Big plays in the passing game and a long defensive touchdown provided the spark and Southeastern cruised past Southern Nazarene, 35-0, at Spend Life Wisely Stadium last week to improve to 3-1 on the season.
The Savage Storm will be in search of a third straight victory when they finish off a two-game homestand Saturday at 2 p.m. against Arkansas Tech.
Things looked a little iffy at the outset when Southern Nazarene took the game’s opening kickoff and ran 15 plays, taking nearly nine minutes off the clock before De’Teaurean Johnson picked off a pass and returned it 85 yards for a Southeastern touchdown.
That pick six seemed to turn the tide dramatically as the Savage Storm punched in two more offensive scores in the second period to claim a commanding 21-0 edge at the halftime break. Jaylen Holloway capped a 75-yard march with a oneyard touchdown burst on the eighth play of the drive and Levay Duncan found Sean Steens for a 78-yard pass to paydirt on the other score.
Southeastern’s opening possession after intermission resulted in another long-distance connection as Duncan found Kameron Lockhart on a 64-yard touchdown strike that tacked onto the cushion. Luke Hohenberger’s one-yard blast punched in the final Savage Storm score midway through the final stanza, wrapping up a more than six-minute drive.
The Savage Storm finished with a 387-279 advantage in total yardage.
“I thought it was the most complete game we have had this year,” head coach Bo Atterberry stated. “I liked the way our defense kept playing and battling against a tough offense to defend. Our offense then got going in the second half with some consistency and played complementary football. We have a lot of things to clean up to try and keep it rolling against Arkansas Tech this coming week though.”
Duncan finished the game going eight for 17 through the air for 226 yards and was also the team’s leading rusher with 30 yards on five totes. Steens and Lockhart were both 100-yard receivers in the game with 106 and 103 yards respectively.
Tony Hamilton fueled another strong Southeastern defensive effort in the shutout with a teamhigh 11 tackles and forced one fumble. Prince Dweh and Dylan Sebock contributed eight stops each with Geddes pitching in seven that included four tackles for loss and a pair of quarterback sacks.
