Season in Review - Part 1

The 2008 season for the Savage Storm was definitely an adventure. A casual look at the schedule before the season began and one at the end with the scores in place would both result in the same description: dichotomy. And when all was said and done on the field, the team should come away with, among other feelings, one of success.
The first five games of the eleven game docket would not really set the tone for the season, but would still go a long way toward showing the Storm where they were in the overall scheme and what they would need to do when the games really counted.

Lots of credit has to go to Coach Ray Richards for putting Tarleton State on the schedule and challenging his team. What a tough way to open the season. It’s enough to get the upper echelon of the Lone Star South as a crossover game, but this game didn’t even count toward the conference standings. The Texans seem to have had Southeastern’s number in recent years and playing them in Stephenville is that much harder.
The Storm held its own for about a quarter and a half, but unfortunately things fell apart when, down only 10-7, they got the ball first and goal at the 1. Brandon McCain misfired in the direction of Daniel Nichols on first down and illegal procedure was called on the next down. The Storm couldn’t make it in on the next two plays and were forced to settle for 3 points. The Texans ran back the ensuing kickoff to unleash the barrage of unanswered points and 41 of them later the final score stood at 51-10. Tarleton players were way too strong to go down with just arm tackles.

When SOSU went to Wichita Falls the next Saturday, they would face a team that hadn’t lost to an Oklahoma institution in its last 15 attempts. The Storm kept that streak going, due in large part to turnovers and like the previous week, an inability to convert on third down (1 for 12 this week, 1 for 11 the week before) or tackle.
It seemed as though Southeastern was clearly the better team; they just couldn’t finish. Baylen Laury had a breakout game with 116 yards rushing and three TD’s. SOSU played tight with the Mustangs throughout and Johnny Seals’ interception and 43 yard return set up Laury’s third touchdown which should have given the Storm a one-point lead. But the extra point attempt was botched and the score remained 20-20 as the two teams went to the fourth quarter.
Each team had three full possessions in the final period and MSU finally broke through with the game winning score with only 21 seconds remaining. Midwestern St. 27, Southeastern 20; the Storm was now 0-2. Knowing the Abilene was remaining on the schedule, it seemed at this point as though the playoffs would have to wait for next year.

Finally, the Storm came home to play before a home crowd ready to get them into the win column and Eastern New Mexico provided a team that would allow for just that. The key factors of the day were Defense and Daniel.
ENMU got off to a 14-0 lead which they would take to the intermission, but it was as much of an indictment on the defense as it looked at first. The first TD came from a 32 yard fumble recovery returned for a score. The next points were notched when the Greyhounds FG attempt went awry and Michael Carrsaco picked up the loose ball and ran it across the goal line. Clearly, these were not convention scores and not entirely the fault of the defense, who had stepped it up and were able to stand their ground and finish the tackles. They would hold Eastern New Mexico scoreless in the second half, which was a sign of things to come.
Daniel Nichols also shined in this contest. His 166 yards receiving was enough to be listed as the 12th best single game receiving in Storm history. Nichols had two touchdowns, including one for 73 yards which was the longest play from scrimmage all year.
The Storm scored 29 unanswered pointed in the second half and won 29-14. The first win of 2008 was finally in the books.

Back at home again, Southeastern welcomed to Paul Laird Field the #4 team in Division II, the Abilene Christian Wildcats. After watching Billy Malone and company, I wanted to see the three teams that people thought were better than them.
The Storm seemed to be able to hang with the Wildcats early, but a disheartening turnover changed all that. Down 7-0, McCain and the offense drove 64 yards to the ACU 6. On second and goal, McCain’s pass was intercepted by Mike Kern at the 1 yard line and returned 99 yards for the touchdown. The entire tenor of the game was changed.
Malone was 17-19 passing for 317 yards, 3 touchdowns, and one interception. While Bernard Scott picked up 161 yards on 14 carries. Both should receive Harlon Hill notice.
Southeastern fell 59-10 and fell to 1-3 on the year. It would be time to start thinking about how to win the North again. The only problem standing in the way of those thought was that SOSU would have to first go on the road to face a Division I opponent the next week.

And what more could be said about Game 5 of the 2008 campaign – it was DI vs. DII. Yes the Northwestern State Demons were I-AA (or FCS, if you prefer), but DI nonetheless. And Southeastern was just outmatched.
Northwestern opened the game with a 95 yards kickoff return. They followed that with a rushing touchdown, a passing touchdown, a touchdown off a blocked punt, and an interception returned for a touchdown. With 12:36 remaining in the second quarter, the Demons had scored 5 TD’s in 5 separate ways and led 35-0.
Ultimately, seven different Northwestern players crossed the goal line and the final score was 63-12. History was made for the Storm and it wasn’t good. The 63 points was the second highest point total ever allowed. And it marked the first time in 97 seasons of SOSU football that a team had given up more than 50 points three times in one season.
The one positive was that the first part of the season was now done. At 1-4, frustration levels were rising, but if the boys could keep their heads collectively, there was still much to play for, and North division play would begin the next week.