DURANT, Okla. – The Southern Arkansas football team ran into a stingy Southeastern Oklahoma defense on Saturday afternoon at Paul Laird Field as SAU was only able to put 13 points on the board while being held to just 318 yards of total offense as Southeastern Oklahoma defeated SAU by a score of 35-13.
 
The Muleriders (5-4, 5-4 GAC) would find it hardest to get anything going on the ground as the Savage Storm (4-5, 4-5 GAC) forced their way in the SAU backfield on numerous occasions and stopped the Muleriders for lost yardage 10 times for a total of 72 lost yards. While the overall rushing numbers for SAU were low, most of the damage was done in passing situations as the Savage Storm managed to sack Mulerider QB Barrett Renner eight times for 67 lost yards.
 
Despite the slow-going on the offensive side of the ball early in the game, the Muleriders remained in striking distance of the Savage Storm for much of the first half. After surrendering a touchdown on Southeastern's first possession, the Muleriders forced the Savage Storm to punt on their next four possessions while also forcing a field goal attempt, which was blocked, on their fifth possession.
 
After forcing the Muleriders to punt following the blocked field goal, the Savage Storm put themselves up 14-0 with just over two minutes left in the first half after a scoring drive of 73 yards on five plays culminated in a one-yard touchdown rush by Devlon Wortham.
 
On the Muleriders' ensuing possession, however, Renner would quickly march the team down the field to the Southeastern three-yardline for a 1st-and-Goal situation thanks, in part, to 15+ yard completions to Karonce Higgins, Tanner Hudson, and Jonathan Weisheit.
 
The solid drive, which had the Muleriders looking to cut their deficit down to a single touchdown before halftime, would come to a screeching halt one play after making it to the Southeastern three-yardline as Renner was picked off in the endzone for a touchback.
 
Coming out of the break, Southeastern would get the ball back after deferring the opening kickoff and the Savage Storm would use that first possession of the second half to push their lead to 21-0 as Wortham found the endzone once more, this time from three-yards out.
 
The Savage Storm would add another touchdown later in the third quarter to go up 28-0.
 
Following that Southeastern touchdown, SAU would start an 11-play, 69-yard drive that culminated early in the fourth quarter with a two-yard Tevin McDonald rush for the Muleriders' first points of the game. After forcing a quick three-and-out of Southeastern on their ensuing possession, the Muleriders would light up the scoreboard once more as Renner hooked up with his fullback Garrett Turnbull from nine-yards out.
 
Southeastern would then take their next possession and turn it into points to make it a 35-13 game with 4:44 left in the game. The Muleriders would get one more offensive possession, but that drive was ended on sack fumble caused and recovered by Southeastern's Josh Morrison, effectively ending the game.
 
Statistically, Renner would throw for over 300 yards for the fifth time this season as he completed 22-of-41 passed for 320 yards. His leading receiver would be Tanner Hudson as he hauled in eight catches for 111 yards. Defensively, the Muleriders were led by Q'niko Thomas as he registered a career-high 18 tackles with 10 being solo stops.
 
The Muleriders will now return home for the final two games of the season as they are set to play host to East Central this upcoming Saturday starting at 2 p.m. at Wilkins Stadium at Rip Powell Field while also wrapping up the regular season with the annual Battle of the Timberlands Game vs. Arkansas-Monticello on Saturday, November 14.