Storm Tripped Up in Season Opener at SAU

MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Marquis Gray posted 121 yards and touchdown receiving, but three turnovers and five sacks would slow the Southeastern offense on Thursday night in a 34-19 road loss to Southern Arkansas to open the 2023 season in Magnolia, Ark.
 
The loss drops the Savage Storm to 0-1 on the year as the team prepares to return home for the home opener on Sept. 9 versus Henderson State at 6 p.m. at Paul Laird Field.
 
"That clearly wasn't the game plan," said head coach Bo Atterberry, "And that falls solely on my shoulders. If I looked at the snaps I would guess it was flipped from what we would have like to have done. Hats off to them for taking care of business, but we gave them some things that I think we can get better at and not do, lace them up and be ready to go next week."
 
Gray picked up where he left off last season as he hauled in four catches for 121 yards, including a 62-yard touchdown strike.
 
Hunter Hawthorne added 29 yards on two catches, while Gyasi Smith also added a pair of grabs for 23 yards and a touchdown.
 
Duce Pittman and Kaleb Whitley each added a catch.
 
Bryce Fields had highs and lows in his first start for the Storm as he tossed for 201 yards and two touchdowns, including the 62-yard toss to Gray, but threw a pair of interceptions and fumbled once.
 
He was also the team's leading rusher as he posted 28 yards on 12 carries despite losing 24 yards over five sacks.
 
Nate Omayebu also carried 12 times in his first outing for the Storm and finished with 25 yards.
 
Dylan Cox connected on both of his field goal tries, hitting from 41 yards and 37 yards, while Whitley added 85 yards across three kick returns, including a 43-yard effort on his first return of the game.
 
On defense, Jaiveon Gardner, Josh Horlick, and Kevin Simes each logged a sack, while Tre Martin and Donovan McKnight each had a pass breakup.
 
Tyveon Williams and McKnight led the way with eight tackles apiece, while Michael Hookfin, Braeden Winters, and Simes each recorded seven stops.
 
SE saw its first drive coming to an early end on a Fields fumble, but the defense would respond on the ensuing drive by blocking a Hayden Nitz field goal try to keep the game scoreless with 9:35 to go in the first quarter.
 
However, the Muleriders would strike first when they cashed in their second drive with a one-yard OB Jones rush to cap a 10-play, 41-yard drive to take a 7-0 lead at the 4:01 mark.
 
The Storm would even the score on its second drive as Fields would find Gray for a 62-yard touchdown toss to cap a three-play drive that totaled 85 yards to knot the game at 7-7 with 2:32 to play in the quarter.
 
That tie would carry into the second quarter before Jones would again score on the ground from a yard out for SAU to take a 14-7 lead.
 
Southeastern would end its next drive with an interception and the Muleriders would cash in as Nitz would cap a four-play drive with a 49-yard field goa for a 17-7 lead with 10:14 to play in the half.
 
On its next offensive drive, Fields would go 5-of-5 passing with the last one to Smith for a 12-yard touchdown, but a missed PAT would leave the Storm trailing 17-13 with 5:28 in the second quarter.
 
After the teams traded quick possessions, SE would take over with 1:09 to play in the half and move the ball to the Mulerider 23-yard line, setting up a 41-yard Dylan Cox field goal to close the gap to 17-16 at the half.
 
SAU would push its lead out to eight points at 24-16 after Jones connected with Deangelo Wagoner for 10 yards to cap their first drive of the second half.
 
SE would answer on its ensuing drive by going 42 yards on 11 plays with Cox connecting on his second field goal of the night, this one from 37 yards out to close the gap to 24-19 with 6:41 to play in the third quarter.
 
However, that would be the end of the Storm scoring as SAU would tack on 10 points in the fourth quarter to push the finals score to 34-19.