Southeastern Louisiana University Lions history-making playoff run ends with 20-17 loss to New Hampshire in quarterfinals

Southeastern Louisiana University's historical playoff run came to a close Saturday night in
Strawberry Stadium as the Lions were trimmed 20-17 by the New Hampshire Wildcats. SLU, 11-3,
came up short in a closely contested game, who won their first conference championship since
1961. The Lions set a new single-season school record for victories and made their first-ever
trip to the FCS playoffs. The University of New Hampshire (10-4) won the quarterfinal contest
with sophomore quarterback  Sean Goldrich scoring on a two-yard TD run with only 47
seconds remaining. New Hampshire advances to face two-time defending national champion North
Dakota State this Friday in Fargo, North Dakota. Southeastern second-year coach Ron Roberts, who
signed a contract extension through the 2016 season, said, "I'm extremely proud of what our
program was able to accomplish this season and I think the future is extremely bright. To get
our first taste of playoff competition is something that is obviously going to benefit our returners." Roberts went on to say, he was especially pleased with efforts of the senior class. "Our senior group can leave here knowing that they have helped build a solid foundation for our program. Lions' junior quarterback Bryan Bennett, the Southland Conference Player of the Year, finished completing 25-of-46 passes for 269 yards with one TD and an interception. Lions' history-making return specialist Xavier Roberson earned his third Football Championship Subdivision National Special Teams Player of the Week honor for his performance Saturday. Roberson averaged 45 yards per kickoff return, including a 71-yarder. Roberson's 35.2 yards per kickoff return and three kickoff return touchdowns both lead the nation and are Southeastern single-season school records.  

Southeastern Louisiana University prevails over Sam Houston State; Lions advance to quarterfinals

Southeastern Louisiana University's Lions whoop it up following Saturday night's thrilling 30-29 victory over Sam Houston State in a second-round playoff game at Strawberry Stadium. Photo by Randy Bergeron.

Lion' junior defensive lineman Justin Church, a Fontainebleau high grad, delivered one solo stop and three assists

.

There was plenty of happiness in Hammond over the weekend with the Southeastern Louisiana University Lions grabbing an electric 30-29 come-from-behind second-round playoff victory over Southland Conference rival Sam Houston State Saturday night at Strawberry Stadium. The 11-2, Southland Conference champion Lions, secured their first ever NCAA Division I playoff victory, sparked by a final possession 85-yard game-winning drive engineered by junior quarterback Bryan Babin, the Southland Conference Player of the Year. The Lions trailed 29-24 with only one minute and fifteen seconds remaining when Bennett took charge completing 6-of-6 passes on the drive, hooking up with sophomore receiver Jeff Smiley on a one-yard scoring toss to pull out the victory with just 36 seconds left. Smiley caught eight passes for 119 yards, while Marquis Fruge added six receptions totaling 116 yards. Senior place kicker Seth Sebastian booted a 25-yard field goal, making him 15-for-15 on the season, before missing from 33 yards out to end his streak. Bennett rushed for 83 yards and scored on a 5-yard run in the first quarter giving him 15 rushing tallies on the season, setting a Lions' school record. Bennett also connected on 19-of-33 passes for 286 yards with two TDs and an interception. The Lions' defense did its part when called upon after a slow start. Cqulin Hubert, the Southland Conference Defensive Player of the year, finished with 11 tackles recording a sack, a quarterback hurry and two stops for losses. Hubert also broke up a pass. Midway through the fourth quarter with Sam Houston State facing a fourth-and-one situation junior Justin Church, a Fontainebleau High graduate, teamed up with Greg Triay stuffing Bearkats' running back Tim Flanders on a key stop for the victorious Lions. Church finished with one solo stop and was credited with three assists. Second-year head coach Ron Roberts has his Lions revved up. SLU, the No. 4 national seed and the winners of 10 straight, advances to the quarterfinals hosting the University of New Hampshire Wildcats Saturday night in Strawberry Stadium for a 6 o'clock kickoff. The game will be televised on ESPN 3 and ESPN Gameplan.    

