Savage Storm-S Past RiverHawks
TAHLEQUAH, 0kla. --- Southeastern State quarterback Justin Pitrucha threw six touchdown passes in leading the Savage Storm to a 45-35 Lone Star Conference North Division victory over Northeastern State in a homecoming clash Saturday afternoon at Doc Wadley Stadium.
The RiverHawks fall to 2-7 for the year and 2-2 in the LSC North, while the Savage Storm improves to 6-3 and 3-0 in division play.
Pitrucha threw touchdown passes of 55, 81, 10, 5, 21 and 22 yards as he connected on 29-of-38 for 362 yards and 1 interception.
Pitrucha's leading receiver was Daniel Nichols, who caught 14 for 185 yards and two TDs, one for 81 yards and another for 10, both in the second quarter, giving Southeastern a 21-7 lead.
Southeastern accumulated 461 yards in total offense with just 99 coming on the ground. Larry Baylen was the Storm's top ground gainer with 72 yards.
Northeastern State quarterback Kenny Davis had his best day of the season passing for 251 yards, connecting on 18-of-31 and three touchdowns. Davis connected on TD tosses of 22 yards to Trey McVay in the first and fourth quarters. He hit Ed Victorian on a 41-yard scoring play with 1:44 remaining in the game
The RiverHawks finished with 258 yards in total offense, 129 coming on the ground with Kenny Davis the top Northeastern State rusher with 65 yards on 16 carries.
Northeastern State never led in the game and tied it just once that came in the first quarter when McVay and Davis connected to tie the game at 7-7 at 4:07 in the first period. The TD toss capped a 9-play 80-yard drive.
Southeastern jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead when Pitrucha and Baylen Laury connected on a 55-yard scoring play. Cole Jones added the first of six point-after-attempts. Jones kicked a 44-yard field goal with 5:48 left in the game to give the Storm a 38-21 lead.
Southeastern struck for two quick TD tosses from Pitrucha to Nichols of 81 and 10 yards to give the Storm a 21-7 lead with 9:01 remaining in the first period.
The RiverHawks cut Southeastern's lead to 21-14 when LaRon Elmer scored on a 1-yard run with 4:50 left in the period.
Pitrucha, however, went back to work, tossing two more TD passes, 5-yards to Michael Goodlow with 1:50 left in the first half and then opened the second half with a 21-yard scoring strike to Laury, his second of the game, putting Southeastern out in front 35-14.
Northeastern State cut the Storm's advantage to 35-21 when Kenny Davis scored on a 29-run up the middle, as Jared Homer added the conversion. Homer was perfect on conversions hitting 5-of-5.
Following a Jones field goal of 44 yards, giving Southeastern a 38-21 lead with 5:59 remaining in the game. The RiverHawks moved to within 10 points when McVay caught his second TD pass of the game from Kenny Davis, with Homer adding the point-after for a 38-28 game with 4:07 remaining.
But Southeastern's Pitrucha hit Michael Goodlow on a 12-yard scoring play to make it 45-28 with 2:36 remaining.
The RiverHawks' final points came with 1:44 left when Kenny Davis connected with Victorian, who was alone on a 41-yard scoring play.
Northeastern State steps out of North Division play next Saturday when LSC South Division's West Texas A&M visits Doc Wadley Stadium. Kickoff is 7 p.m.
