HAMMOND – The Southeastern Louisiana University football team returns to action on Saturday when it plays host to No. 15-ranked Stephen F. Austin in a battle between two of the Southland Conference’s four leaders.
Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. The game can be heard in the Hammond area on KSLU-FM (90.9) and on the internet at www.LionSports.net. The game will also be televised on a tape-delayed basis on the Southeastern Channel (Charter Cable 18 in Tangipahoa/Livingston/St. Tammany Parish and Charter Cable 17 in Washington Parish).
Winners of four of its last five games, Southeastern (6-3, 4-1 Southland) moved one step closer to its first conference championship since 1961 after a 27-0 victory last week at Northwestern State. The Lions, who won in Natchitoches for the first time since 1976, held the Demons to 261 yards total offense and posted their first shutout since a win over Western Kentucky in 1984.
Southeastern will look to neutralize an SFA (7-2, 4-1 Southland) offense that leads the nation in passing offense and is second in total offense and scoring offense.
Led by quarterback
Brian Babin, Southeastern enters the game ranked No. 9 among FCS programs in passing offense, 12th in scoring offense and 18th in total offense. Babin has thrown for over 2,000 yards with 22 touchdowns on the season for the Lions with
Simmie Yarborough (50 catches) and
Merrick Lanaux (36 catches) pacing a strong receiving corp.
Jasper Ducksworth, who is third in the Southland Conference in rushing, has averaged 5.1 yards per carry with four touchdowns for the Lions.
On defense, linebacker
Mark Newbill ranks second in the Southland Conference in tackles with 83 and is followed by
Ryan Godare (65),
Quinten Pierre (49),
Curtis Strong (38) and
Brian Reynolds (38).
Re'Keem Wilson, who has intercepted a Southland Conference-best four passes in his last three games, paces a defense that leads the league in turnover margin and is 27th nationally.
Tickets are available by calling the Southeastern Athletic Ticket Office at (985) 549-5466 or on-line at www.LionSports.net.
Courtesy: Southeastern Channel