NATCHITOCHES - Davon Vinson threw for two scores and Anthony Holmes rushed for 131 yards and a touchdown as No. 23-ranked Northwestern State handed Southeastern Louisiana a 31-10 setback Saturday afternoon in Southland Conference football action at Turpin Stadium.
The Lions, who fell to 1-4 overall and 0-2 in Southland Conference play, were led by quarterback Trey Willie who went 18-for-35 for 202 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Felton Huggins finished with five catches for 65 yards and freshman Merrick Lanaux had four catches for 87 yards and score. The Lions were held to only 26 yards rushing on 26 carries.
Northwestern State improved to 3-2 overall and remained perfect in the league at 2-0 behind a stifling defensive effort that held the vaunted Lions' offense to only 228 total yards.
"We opened up the conference schedule with the top two preseason-ranked teams in the conference," replied Southeastern head coach Dennis Roland. "We knew it was going to be tough. But we came in and played hard and this is how you build experience. It's our job now to take these experiences, learn from them, and continue to get better."
Holmes was the catalyst for the Demons pulling in his game-high 131 yards on 18 carries including a 53-yard burst. Vinson finished 10-of-16 for 109 yards and two scores.
Most of the scoring occurred in the first half of play with several key plays turning the tide for the Demons.
Northwestern State opened the scoring on a 23-yard Robert Weeks field goal with 4:58 remaining to give the Demons an early 3-0 lead. On the ensuing Lions' possession, Russ Washington stepped in front of a Willie pass and returned the interception 66 yards for the score. After a Weeks miss on the point after, the Demons held a 9-0 lead with 3:06 left in the first half.
Southeastern answered with a productive drive going 55 yards in seven plays capping it with a 42-yard field goal by Jim Hall. The score was the Lions' first, first-half score since Alcorn State in the opening game of the season and cut the Demon lead to 9-3.
After forcing the Demons into a fourth-and-45 situation from their own 8-yard line, Marshal Burton's punt went only 15 yards to set the Lions up at the Demons' 20-yard line. Four plays later, Willie broke free from the Demons' pass rush and found Lanaux open in the back of the end zone for the score and a 10-9 lead with 12:02 to go in the half.
But on the following possession, Northwestern State marched 80 yards on 16 plays and burned 9:24 off the clock capping the drive with a Vinson to Brent Smith pitch and catch from one yard out for a 15-10 lead. Vinson hit Derrick Doyle for the two-point conversion to make it a 17-10 advantage with 2:22 left.
On the ensuing possession, Southeastern missed on three straight pass plays and were forced to punt. But Hall was unable to handle a poor snap from center and was forced to cover the ball at the Lions own 5-yard line, turning it over to the Demons.
Three plays later, Vinson hit Kead Seatstrunk from 1-yard out for his second TD pass of the game and a 24-10 lead.
Following a scoreless third quarter, Northwestern State tacked on a 1-yard touchdown run by Holmes with 3:17 to go in the game for the final margin.
Southeastern returns home to take on McNeese State, Sat., Oct. 22, at 6 p.m. in Strawberry Stadium.
Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 Score
Southeastern La......... 3 7 0 0 10
Northwestern St...... 9 15 0 7 31
Scoring Summary:
1st Quarter
04:58 NSU - FG Weeks 23
03:06 NSU - Washington 66 yard interception return (kick failed)
00:01 SLU - FG Hall 42
2nd Quarter
12:02 SLU - Lanaux 12 pass from Willie (Hall kick)
02:38 NSU - Smith 1 pass from Vinson (Doyle from Vinson)
00:38 NSU - Seastrunk 1 pass from Vinson (Weeks kick)
4th Quarter
03:17 NSU - Holmes 1 run (Weeks kick)
A - 11,137
SLU NSU
FIRST DOWNS................... 14 16
RUSHES-YARDS (NET)............ 26-26 46-221
PASSING YDS (NET)............. 202 109
Passes Att-Comp-Int........... 35-18-1 16-10-0
TOTAL OFFENSE PLAYS-YARDS..... 61-228 62-330
Fumble Returns-Yards.......... 0-0 0-0
Punt Returns-Yards............ 1-3 2-20
Kickoff Returns-Yards......... 4-60 0-0
Interception Returns-Yards.... 0-0 1-66
Punts (Number-Avg)............ 4-36.0 4-31.5
Fumbles-Lost.................. 1-1 1-1
Penalties-Yards............... 8-36 14-88
Possession Time............... 24:47 35:13
RUSHING: Southeastern La.- Gilbert 6-18; Willie 15-12; Watson 4-8. NSU - Holmes 18-131; Vinson 11-43; Franklin 10-27; Skidmore 2-20; Cheramie 2-16; Zeigler 1-1; Parmley 1-1.
PASSING: Southeastern La. - Willie 35-18-1-202. NSU - Vinson 16-10-0-109.
RECEIVING: Southeastern La. - Huggins 5-65; Lanaux 4-87; Watson 4-15; Scates 3-32; Gonzales 1-4; Pierce 1-(-1). NSU - Seastrunk 3-25; Zeigler 2-42; Doyle 2-13; Smith 2-8; Franklin 1-21.