Southeastern Louisiana University football honors continue to pour in; Bennett and Sebastian honored

Southeastern Louisiana University Lions'  junior quarterback Bryan Bennett (3) named Louisiana Sports Writers Association  Offensive Player of the Week for the third time this season. Photo by Randy Bergeron.

Lions' senior place kicker Seth Sebastian boots the ball out of former Covington High player Matt McCormick's hold. Sebastian was named the LSWA Special  Teams Player of the Week.Photo by Randy Bergeron.

Southeastern Louisiana University, 10-2, the Southland Conference title holders, continue to receive weekly accolades following the Lions' ninth consecutive victory a 52-27 regular season ending home win over Nicholls State last Thursday on Senior Day.
Lions' junior quarterback Bryan Bennett and senior place kicker Seth Sebastian were selected players of the week by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association. Bennett was tabbed the LSWA Offensive Player of the Week for the third time this season receiving it back on Oct. 14 and 29th. Sebastian's recognition was his fourth honor of the week. Earlier, he was named the Sports Network National Special Teams Player of the Week and the Southland Conference Special Teams Player of the Week. On Sunday,  he was named the National Place Kicker of the Week by College Football Performance Awards.
Sebastian, who is a perfect 14-for-14 in field goal attempts kicked three field goals and four extra points in the Lions' big win over Nicholls State to secure the outright Southland Conference crown.
Sebastian has the school career scoring record with 278 points and the single-season mark at 103 points. Bennett completed 16-of-25 passes for 273 yards with two TDs. He also topped the Lions' running game with 120 yards on 13 carries with a TD. Bennett has 14 rushing touchdowns, which ties the single-season school record  set by Horace Belton in 1974. Bennett has passed for 2,610 yards and 18 touchdowns on the season, heading into the playoffs.
The Lions, the No. 4 national seed and have drawn a first-round bye in the upcoming playoffs. The Lions will host a second-round game Dec. 7 in Strawberry Stadium, playing the winner of the Sam Houston State-Southern Utah game.    
 

SLU rolls past McNeese State

 

Southeastern Louisiana University made a big statement in Southland Conference play Saturday
downing the No. 4/7 ranked McNeese State Cowboys 41-7 in Lake Charles.
The Lions, 7-2, won their sixth straight game and grabbed sole possession of first place in the Southland Conference at 4-0, earning their first road win at a nationally-ranked opponent sin e a 51-17 win over then No. 6 McNeese State in 2004.
Lions' second-year coach Ron Roberts said, "it was a total team effort to get this victory against a very talented McNeese State team. Our student-athletes and coaching staff should be very proud of the level of focus and preparation they showed," added Roberts.
Lions' sophomore Rasheed Harrell rushed for a game-high 119 yards with a touchdown, while QB
Bryan Bennett added 88 yards and two rushing scores to pace the SLU offense. Bennett has 11
rushing TDs on the year, which ties him for third on the Lions' single season list.
Lions' place kicker Seth Sebastian remained perfect on the season kicking field goals of 30 and 44 yards, making him 8-for-8, while still perfect, hitting on all 45 of his point after attempts.
SLU travels to Central Arkansas this week before, closing out the regular season with two home games against Sam Houston State andNicholls State.

SLU travels to McNeese State in key Southland Conference battle

McNeese State sophomore fullback Dylan Long (34) carries the ball against Weber State earlier this season. Long is a St. Paul's graduate, and is the grandson of  legendary former  Covington High Hall of Fame coach Jack Salter. Photos courtesy of Matthew Bonnette/McNeese State Sports Information.

