DURANT, Okla. – The Muleriders fell today in Durant, Oklahoma by a final of 27-30 to the Southeastern Oklahoma State Savage Storm despite a heroic effort from quarterback
Ryan Shackleton.
The Muleriders got the ball first in the contest and drove down into field goal range but stalled out and attempted a 37-yard field goal. To the SAU despair, the field goal was blocked and returned for a touchdown as the Savage Storm got the scoring going taking a 7-0 lead. The defenses traded blows for the rest of the first quarter as the game went to the second with Southeastern Oklahoma State leading 7-0.
More defense to begin the second was the story of the game, but the Savage Storm broke onto the scoreboard again extending their lead to 14-0. SAU was finally able to break onto the scoreboard late in the second quarter as
Ryan Shackleton connected with Jamarion Washington from 12-yards out as the cut into the lead, 14-6. The extra point attempt was blocked by Southeastern and returned for two points as the contest went to halftime with a 16-6 lead for the Savage Storm.
The SAU defense came out of halftime hungry as they got a stop on the first possession in the second half giving the offense another chance to respond. And respond they did as Shackleton connected with
Cole Cory for 15-yards and his second passing touchdown of the game as SAU pulled within three points, 16-13. The Savage Storm extended their lead yet again with another touchdown, 23-13 on their ensuing drive and from there the offensive flood gate opened.
Ryan Shackleton connected with
Cooper Sanders from 35-yards out for his third passing touchdown of the game as SAU pulled back within three, 23-20.
Both teams traded defensive stops to open the fourth quarter but the Savage Storm found the endzone again extending their lead out to 30-20 with 10:25 to go in the fourth quarter. Shackleton then connected with
Jacob Trussell from 24-yards out for his fourth passing touchdown of the game to pull SAU within three points yet again, 30-27 with 3:27 remaining. The Muleriders defense was unable to get one last stop to end the game as the Savage Storm took home the win.
Ryan Shackleton had the best individual performance by a Mulerider quarterback this year going 24-for-32 for 324 passing yards and four passing touchdowns. His completions, passing yards, and passing touchdowns were all career highs in a game for the Muleriders. Shackleton also tacked on 14 rushing yards.
Individual Performances
Ryan Shackleton: 24-for-32, 324 passing yards, 4 passing touchdowns
Kolby Thomas: 7 catches, 95 yards (Career high)
Jacob Trussell: 3 catches, 83 yards, 1 receiving touchdown
Peyton Sellers: 13 total tackles, 1 TFL
Twan Thompson: 11 total tackles, 0.5 TFL
Up Next
The Muleriders will be back in action for their final game of the season next week in El Dorado, Arkansas as they take on the University of Arkansas-Monticello Boll Weevils in the Murphy USA Classic.
