In a game dominated everywhere but the scoreboard, Southeastern couldn’t manage to cash in any scoring opportunity last week as the Savage Storm dropped a 6-0 decision to Arkansas Tech at Paul Laird Field.
The loss dropped Coach Bo Atterberry’s squad to 5-5 on the season heading into a final week showdown at arch-rival East Central on Saturday at 2 p.m.
The 6-0 loss was the program’s first setback in which they allowed less than seven points since another 6-0 setback to Southern Arkansas all the way back in 1973.
“We just shot ourselves in the foot too many times and they took advantage of a few mistakes and timely plays to get a pair of field goals,” Atterberry admitted. “We moved the ball offensively but just couldn’t finish. We have to do a better job finishing drives. Our defense stood up big only giving up just two field goals. I thought those guys played well enough to win.”
Southeastern’s first offensive possession may have been an omen of things to come as they drove from their own 24-yard line to the Tech 28 before turning the ball over on downs.
The two teams had a steady exchange of punts until an impressive Savage Storm drive that began at its own 3 and travelled to the Tech 35 before once again ending on downs after three straight running plays netted nothing.
Tech worked the ball to the Southeastern 35 in the waning seconds, missing a 52-yard field goal as time expired in the first half and headed to intermission scoreless.
A couple of pass completions midway through the third frame fed life into the Wonder Boys’ offense and resulted in a 37-yard field goal to break the shutout with 7:57 left in the quarter.
Andre Williams’ 47-yard kickoff return quickly got the ball back in Arkansas Tech territory and the Savage Storm offense cashed in one fourth down to advance to the 17 before their own field goal try was wide left.
The Wonder Boys appeared headed for another score early in the fourth after a pair of long pass completions. Southeastern’s defense stiffened again inside its own 10 and Dylan Sebock blocked a short field goal try by Tech with 9:28 remaining.
An interception and miscue on an Arkansas Tech punt cost Southeastern on consecutive possessions and the Wonder Boys booted another 42-yard field goal with 5:56 left after gaining only four yards.
Cergio Perez guided the Savage Storm offense deep into Tech territory on their final two possessions only to see the first thwarted on an interception in the end zone and the second when another pass into the end zone was broken up with 10 seconds to play.
D.J. Brown fueled a 171yard rushing attack with 68 yards on 20 carries while Donovan Shannon added 66 on six totes.
Perez was 9 for 14 through the air for 133 yards in relief but was intercepted twice. Victor Taylor was the top target with two grabs for 65 yards.
Jalen Hughes had a teamhigh eight tackles with Jordan Hood adding seven for the Southeastern defense, which allowed just 239 total yards.
The focus now shifts to ending the year on a positive note against East Central Saturday.
“All you have to say is it’s rivalry week,” Atterberry said. “We’ll flush this one quickly and get ready to go to East Central on Saturday.”