McNeese State junior defensive end Everett Ellefsen, a former Mandeville High Skipper

The SLU Lions, winners of four straight, are 6-2 overall heading to Lake Charles to battle the
McNeese State Cowboys tomorrow night at 7 o'clock. McNeese State, 7-1, is ranked No. 4,
while Southeastern is rated No. 25 and both teams are tied for the Southland Conference lead
at 3-0.
SLU's offense put together a strong performance last week as the Lions rolled past Lamar 56-34
with the Lions gaining rushing for 310 yards, while QB Bryan Bennett rushed for a team-high 95
yards. Bennett also passed for 237 yards with two TD passes and was named the Louisiana Sports
Writers Association Offensive Player of the Week, the second time he has earned that honor
this season.
SLU trailed 14-0 in the first quarter before exploding for 42 unanswered points in the Lamar
Homecoming victory.
McNeese State sophomore fullback Dylan Long, who prepped at St. Paul's, tallied two touchdowns in
the red zone last week in the Cowboys' 55-30 win over Nicholls State. Long, 6-0, 220-pounds,
specializes in short yardage situations and has seven touchdowns, which is second on the team.
Long has seen action in all eight games, rushing for 273 yards, averaging 4.4 yards per carry,
which is impressive since he usually gets the inside carries down around the goal line. Last
week, he rushed the ball four times for eight yards with two going for scores, on two and four
yard tallies.
Mandeville High Skippers' graduate Everett Ellefsen, a 6-3, 230-pound junior defensive end,
has played in all eight games. Ellefsen has registered 16 solo stops with eight assists.
Ellefsen has done a nice job getting after the quarterback with five sacks along with nine QB
hurries. Ellefsen has recorded six tackles for loss, totaling 27 yards. He was a 2013 Preseason All-Southland Conference Second Team Defensive Line selection and a CFPA Defensive Line/End Watch List selection.

SLU rolls past Lamar in Homecoming victory

Southeastern Louisiana University started off slow Saturday, falling behind 14-0, but the Lions roared back, earning a 56-34 Homecoming Southland Conference victory over the Lamar Cardinals at Strawberry Stadium.
Southeastern, 6-2, remained unbeaten in Southland Conference play at 3-0, tied with the McNeese State Cowboys, who they face this weekend on the road. McNeese State is 7-1 and 4-0 at home. The Cowboys rolled putting up big numbers in a 55-30 win over Nicholls State.
Dylan Long, a St. Paul's graduate, who specializes in short yardage situations in the red zone, rushed for two touchdowns on runs of 2 and 4 yards. He carried the ball four times, gaining eight yards coming through in those key short-yardage situations for the Cowboys. 
Southeastern scored 42 unanswered points Saturday, securing their fifth consecutive victory, matching the program's longest streak since 1983.
SLU junior quarterback Bryan Bennett passed for 237 yards with two touchdowns, hitting Jeff Smiley and Marquis Fruge. Bennett, the Lions' dual threat, continued his rushing prowess, leading the attack with 95 yards on 11 carries.
The Lions rushed for 310 yards with sophomores Xavier Roberson and Rasheed Harrell rushing for
two TDs, while Kody Sutton and Darius Guy scored once each.

SLU rolls; Lions' Xavier Roberson garners weekly award

SLU Lions' sophomore returner Xavier Roberson pictured in action Oct. 12 against Stephen F. Austin. Photo courtesy of SLU.

Southeastern Louisiana University won its fourth consecutive game Saturday night as the Lions
downed Northwestern State University 37-22 in Natchitoches sparked by Xavier Roberson's
92-yard kickoff return. It's the Lions' longest winning streak since 1983.
SLU, 5-2 and 2-0 in Southland Conference play, trailed 13-7 at the half, but outscored the
Demons 30-6 in the second half to pull off the victory. Northwestern State slipped to 3-4 and
0-2 in conference action.
Roberson was named the National Kickoff Returner of the Week yesterday by College football
Performance Awards after returning four kickoffs for 146 yards. He is leading the nation,
averaging 37.8 yards per kickoff return and has two kickoff returns for scores. Saturday's TD return was his fourth of his career.
Lions' junior quarterback Bryan Bennett completed 15-of-21 passes for 222 yards and topped the SLU ground game with two TDs on runs of 14 and 2 yards, gaining 46 yards rushing.
Linebacker Cqulin Hubert topped the Lions' defense with 11 tackles and Denzel Thompson
picked off his first interception of the year. 
SLU hosts Lamar for Homecoming Saturday at Strawberry Stadium. Lamar, 3-4, was edged by #20 Central Arkansas, dropping to 0-2 in Southland Conference play.      

