Defense Pitches Shutout as SE Runs to 27-0 Win at UAM

MONTICELLO, Ark.– The Southeastern offense put up a season-high 263 yards rushing, while the defense pitched its first shutout since 2018 as the Savage Storm picked up a 27-0 victory over Arkansas-Monticello on Saturday afternoon in Monticello, Ark.
 
The win evens the SE record at 3-3 on the season heading into a return home to host Southern Nazarene at 2 p.m. back at Paul Laird Field.
 
"I'm proud of the way those guys stood up there late," said head Coach Bo Atterberry. "They kept throwing it and the ball bounced our way. Very proud of them."
 
"We kept it about us and football," continued Atterberry, "As opposed to the opponent and any of the other conditions outside the playing field. That's what we asked them to do and I'm proud that they executed."
 
The victory marks the fourth-straight versus the Boll Weevils and the first win in the state of Arkansas since a win over UAM on Oct. 29, 2022.
 
The Storm defense held the Weevils to 242 total yards of offense on the day, forcing a trio of turnovers, including an 85-yard pick six by Bryant Watts on the final play of the contest.
 
Braeden Winters logged eight stops with William Wallis right behind with seven, including sack.
 
Watts recorded his pick six to end the game while Michael Hookfin would snag his fourth pick of the season earlier in the fourth.
 
De'Angelo Shanks would corral a fumble forced by Trevion Butler for the third turnover forced in the contest.
 
On offense, it was DJ Brown who tallied 96 yards on the ground on 16 carries, while Jonathan Cobb and Donovan Shannon each recorded 53 yards, Cobb doing it on 10 carries with a pair of touchdowns, while Shannon did it on five totes with a 43-yard run mixed in,
 
Luke Hohenberger would add a rushing score and net 29 yards of rushing while adding 71 yards passing on 6-of-15.
 
Kobe Jennings would lead the receiving corps with three catches and 38 yards.
 
Neither team could find any offensive footing in the first quarter, ending the first frame scoreless and playing most of the second that way before SE would take over with 5:47 to play in the half, going 52 yards in nine plays before Hohenberger punched it in from a yard out on fourth and goal to take a 7-0 lead with 48 seconds to play in the half.
 
The Storm would take that 7-0 lead into the halftime break and add to it on their second offensive drive of the third quarter, putting together a 45-yard scoring drive, taking seven plays and 3:15 before Cobb would score from 14 yards out for a 14-0 lead.
 
SE would take that 14-0 lead into the fourth quarter before taking over at the 12:01 mark and going 51 yards on eight plays and burning 4:36 off the clock before Cobb scored from 15 yards out to push the Storm advantage to 21-0 with 7:25 to play.
 
Hookfin would pick off UAM QB Demilon Brown to end the next drive and Watts would end their final drive by picking off a deflected pass and returning it 85 yards for a touchdown as time expired, making the final score 27-0.
 
Watt's return score is the third defensive touchdown this season, second on an interception, and is the longest interception return for a score since Logan Russell took one 100 yards to the house versus Henderson State in 2013.