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

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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.    

SLU hosts Nicholls State; coach Ron Roberts a finalist

SLU head coach Ron Roberts named finalist for Eddie Robinson Award. Photo by Randy Bergeron.

Southeastern Louisiana University puts their eight-game winning streak on the line tonight hosting the 4-7 Nicholls State Colonels in the River Bell Classic at Strawberry Stadium as the Lions recognize their 15 seniors on Senior Day.  The seniors will be recognized 30 minutes prior to tonight's 6 o'clock kick off.
SLU 9-2 and 6-0 in the Southland Conference can win the outright conference title with a victory
over Nicholls State.
Lions' second-year head coach Ron Roberts, who recently signed a contract extension through the
2016 season, is a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Award, announced by the Sports Network. The award is named for the late legendary Grambling coach and is presented to the top coach in the Football Championship Subdivision. The winner will be announced at the Sports Network FCS Awards Banquet and Presentation to be held Dec. 16 in Philadelphia.
Lions' season ticket holders can reserve tickets for home playoff games starting today. Season ticket holders can reserve playoff tickets by contacting Southeastern Athletics Ticket Office at 985 549-5466 or by visiting the ticket office at Dugas Center from 8 to 4:30.    

SLU remains unbeaten in Southland Conference

Lions' junior signal caller Bryan Bennett helps generate 545 yards of total offense in Southland Conference victory over Central Arkansas.

Southeastern Louisiana University's Lions dominated play Saturday pulling off a 58-31 victory over Central Arkansas on the road.
SLU, 8-2, ranked 16/17 in the polls heading into the game, won its seventh consecutive game is still in first place in the Southland Conference race with a 5-0 mark. Lions' quarterback Bryan Bennett engineered his team to 545 yards of total offense. Bennett gained a season-high 142 yards rushing with two TDs, giving him 13 rushing scores, second best in school history.
Bennett also threw for two touchdowns, finding Jeremy Meyers and Marquis Fruge.
Xavier Roberson added 79 yards on 14 carries and Marquis Hayes tallied his first-career
touchdown.
Defensively, the Lions got the job done with Harlan Miller returning an interception for a
touchdown.
Junior Justin Church, a Fontainebleau High grad, made a key fumble recovery setting up a Lions'
score and he also recorded a sack.
Lions' head coach Ron Roberts, who signed a contract extension through the 2016 season last
week, said, "We were able to change the momentum with the big plays in the third quarter. We
can't enjoy this one for too long, because we have a great program in Sam Houston up next,Roberts added.
SLU closes out the regular season with two opponents at home. The Lions square off with No. 6/7 Sam Houston State, the two-time defending conference champion, in a 3 o'clock contest at Strawberry Stadium. The Lions finish up with Nicholls State. 

SLU Coaches' Caravan in Mandeville

Jay Artigues, Ron Roberts, Pete Langlois, Matt Riser represented Southeastern at their Coaches' Caravan in Mandeville July 25.

Ron Roberts telling our Mike Pervel that he is excited about the upcoming football season. The coach said the team has more depth and they are bigger, stronger and faster than last year.