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.