SLU's Bennett and Sutton recognized

Southeastern Louisiana University opened its Southland Conference play Saturday at home
taking an impressive 56-14 victory over the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks at Strawberry Stadium. SLU is 4-2 and is on a 3-game winning streak after a 1-2 start.
Lions' junior quarterback Bryan Bennett was named the Offensive Player of the Week by the
Southland Conference and Louisiana Sports Writers Association, while Marice Sutton, who
played his high school ball at St. Augustine in New Orleans, was selected as the Southland
Conference Defensive Player of the Week.
Bennett was exceptional in the Stephen F. Austin victory throwing for a season high 337 yards
with four touchdowns. Bennett hooked with Chris Mallot, 85 yards, Tony McCrea 82 yards, Marquis
Fruge 77 yards and Jeff Smiley from 15 yards out. Bennett also rushed for another 72 yards and tallied on a 53-yard run in the Lions' rout.
Bennett only played one series in the second half, but still managed to put up 583 yards of total offense.
Sutton picked off two passes and returned one for a touchdown. It was the second straight game
Sutton has scored on an interception return.
Stephen F. Austin came into Saturday's contest, ranked No. 2 nationally in total offense and No.
1 in passing offense. SLU limited the Lumberjacks to 315 yards of total offense, which
included just 139 yards through the air.
The Lions return to action Saturday traveling to Northwestern State for a 6 o'clock contest in
Natchitoches. Northshore Broadcasting stations
Kajun 107.1 FM and The Joint 104.7 will be broadcasting the Lions' game against
Northwestern State.  

SLU junior QB Bryan Bennett (3) named Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Week and Marice Sutton, who prepped at St. Augustine, recognized as the Defensive Player of the Week. Photos courtesy of SLU.

SLU routs Stephen F. Austin

Southeastern Louisiana University's Lions  rolled to an  impressive 56-14 Southland Conference opening
victory Saturday over Stephen F. Austin at Strawberry Stadium with quarterback Bryan Bennett on fire. Bennett tossed four touchdown passes, completing 13-of-20 attempts for 337 yards. The junior QB also rushed for 72 yards and scored once on a 53 yard run followed by a Seth Sebastian extra point to put the Lions up 7-0 on their initial drive. SLU, 4-2, travels to Northwestern State  this week for a Saturday encounter.

                Lions' junior quarterback Bryan Bennett during SLU's opener with Southeast Missouri.

SLU hits the road again

SLU is on the road for the third consecutive week as the Lions do battle with the Samford
Bulldogs.
SLU, 1-2, dropped last week's game 34-26 to No. 6 South Dakota State, while Samford defeated Florida A & M, 27-20, last week to move to 2-1.
SLU's Xavier Roberson was named the Southland Conference Special Teams player of the Week
returning a kickoff 82 yards for a score and totaled 192 return yards last week.
SLU junior quarterback Bryan Bennett tops the Lions with 311 yards on the ground, averaging
6.3 yards per rush with a team-high 5 touchdowns. In the passing department, Bennett is 48-of-76 for 623 yards with a score, but has been picked off six times.
Defensively, the Lions are led by Drew Misita and John Graves with 14 tackles each followed by
Ponchatoula High's Kaleb Muse with 13 stops. 
Samford sophomore safety Josh Kimberlin was named the Southern Conference Defensive Player
of the Week. Kimberlin tied a school record with three interceptions for a total of 67 return
yards. He was the third Bulldogs' player to be honored this season. Junior safety Jaquiski
Tartt and senior linebacker Justin Shade earned the honor in the two previous weeks.