Southeastern’s defense turned in its fourth straight strong performance, scored a touchdown and pitched its first shutout of the season on Saturday with a 27-0 road throttling of Arkansas-Monticello.
The Savage Storm yielded less than 250 total yards for the fourth game in a row, holding the Boll Weevils to 242 in the contest and out of the end zone. Monticello’s two scoring threats deep into Southeastern territory both ended in fourth period interceptions, including Bryant Watts’ walk off 85-yard pick six on the game’s final play.
With the victory, Southeastern evened its record at 3-3 and returns home on Saturday to face Southern Nazarene at 2 p.m.
“I’m proud of the way the defense stood up there late,” head coach Bo Atterberry commented. “They kept throwing it and the ball bounced our way. I was very proud of them.”
Following a scoreless opening frame, the Savage Storm hit paydirt in the closing minute of the first half with a nine-play, 52-yard drive that culminated in Luke Hohenberger’s one-yard touchdown plunge. Dylan Cox’s extra point made it a 7-0 halftime lead.
Atterberry’s squad added to the advantage midway through the third quarter with Jonathan Cobb’s 14-yard touchdown that capped a seven-play march that covered 45 yards to double the score.
Cobb added a 15-yard touchdown with 7:25 remaining in the fourth to finish off another 51-yard, eight-play drive that was once again set up by the stingy Southeastern defense.
The Savage Storm continued to run the ball extremely well with 265 yards on the ground topped by D.J. Brown, who had 16 carries for 96 yards. Donovan Shannon tallied 53 yards on five totes, including a nifty 43-yard burst.
Cobb chipped in 53 yards on 10 attempts while Jason Ngwu ran six times for 34 yards and Hohenberger added 12 carries for 29 yards.
Hohenberger also threw for 71 yards with Kobe Jennings snagging three passes for 38 yards. Jax Sternberger had one catch that accounted for 22 yards.
The Southeastern defensive effort included eight tackles for loss and a pair of sacks. Braeden Winters posted eight tackles, William Wallis had seven and Michael Hookfin chipped in six stops.
