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.

Former St. Paul's player Dylan Long contributes in McNeese State's win

Former St. Paul's fullback Dylan Long, a sophomore running back with McNeese State had
a solid showing for the Cowboys in their 53-21 upset victory Saturday over South Florida.
Long, six-foot, 225-pounds, tallied two touchdowns on runs of one and seven yards, helping to lead the Cowboys to victory. Long picked up 56 yards on 13 carries, averaging 4.3 yards per rush. Long is the grandson of former Covington High Hall of Fame coach Jack Salter.
Coach Salter, the legendary one, became a great grandfather for the 13th time yesterday with the
addition of Kinley Johnson, who weighed in at six-pounds, two-ounces.
Congrats to coach Jack Salter and the entire family. Coach Salter better stay in shape to help spoil each of those 13 great grandchildren.
Dylan Long is joined on the Cowboys' roster by his former St. Paul's Wolves' teammate
freshman Jay Washington. Former Wolves' linebacker Ed Duplesis is at Mcneesee State as well, but is injured after rupturing his achilees.
Mandeville High graduate junior defensive end Everett Ellefsen is also making contributions to the Cowboys. Ellefsen made one tackle for a loss and was credited with three quarterback hurries in the South Florida opener.
The Cowboys host Arkansas-Pine Bluff Saturday with a 7:30 kickoff in Cowboy Stadium.