Spring Practice Update - Southeastern Oklahoma

DEFENSE SWARMS "O", HOLDS ON FOR 28-26 WIN

From GoSavageStorm.com
DURANT, Okla. – Despite a light rain and hovering clouds, the 2008 Southeastern Oklahoma State spring game went on as scheduled with the defense pulling out a 28-26 win.

“It was a good game,” said head coach Ray Richards, “They had a lot of fun, they played hard and they did a lot of good things. The weather really cooperated with us and we really had a successful spring.”

The contest featured a hybrid scoring system to help determine a winner as the offense all wore white, while the defense wore blue.

Offensively, a touchdown was worth six points as usual, with two-point conversions still counting as two. The offense was also able to pick up three points when they could move inside the 20-yard-line and not go for it on fourth down.

Defensively, a forced turnover was worth six points and a three-and-out was worth three. They could also pick up one point for stopping the offense outside the 20 yard line.

The offense came out firing and drove 70 yards to score, taking an 8-0 lead on the two-point conversion.

The defense followed by swarming the offense on consecutive possessions and at one point had built a double-figure lead.

The offense, however, found its stroke down the stretch scoring on back-to-back drives and took a one point lead.

A late stop by the defense picked up the three valuable points that gave the “D” the 28-26 win.
“They adjusted and got used to it,” said Richards about the quarterbacks dealing with the wet weather, “They did a great job with it and we scored some points and it was good to see that.”

The spring game brings to a close the spring session of practice and will now leave players, coaches and fans alike looking forward to August.

“Outstanding,” said Richards about the spring practice, “We got a lot done. We got to evaluate a lot of young kids and we had a lot of guys step up and play well.”

The fans’ next opportunity to see the Savage Storm in action will come on August 28 at 7 p.m. when SOSU opens the 2008 season on the road at Tarleton State at 7 p.m.

The season will continue on September 6 again on the road at Midwestern State at 7 p.m., before returning to Paul Laird Field on September 13 at 6 p.m. for the home opener against Eastern New Mexico.

The Storm will host Abilene Christian on September 20 at 6 p.m., and will then hit the road again to face Football Championship Subdivision Northwestern State (La.) in Natchitoches, La., at 6 p.m.

A home contest against Southwestern Oklahoma State at 6 p.m. on October 4 will precede another two-game road swing with games at Central Oklahoma on October 11 and Angelo State on October 18, both at 6 p.m.

On October 25, SOSU returns home for the first afternoon game of the season against Northeastern State at 2:30 p.m., which will also serve as Homecoming Weekend.

The final road trip of the season will be the shortest as the team travels to Commerce, Texas, to face Texas A&M Commerce on November 1, before closing the season at home against rival East Central at 2 p.m. on November 8.