SHAWNEE – Oklahoma Baptist (1-6, 1-6 GAC) will travel to Durant for the first time since 2019 to take on the Savage Storm of Southeastern Oklahoma State (4-3, 4-3 GAC) on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. at Paul Laird Field.
OBU brings a 16-6-2 series advantage into the contest, having not lost to Southeastern since 2017.
Live video of the contest will be available on GoSoutheastern.com and fans can listen to the broadcast on the Bison Radio Network with the trio of Todd Miller, Scott Wanish, and John Brooks.
Game Notes
OPENING KICKOFF
OBU fell 34-20 at the hands of East Central last Saturday on homecoming. In the contest, the opposition grabbed an early 24-0 lead before OBU mustered a score before the half to draw the tally 24-7. The Bison used its momentum to post another score following the break, but it was to no avail as ECU added 10 points to come out victorious.
LAST TIME VERSUS SOUTHEASTERN
- A season ago, Oklahoma Baptist and Southeastern put on a show inside Crain Family Stadium for the ages. After locking up at 37-all at the end of regulation, OBU scored the game-winning touchdown on a six-yard run to claim the 43-37 walk-off victory.
- The Bison offense racked up 378 yards of offense, including 237 passing yards. OBU also outgained the Savage Storm on the ground, leading the margin 141-133. Despite possessing the ball less than Southeastern, Oklahoma Baptist charted six touchdowns in 24:20 of work.
- Quarterback Preston Haire reached 100-career passing touchdowns, pitching four on the October night. Three of which, went to Keilahn Harris, which tied his single-game career-best. Harris caught 10 balls for 114 yards. On the ground, Tyler Stuever compiled two scores on 89 yards, including the game-winning touchdown.
- Defensively, linebacker Josh Arnold led the pack with nine tackles, while Felipe Alvear recorded eight. Tyler King and Trajan Lands posted matching sums of seven, including six unassisted by King. Nick Boone recovered the lone SEOSU fumble of the night while Xavier Lott came up with a sack.
RISING THROUGH THE CRACKS
- A handful of young Bison have shown glimpses of promise on the offensive side of the ball this season. Most notably at the wide receiver, running back, and tight end positions.
- Receivers Michael Marshall and Braden Phipps have eclipsed their previous career highs for yards in a season. Marshall caught just 13 balls for 130 yards in his freshman campaign. This year, he has 22 receptions for 236 yards and a score. The sophomore has three games with 40-plus receiving yards, a feat he accomplished once last season. Here is a look at Phipps', a junior, progression the last three seasons on Bison Hill: 8 rec., 132 yds. (2019); 18 rec., 189 yds. (2021); 30 rec., 218 yds. The Tulsa, Okla., native has surpassed his career-bests in seven games played in 2021.
- For Phipps, the production doesn't stop there. After not registering a punt in his career coming into 2021, he has taken over the duties to produce the ninth-best punt average (36.5 yds/gm) in the GAC, including a league-best 12 punts inside the 20-yard line. Phipps totals five 50-plus yard boots, as well as a season-high mark of 71 yards that ranks second in the conference.
- In the backfield, OBU has many options, led by freshman backs Buddy Bizzell and EJ Moore. The duo has combined for over 500 yards, including a team-best 309 yards from Bizzell and seven scores.
- Another name that has significantly improved is tight end, Sam Sharp. The sophomore has 14 receptions for 70 yards and two scores, a jump from the previous season, where he caught just nine balls. Additionally, he tallied a career-best five receptions against Harding on October 1.
THE KEY IS KEI
- It's been no secret how disruptive Keilahn Harris has been this season. The junior ranks No. 2 in the country in all-purpose yards (1,343), a figure he accomplished in 89 plays. Those in the top-five category, including the nation's leader, Jada Byres (Virginia Union), accumulated their totals with 100-plus plays.
- Coming into Saturday, the junior ranks No. 3 on the Division II active career receiving yards per game chart, averaging 75.2 yds/gm in 30 games.
LEADER OF THE LINEBACKERS
- Elijah Tomlin continues to progress for OBU, despite the team's difficulties on the gridiron this fall. Over the past three games, Tomlin has notched a team-high 31 tackles, recorded two tackles-for-loss and a sack. He has recorded at least eight tackles in the last trio of games including a career-high 12 versus Arkansas Tech. With those marks, the Broken Arrow, Okla., native has moved into sixth place in the GAC in tackles per game (8.3).
FRESHMAN PHENOM
- How's this for a first season at Bison Hill? Cornerback Chase Whitebear is the only true freshman in the GAC with two interceptions. He also has four pass break-ups to his credit in seven games played. Whitebear is also a willing run defender. His 35 tackles rank tied for sixth on the team and he has 4.5 tackles-for-loss, the most among all OBU defensive backs.
STANDOUT EFFORT NEEDED
- In five of eight games this season, Southeastern Oklahoma State has tallied at least 34 points including a 58-point output against Southwestern Oklahoma State on Sept. 17. For the Bison, they are giving up 35.5 per game. Priority one on Saturday will be for the green and gold to slow down SE's passing attack which ranks sixth in the country with a 313.1 yards-per-game average.
SCOUTING THE SAVAGE STORM
- Southeastern Oklahoma State enters Saturday on a two-game winning streak, besting Northwestern Oklahoma State and Southern Arkansas the previous two weeks. Currently 4-3 in conference play, the Savage Storm sit fifth in the GAC standings behind a three-way tie for second.
- Under the direction of third-year head coach Tyler Fenwick, the Savage Storm have found their rhythm. After a 1-10 record in 2019, SEOSU has flipped the script to 13 wins since last fall.
- Southeastern's success is a credit to its leader on offense, quarterback Daulton Hatley. The senior has 2,103 yards and eight touchdowns through seven games with only six interceptions. Additionally, Hatley is seventh in the nation in passing yards and ranks third in completions (181). His favorite target, Marquis Gray, leads the country in receiving touchdowns (10) and ranks second for receiving yards (875). Gray has four 100-plus yard receiving games, including a 201-yard performance against Southern Nazarene (9/24). The Tyler, Texas, native's average of 125.0 yards per game is second in DII, while his receptions per game figure is third in the GAC (7.3).
- Maalik Hall heads the Southeastern defensive unit with 58 tackles, 6.5 TFLs, and 3.0 sacks. Trailing is Ja'lon Freeman's 40 tackles and Cameron Tate's 36 stops. Tate adds 3.0 sacks and 5.0 TFLs. Senior defensive lineman, Alexce Marshall, is second on the squad in sacks (5.5), while Kevin Simes has 5.0. The Savage Storm's sack total (11.0) ranks second in the GAC.
- Linebacker Connor Swope leads the team with two interceptions, while Freeman and Keelan Chilton make up the rest of the Storm's four picks.
For more information on OBU Football, follow the team on Twitter (
@OBU_Football) and Instagram (
@OBU_Football)
