Box Score


          
FORT WORTH, Texas – After the Southeastern Louisiana football team played nationally-ranked TCU to a near stalemate in the opening half, the No. 24 Horned Frogs scored 21 unanswered second half points to pull away for a 38-17 victory over the Lions Saturday afternoon at Amon G. Carter Stadium.
 
Southeastern (1-1) put an early scare into the Big 12 opponent, trailing just 17-14 after an evenly played first half. However, TCU (1-1) scored touchdowns on three of its first four possessions of the second half while holding Southeastern scoreless to avoid being the latest Football Bowl Subdivision opponent to be upset by a Football Championship Subdivision opponent.
 
TCU was able to hold off the Lions thanks to a plus-three advantage in the turnover battle. The Horned Frogs picked off Southeastern junior quarterback Bryan Bennett twice, while also forcing the Lion signal caller to cough up an early fumble.
 
Excluding the turnover battle, the numbers show a game that was much closer than the 21-point final margin. TCU out-gained Southeastern, 402-339, but the Lions racked up 207 rushing yards versus the nation's toughest rushing defense over the last decade. The Horned Frogs had a negligible 20-18 edge in first downs. Though the Lions are now 0-18 versus FBS opponents since 2003, the Lions put a much more competitive effort than their most recent efforts against FBS opposition, scoring for the first time versus a Big 12 opponent.
 
"We had a huge opportunity to play a very good football team and overall I'm pleased with our effort," Southeastern head coach Ron Roberts said. "We were disappointed with the turnovers and big plays allowed, which we have to clean up moving forward. What I was the most impressed with is our team didn't blink against a tradition-rich program and had the belief that we could come here and compete. We didn't have that last year in our games against FBS competition and I think that's a huge step for our program."
 
While Bennett did commit the three turnovers, the Granada Hills, Calif. native was also the team's most productive offensive performer. A week after becoming the first Lion quarterback to rush for over 100 yards since 1977 in the Lions' 45-7 rout of Southeast Missouri, Bennett again exceeded the century mark on the ground, posting 132 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries. Bennett is the first Lion to rush for 100-plus yards in consecutive games since Jay Lucas in 2008.
 
Bennett also threw his first touchdown pass as a Lion, completing 12-of-23 throws for 132 yards. Sophomore Jeff Smiley was on the receiving end of the scoring toss, leading the Lions with four catches for 72 yards. Senior Marquis Fruge' also snagged four balls for 51 yards for Southeastern.
 
Defensively, sophomore Harlan Miller led Southeastern with a game-high eight tackles, while senior secondary mate John Graves recorded seven tackles. Senior Greg Triay and junior Isiah Corbett each were credited with sacks for the Lions.
 
TCU starting senior quarterback Casey Pachall was 8-for-14 for 100 yards before suffering a game-ending forearm injury late in the first half. Sophomore Trevone Boykin came in to throw for 133 yards and two touchdowns in relief. Sophomores Josh Doctson and Aaron Green each caught touchdowns for the Horned Frogs, while sophomore B.J. Catalon, senior Wayman James and junior Brandon Carter each had rushing touchdowns.
 
Junior Jonathan Anderson and senior Jason Verrett led TCU with seven tackles apiece, while sophomore Chris Hackett and junior Sam Carter each had an interception. Anderson also forced a fumble, which was recovered by junior Kevin White.
 
Southeastern forced TCU to turn the ball over on downs before the Horned Frogs took the early lead on its third drive of the game. After a 22-yard punt by senior Matt McCormick, TCU took over near midfield and 10 plays later, James bulled in from a yard out to give the Horned Frogs a 7-0 lead with 2:32 left in the opening quarter.
 
After the team's traded punts, Southeastern threatened on its first drive of the second quarter. The Lions drove down to the TCU 25-yard line and faced a second-and-10. Sophomore Xavier Roberson snuck out of the back field uncovered, but Bennett overshot the wide open Atlanta, Ga. native to squander a scoring opportunity. On the ensuing play, Sam Carter picked off a Bennett pass to end the Lion threat.
 
Southeastern's defense stiffened and forced a punt and the Lion offense was able to answer. Bennett hit Fruge' for 21 yards to open the drive, then raced down the right side later in the drive for 45 yards to set up Southeastern in a goal-to-go situation. Two plays later, Bennett lowered his head and found the end zone from a yard out to tie the score at 7-7 with 5:25 left in the first half.
 
TCU came back just over a minute later to retake the lead. Pachall connected with sophomore Deante' Gray for a 34-yard gain to open the drive and four plays later, Catalon rushed in from 15 yards out to put the Horned Frogs up, 14-7, with 4:23 remaining in the opening half.
 
Southeastern answered to knot the score again. Undaunted from missing Roberson on the earlier swing route, Bennett connected with Smiley on the same throw. The Flower Mound, Texas native raced untouched along the left sideline to tie the score at 14-14 with 2:38 left in the half.
 
TCU was then able to drive into Southeastern territory and sophomore Jaden Oberkrom gave the Horned Frogs a 17-14 halftime lead with a 46-yard field goal as time expired.
 
The Lions took the opening second half kickoff into TCU territory. However, on fourth-and-two from the TCU 40-yard line, Smiley was thrown for a three-yard loss by Sam Carter to give the Horned Frogs the ball back.
 
Boykin connected with Brandon Carter for a 29-yard pass to start the TCU drive. Five plays later, Brandon Carter raced in from five yards out to put TCU up, 24-14, with 8:32 left in the third quarter.
 
Hackett picked off Bennett on his first pass of the next drive to give the Horned Frogs the ball in Lion territory. Two plays later, Docston was all alone on a busted coverage and Boykin found him for an easy 27-yard score and a 31-14 lead with 7:52 left in the third quarter.
 
The margin remained 17 until TCU essentially put the game away with a score just over a minute into the fourth quarter. Green scored from nine yards out on a Boykin screen pass to give the Horned Frogs a 38-14 lead with 13:56 left.
 
Southeastern used the ground game to earn its final points of the contest. Roberson and Bennett combined for all 44 yards on the ground on an 11-play drive that resulted in senior Seth Sebastian nailing a 31-yard field goal. Sebastian's kick ended the scoring for the game and brought the final margin to 21.
 
Southeastern will continue its road swing, heading to South Dakota State for a 6 p.m. contest on Saturday in Brookings, S.D. The game will be broadcast on KSLU 90.9 FM, the flagship station of the Southeastern Sports Radio Network, as well as Northshore Broadcasting stations Kajun 107.1 FM and The Joint 104.7 FM. Fans can listen online at www.LionSports.net or on their smart phone using the TuneIn Radio app.