RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. — The Southern Nazarene football team left Russellville Crimson Saturday night, defeating the Wonder Boys 38-31 in their first road game of the season.
 
The Storm (1-1, 1-1 GAC) put on quite the show at Thone Stadium, exploding for 524 yards of total offense for five total touchdowns. The Wonder Boys (0-2, 0-2 GAC) defense had trouble containing SNU quarterback Gage Porter who recorded all four of the Storm's rushing touchdowns.
 
The Wonder Boys got off to a hot start, scoring touchdowns in their first two drives of the game to break open an early 14-0 lead.
 
SNU was quick with the response, piecing together an eight-play 69-yard initial scoring drive to set up Porter for his first touchdown of the night, a 26-yard run that put the Storm behind 14-7.
 
The Storm defense came up big in the Wonder Boys' ensuing possession when Ethan Minor snagged the ball out of the air to force the first turnover of the game deep in their own territory. SNU capitalized with a 17-play 84-yard drive that set up Porter for the 1-yard touchdown, tying the game at 14 all.
 
With five minutes remaining, Arkansas Tech had to settle for a field goal after an incomplete pass left them on 4th and 4. ATU nailed the attempt and were back up 17-14 heading into halftime.
 
Out of the break, SNU's defense applied pressure and forced a sack at the ATU 14-yard line, giving SNU great field position to turn the game around. From the SNU 45-yard line, organizing seven plays for 49 yards, only to fumble and settle for a field goal. Kameron Van Prooyen's 23-yard kick was good and SNU knotted it back up, 17-17.
 
SNU came up with another big stop, turning away the Wonder Boys on fourth down to set up their next big highlight of the night. After four quick plays, Porter caught fire and ran for a 71-yard touchdown for the go-ahead score. The extra point was no good and SNU was back up by six, 23-17.
 
With just under a minute left in the third quarter, the Wonder Boys took back the lead off of a scoop-and-score from an SNU fumble 36 yards out, marking SNU's second fumble of the night just before the start of the fourth quarter.
 
SNU responded with another lengthy drive, powering through 10 plays for 82 yards that resulted in Porter connecting with Jarrell Farr for the 9-yard touchdown pass. SNU looked to bump their lead up even more, getting a successful two-point attempt to sail to a 31-23 lead.
 
The Storm defense gave Tech trouble throughout the fourth quarter, forcing another three-and-out to reclaim possession with just under eight minutes left in the game. SNU's offense continued to produce as they found the end zone once more as Porter picked up the four-yard touchdown to put SNU ahead by two scores.
 
Two SNU defensive penalties put the Wonder Boys in good scoring position with just under two minutes remaining in the final quarter. ATU was able to deliver in that short amount of time, capping off a five-play drive with a six-yard touchdown pass, now trailing by just a single score, 38-31.
 
With a minute and a half remaining, SNU's offense triumphed the ATU defense, securing a first down to eventually run out the play clock and secure the 38-31 road win.
 
 
Up next           
 
SNU will remain on the next Saturday as they head to Alva for a matchup with Northwestern Oklahoma State on September 16^th at 6 p.m.