HAMMOND – The Southeastern Louisiana University football team looks to close out on a successful 2009 season when it faces arch-rival Nicholls State in the annual River Bell Classic Thursday night at Strawberry Stadium.
Kickoff is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. and will be televised live on the Southland Television Network (WSTY Charter Cable 22 in Hammond, WBTR in Baton Rouge and
other affiliates across the region) and online at
www.southland.org. The game can be heard in the Hammond area on KSLU-FM (90.9) and on the internet at
www.LionSports.net.
Looking to equal its best finish since a 7-4 record in 2004, Southeastern (6-4, 4-2 Southland) looks to send 11 seniors out on a positive note while building for the 2010 campaign that will feature 18 returning starters.
Fifth-year senior
Brian Babin will close the book on one of the best chapters in school history. The former St. Amant High product enters his final game in a Southeastern uniform ranked second in school history in passing yards (7,023), attempts (1,037), completions (643), touchdowns (59) and total offense (6,725).
In 2009, Babin has thrown for 2,220 yards and 22 touchdowns with six interceptions and has completed nearly 63 percent of his passes.
Joining Babin in playing in their final game for Southeastern include
Jasper Ducksworth,
Darnell Jones,
Merrick Lanaux,
Paul Moneaux,
Brad Moore,
Paul Mundy,
Quinten Pierre,
Brian Reynolds,
Jeff Turner and
Chris Wilson.
Lanaux, a former Hammond High product, enters his final game as a Lion ranked sixth in receiving yards (1,406), seventh in catches (103) and ninth in touchdowns (11). Wilson ranks fourth in career receiving touchdowns (15) and 10th in touchdowns scored for the Lions while Turner is Southeastern’s all-time leader in scoring (260), extra points (113) and field goals (49).
Nicholls (2-8, 1-5 Southland) played its second consecutive contest without a turnover in a 28-21 victory over Northwestern State. Redshirt freshman Laquintin Caston completed 5-of-8 passes for 197 yards and three touchdowns for the Colonels, including an 82-yard strike to Antonio Robinson.
Robinson has caught a team-high 24 passes and four touchdowns for Nicholls, averaging 17.8 yards per catch. Marlin Meeks leads the Colonels on the ground with 560 yards and two touchdowns while A.J. Williams has rushed for 475 yards and four TDs.
Nicholls leads the all-time series that began in 1972, 10-8. Southeastern posted a 17-13 victory in the last meeting in Hammond, snapping a seven-game losing streak to the Colonels in the process.
Tickets are available at the Southeastern Athletic Ticket Office at (985) 549-5466 or on-line at www.LionSports.net.