saw No. 8 Harding score the next 38 points as the Savage Storm would suffer a 38-13 loss in its first road contest of the season on Saturday night in Searcy, Ark.
 
The loss drops the Savage Storm to 1-1 on the year heading into the second of back-to-back road contests with a Sept. 17 trip to Weatherford, Okla., to take on Southwestern Oklahoma State.
 
The SE offense finished with 282 yards of total offense, with Daulton Hatley picking up 162 yards through the air on 18-of-30 passing with a touchdown, while Weston Conaway came on for the final drive, hitting on 4-of-5 passes for 52 yards.
 
Marquis Gray was the team's top target, hauling in four catches for 87 yards with a touchdown.
 
Katrell Blakely also pulled in four catches, finishing with 12 yards, while 10 others snagged at least one catch.
 
Ryan Hirt would finish he game as the leading rusher for Southeastern, posting 29 yards on six carries with a touchdown, while Deundre Wheeler added 27 yards on 11 carries and Jason Ngwu scampered for 23 on three carries.
 
Defensively, SE was paced by Josh Mulumba who posted 10 tackles to lead all defenders, while Jaylen Shaw and Maalik Hall added six stops each, with Micah Rogers and Conner Swope at five apiece.
 
Southeastern would receive the opening kickoff and march the ball 82 yards on 12 plays, converting a pair of third downs before Hatley connected with Gray on a 33-yard touchdown pass on fourth down to take a 7-0 lead with 8:06 to play in the first quarter.
 
The Bisons would answer on their ensuing drive, capping a quick 2:07 drive with a 57-yard Jhalen Spicer run to tie the game at 7-7 with 5:59 to go in the quarter.
 
SE would see its next drive with a turnover on downs, with HU coming back down the field before connecting on a 30-yard Grant Ennis field goal, giving the home team a 10-7 lead with 14:56 to go in the second half.
 
The teams would then trade missed field goals, with the Storm missing on a 48-yard try before the Bisons were off the mark on a 45-yard attempt.
 
SE would march back across midfield on its next drive but would see that drive in with another turnover on downs, with Harding taking over at its own 44 and scoring six plays later on a 29-yard Spicer run, giving the Bisons a 17-7 lead at the half.
 
HU would score on its first drive of the second half, and after a missed field goal for the Storm, the Bisons would put together an 8:27 drive before scoring with 14:08 to play in the game, taking a 31-7 lead.
 
Harding would add another fourth-quarter score with a 6:03, 11 play drive to push the Storm deficit to 38-7.
 
Southeastern would take the ensuing drive and move the ball 71 yards on 11 plays with Hirt capping the drive with a one yard touchdown run.