by leslie boyd

sports editor

It was another tough loss at Paul Laird Field Saturday as Southeastern fell to Northeastern 38-28. True to this season’s tradition, another game decided in just ten points or less.

The loss drops SE to 2-3 on the season and gives the RiverHawks a 44-41-4 advantage in the all-time series.

“We didn’t play well today,” said head coach Ray Richards. “We couldn’t defend or protect that ball.”

After a scoreless first quarter, NSU posted first in the second when Johnny Deaton found Jermaine Sherman for a 20-yard touchdown.

Deaton handled the ball himself just under five minutes later with a one-yard quarterback sneak that put the Storm in a 14-0 hole.

With 4:02 remaining in the half, Drew Patton converted an 18-yard field goal to put NSU up 17-0.

That was when Bryant answered with an 87 yard kickoff return for a score that trimmed the deficit back to 17-7 with 3:47 to play in the half.

The RiverHawks would get another score, however, with another Deaton one-yard plunge to take a 24-7 lead at halftime.

The Storm returned with a fire, but the three-touchdown rally was not enough to overcome the RiverHawks.

Southeastern’s Don Brown got the first score of the second half and his fourth of the season with a five-yard run.

NSU quickly answered with 13 seconds to play in the third quarter when Deaton passed to Sean Donohue for an eight-yard strike that further stretched the lead 31-14.

Bryant got back into the endzone with a 31-yard run, but Northeastern once again responded when Deaton tossed for nine-yards to Sherman for the second time on the day.

Turner found Shelley with 59 seconds to play to close the score to 38-28, but that was as close as Southeastern could get, ending the game with just ten points deciding.

CJ Kirk led the Storm rushing with 72 yards on 16 carries, while Jamaal Evans contributed 51 yards on 13 carries in his return from an early-season injury.

“He looked like he was hurting a little bit,” said Richards of Evans.

Brandon Bryant was the only SE running back to find his way into the endzone, finishing the day with three carries for 37 yards and a score.

“He’s a big strong, fast kid,” said Richards.

Bryant also had the big SE play, taking a kickoff return 87 yards for a score with 3:47 to play in the first half. His was the first kick return touchdown since Jerome Hewitt returned one 97 yards against Texas A&M-Commerce in 2009.

Logan Turner struggled for the second straight week, finishing with a 14-for-33 performance for 125 yards, a touchdown and an interception.

His top target on the day was Ryan Shelley who hauled in five catches for 45 yards and one touchdown, while Tiquarrio Combs snagged three catches for 35 yards.

On the defensive, Izzy Eziakor and Houston Slemp led the way with nine tackles each, while Dominique Turner turned in three tackles, including a sack and two tackles for a loss.

Greg Jackson and Jacoby Sanders each had a pair of pass breakups.

The Storm will be back in action at 2 p.m. on Oct. 15 when it hosts Henderson State at Paul Laird Field for Homecoming.