by
Zach Maxwell
Sports Reporter
Durant Daily Democrat
Jun 17, 2013 | 180 views | 0

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The Savage Storm football team will play an 11-game schedule starting in September, including six home games and five on the road. All but one of the games, a mid-season contest against Texas A&M-Commerce, will be Great American Conference games. It seems there will be no “gimmes” in 2013. Southeastern will open and close the season with home games, and will never spend more than one consecutive week home or away.
Thursday, Sept. 5 at 6 p.m.: Southern Arkansas University at Southeastern. The Muleriders finished 8-3 last year and took a 31-24 win over the Storm at Paul Laird Field. But SAU opening on the road in the middle of the week in late summer will help Southeastern to some home cooking. (Projection: 1-0)
Saturday, Sept. 14 at 6 p.m.: Southeastern at University of Arkansas-Monticello. The Storm manhandled the Weevils 41-35 on their own turf last season. With an extra couple days of rest and a road win a year ago, no reason to believe Southeastern won’t do it again. (Projection: 2-0)
Saturday, Sept. 21 at 6 p.m.: Henderson State University at Southeastern. The Reddies won big in a 2012 home game against SE, as well as owning a decisive victory at Paul Laird Field two seasons ago. Their 10-1 mark last season could carry momentum into this one, and they will give the Storm all they can handle in this early season tilt. (Projection: 2-1)
Saturday, Sept. 28 at 7 p.m.: Southeastern at Ouachita Baptist University (in Arkadelphia, Ark.). The Tigers went 6-0 to start last season before dropping four straight to end on a whimper. One of the wins was a 27-24 heart-breaker over the Storm at Paul Laird Field. Look for SE to return the favor in Arkansas. (Projection: 3-1)
Saturday, Oct. 5 at 2 p.m.: Texas A&M-Commerce at Southeastern. The Savage Storm dispatched the Lions 31-6 in Commerce last season. We predict the same outcome against this former conference rival. (Projection: 4-1)
Saturday, Oct. 12 at 2 p.m.: Southeastern at Southern Nazarene University (in Bethany, Okla.). The Crimson Storm (2-9 last season, their first in GAC) will be playing for keeps this time around. Even though their conference games count this year, they are still adjusting to this level of competition. Look for a Savage Storm road win. (Projection: 5-1)
Friday, Oct. 18 at 6 p.m.: Southwestern Oklahoma at Southeastern. The Dogs lost 26-16 in Durant last year and went 3-7 on the season. A return trip to Paul Laird in mid-October could find a struggling Southwestern face-to-face against a brewing Savage Storm. (Projection: 6-1)
Saturday, Oct. 26 at 3 p.m.: Southeastern at Northwestern (in Alva, Okla.). The Storm visited Alva last year and won 31-6 in a game that didn’t count for the Rangers. Well, they count this year and SE will be returning to NW on Homecoming to play spoiler. (Projection: 7-1)
Saturday, Nov. 2 at 2 p.m.: Harding University at Southeastern. The reigning conference champions took a 31-9 win over SE last season. The Bison will return to Paul Laird Field - hopefully with Durant native Cordell Zalenski suited up - and they could stop a surging Storm in their tracks. (Projection: 7-2)
Saturday, Nov. 9 at 2 p.m.: Southeastern at Arkansas Tech (in Russellville, Ark.). The Storm lost by a touchdown in a high-scoring affair last season, also in Russellville. Will SE take the wonder out of these Boys? Or will a late-season losing streak stymie the Savage Storm? (Projection: 7-3)
Saturday, Nov. 16 at 2 p.m.: East Central University at Southeastern. The rivalry returns to the turf in Durant and we foresee a reversal of last season’s 31-17 loss in Ada. (Final Projection: 8-3 overall and 7-3 in the conference.)