DURANT, OKLA. – In the final game of the 2017 season, the East Central University football team fell just short against arch rival Southeastern Oklahoma State, 27-24, in the Great American Classic presented by Landmark Bank.
Freshman Ontario Douglas finished the day with 98 rushing yards, making his season total 1,097. It marks the first time since 2005 that a Tiger (2-9 GAC) running back recorded over 1,000 yards in a single season, when King Bennett rushed for 1,094.
Junior Trinity Benson caught two TD passes and recorded 93 yards for the game, while senior Devyn Williams added a TD and 31 receiving yards. Junior Rayjohn Austin-Ramsey went 16-of-32 for 184 yards and three passing TDs.
Seniors Camnik Campbell and
Vernon Johnson led the ECU defense with eight (1-7) total tackles and a PBU each.
ECU was the first to get on the scoreboard, taking a 6-0 lead, with 1:13 left in the first quarter. Benson caught a four-yard pass to complete a 17-play, 92-yard drive that took 9:29 off the clock. However, the extra-point kick was blocked.
It didn't take long for the Tigers to add to their lead, pushing it to 14-0, with 13:54 left in the second quarter. After a three-and-out drive by the Savage Storm, Benson earned his second TD on the first play of ECU's following drive. He caught a 61-yard pass from junior Rayjohn Austin-Ramsey, and this time the Tigers converted a two-point passing extra point attempt between Austin-Ramsey and senior
Dezmon Jackson.
Southeastern finally got on the scoreboard late in the second quarter (3:33 left), with a three-yard rushing touchdown to cut the deficit in half (14-7).
ECU got the final points of the half, as they completed a 2:58 drive with a 35-yard field goal by freshman Bobby Schmidt, with 35 seconds left in the half.
The Savage Storm came out of the locker room with renewed energy and scored a 19-yard field goal on their first drive of the second half. The three points cut the deficit to seven (17-10), with 8:37 left in the quarter.
Less than two minutes later, Southeastern returned a punt 56 yards for a touchdown and tied the game at 17.
Devyn Williams then gave the Tigers the lead back, catching a 10-yard pass, with 9:51 left to play for the 24-17 lead.
However, just over two minutes later the Savage Storm responded with a touchdown to knot the score at 24.
Both teams had chances to score in the remaining time, with the Tigers taking over with 3:08 to play. However, Southeastern intercepted a pass attempt to get the ball with 2:08 to play. The Savage Storm took advantage of the extra drive and hit a 48-yard field goal with 57 seconds left for the 27-24 advantage.
ECU took over on their own 24-yard line after a 23-yard kickoff return by
Dezmon Jackson, but were unable to get another first down and handed the ball back to Southeastern with 29 seconds left. The Savage Storm then ran out the clock for the 27-24 victory.
