HAROLD HARMON

Sports Writer

Football comes Storming back Saturday as coach Ray Richards’ team hosts Southern Arkansas at 6 p.m. in 2012’s first Great American Conference game.

It will be 25 percent of the home schedule with Southeastern playing only four games here this year and all four being GAC contests. The other three are Ouachita Baptist for homecoming, Southwestern and Harding.

The Savage Storm blew into Texas September 1 and did some damage at Texas A&M University-Commerce to the tune of a 31-6 lashing.

Southeastern was idle last week as Southern Arkansas opened the campaign with a 56-0 demolition of Texas College in Tyler.

The latest GAC standings show five undefeated teams after two weeks with the Storm on the sweet side of the ledger.

Harding leads the way at 1-0, followed by Henderson State and Ouachita Baptist at 2-0 each, Southeastern and Southern Arkansas at 1-0 apiece.

Arkansas Tech, Arkansas-Monticello and East Central are tied at 1-1. Southwestern is 0-1, Northwestern and Southern Nazarene are knotted at 0-2.

Northwestern and Southern Naz are not eligible for the 2012 GAC championship due to their provisional status.

The preseason poll had Henderson State picked to win it with East Central and Ouachita Baptist tied for second. Harding was fourth, Arkansas Tech fifth and Southeastern, Arkansas-Monticello, Southern Arkansas and Southwestern were in a four-way tie for sixth.

At least part of that four-way tie will be decided here Saturday afternoon when the Savage Storm and Muleriders jump on each other.

SoArk had 510 yards of total offense against the Texas State Steers with junior quarterback Tyler Sykora hitting 15 of 23 passes for 314 yards and four touchdowns against one interception. His TD passes covered 39, 40, 51 and 78 yards.

Senior receiver Rafael Thomas had seven catches for 166 yards and three touchdowns.

The Mulerider defense allowed 220 yards to the Steers with most of that in the first half. In the last half, Texas State had 45 total yards with only 17 rushing.

The ’Riders average 540 yards in total offense to SE’s 335. The Storm allow 185 to SAU’s 220.

Rushing offense shows Southern Arkansas at 203 to SE’s 195, less than a first-down difference. Southeastern has a solid margin in rushing defense, giving up 47 yards to SAU’s 125.

The Muleriders average 337 yards passing to Southeastern’s 140. Pass defense favors SoArk 138-95.

Saturday will deliver the first football home game and first GAC game. The teams were tied for sixth in the preseason poll. Both schools are Blue and Gold. Both used to be known as SSC.

We were Southeastern State College, they were Southern State College. Both hate to lose. Both love to win.

Kickoff is at 6 p.m. Saturday.

IF GAC FOOTBALL isn’t enough, you’re in luck.

Southeastern Tailgating 2012 starts three hours prior to kickoff and the venue is only a medium-range field goal south of Paul Laird Field.

All Storm (or just good food and fun) fans are encouraged to come out early. No reservation needed, but you should show up early enough to claim a good location. Everyone is urged to set up grills or unpack picnic meals and pig out in SE’s new tradition of tailgating. The goal, other than having a great time, is to be the best tailgating school in the Great American Conference.

For those who prefer eating to cooking, there’s something for you, too. Sodexo, Southeastern’s food service, will be on site with goodies to purchase.

Purchasing food defeats the purpose of the big tailgate scene, so come on out, get your grill going and claim bragging rights to the best groceries in Tailgate Alley.

If we can’t tailgate better than East Central, we deserve to get out tailgates kicked.

There will be live entertainment leading up to another new Southeastern tradition – The Walk – that has the football team working its way through the fans and onto the field.

SOUTHEASTERN SOFTBALL is back in action Saturday at the SE field on N. 1st Avenue.

Four teams will be here for the shootout with coach Ron Faubion’s young ladies hosting Murray State, Navarro and NE Texas Juco.

Southeastern will open play against Murray State at 8:30 a.m.

It’s another chance for LadyStorm fans to get a preview of the 2013 team that will feature eight new players.