Southeastern Set for In-State Matchup at SWOSU

DURANT, Okla. – Southeastern will hit the road for the second-straight week, this time looking to get back on track when it takes on its first in-state opponent with a trip to Weatherford, Okla., to face Southwestern Oklahoma State at 6 p.m. on Sept. 17.
 
The Savage Storm enter the contest with a 1-1 record on the year following a season opening win and a road-opening loss, and will square off with a Bulldog team who also comes into the weekend with a 1-1 record after a season-opening road loss and a win last week in its home opener.
 
Saturday will be the 90^th meeting between the two programs in what is Southeastern's second-longest-running active rivalry. The Storm hold a 48-38-3 record in the series all time, including a win in last year's matchup in Durant.
 
SE is led on offense by the team's passing attack where Daulton Hatley has completed 68.4 percent of his passes for 541 yards and a pair of scores over two games.
 
He has spread his targets among his top-four receivers who each rank in the Great American Conference top-10 in receptions, led by Marquis Gray who has 13 grabs and 256 yards with both of the team's receiving scores.  Katrell Blakely has added 13 catches as well with 112 yards, while Duce Pittman and Braxton Kincade have each hauled in eight catches for 64 and 56 yards, respectively.
 
While most of the team's yardage has come through the air, the Storm has more touchdowns on the ground as Deundre Wheeler, Ryan Hirt, and Caleb High each have a rushing touchdown, while Wheeler leads all backs with 127 yards on the ground, averaging 5.1 per carry.
 
The Southeastern return game has seen a boost as Kaleb Whitley unleashed a 96-yard kickoff return for a score in the opener and is averaging 53.0 yards per return across three returns.
 
Defensively, Maalik Hall leads the way with 19 total tackles over two games with 2.5 tackles for loss and a pair of sacks.
 
Josh Mulumba and Cameron Tate are next in line with 14 each, while six Storm players have tallied 10-or-more tackles on the season to this point, with Tate and Kevin Simes joining Hall with a sack each.
 
SWOSU opened its season with a 30-13 loss at Henderson State but picked up a 24-20 win over Southern Arkansas in is home opener a week ago.
 
Tylan Morton leads the team in both rushing and passing, posting 39 yards per game on the ground, while passing for 251.5 yards per contest while completing 56.4 percent of his passes with three touchdowns.
 
Isreal Watson has been his top target with 132 yards on 13 catches with a touchdown, while Deshon Moreaux and Jacob Karsak each have a touchdown catch, while Jalen Lampley and Cameron Hairston are each just shy of 100 yards receiving.
 
Lampley also put together a 65-yard punt return touchdown to provide the team a lift on special teams.
 
Keldric Martin and Christian Toeleiu lead the way on defense with 20 tackles apiece, while Courtney Ledyard has logged a pair of sacks. Treymon Fullwood, Derrius Franklin, and Zack Roberts each have an interception on the season.