Southeastern’s win over Texas A&M-Commerce has given the Savage Storm coaching staff a good chance to get an idea of what this team can do on the field.

With an early bye week, Coach Ray Richards has taken a look at the upcoming home opener against Southern Arkansas on Saturday at Paul Laird Field.

Southern Arkansas opened their season by visiting Texas College in Tyler. Of course, the only thing Richards can control is his own team’s preparation.

“(Texas A&M-Commerce) was a good team win for us,” he said. “Everybody contributed, it wasn’t a one-sided thing. It wasn’t flashy, it was just solid.

“The defense, early on, played well,” he said. “We had a couple penalties and a poor punt, some bad field position to start the game. But then we got the big interception. In the second half, our offense did a great jo of moving the ball. We were able to eat clock and shorten the game.”

It seems Huouston Slemp’s big INT was the turning point in the Savage Storm win. “That was the play of the game. That got us rolling,” Richards said. “I think we took over the game from that point on.”

C.J. Kirk had a 79-yard TD called back, which also sliced his yardage in half for the game. Still, he made 80 yards on 15 carries. Ladarius Abrams had 70 on 15 carries, and Jercolby Bradley had 14 carries, showing that the Storm have many options when it comes to running the ball.

Richards said he has run the team through a normal practice schedule last week, and after a true weekend off, they went back at work Monday preparing for the Muleriders. Southeastern won the 2011 contest 24-21.