NATCHITOCHES - After a convincing 21-3 win over Stephen F. Austin in its Southland Conference opener, the Southeastern Louisiana football team looks for its first 2-0 league start in 33 years as it faces Northwestern State in a regionally-televised game at Turpin Stadium.

Led by a 158-yard effort on the ground from All-Southland Conference running back Jay Lucas, Southeastern gained 382 yards total offense while the Lion defense held an explosive SFA offense to 254 total yards and forced three turnovers.

The Lions scored two touchdowns in less than a minute beginning with Lucas' 28-yard TD run and a 9-yard fumble return for a score by All-SLC defensive back Tommy Connors. Lucas added an electrifying 78-yard TD run in the third quarter to ice the game for Southeastern.

Northwestern State, which has won 71 percent of its games at Turpin Stadium, has dropped three straight games - all on the road - and have been outscored 175-21 in the span. The Demons, who have won nine straight against the Lions in Natchitoches dating back to 1968, opened the season with home wins over Henderson State and Central Arkansas.

Date/Time - Saturday, October 13, 2007 • 2:37 p.m.
Location - Natchitoches, La. (Turpin Stadium, 15,971)
Radio - WHMD FM 107.1 (105.5 FM in Natchitoches)
Talent - Mark Willoughby (PBP), Damon Sunde (color), Robbie Rhodes (sideline)
Streaming - www.LionSports.net
Television - Cox Sports Television (LIVE), Southeastern Channel (Charter Ch. 18 - TAPE DELAY)
The Series - NSU leads, 26-24
Last Meeting - SLU d. NSU, 31-24 (ot) (10/14/06 in Hammond)
Storylines - Southeastern looks for its first-ever 2-0 start in Southland Conference play and its first 2-0 start in league play since 1974 as it faces its most common opponent in a regionally-televised game ... the Lions enter today's game off a 21-3 win over Stephen F. Austin - the fewest points allowed by the Lions since a 51-3 win at Jacksonville in 2004.

Southeastern Louisiana
2007 Record - 2-3, 1-0
Ranking - RV (Sports Network, FCS Coaches Poll)
Last Game - 10/6, Defeated Stephen F. Austin, 21-3
Coach - Mike Lucas
SLU Record - 2-6/1 year
Career Record - Same
took over as interim coach for final three games in 2006

Northwestern State
2007 Record - 2-3, 1-1
Ranking - NR
Last Game - 10/6, Lost at Nicholls State, 58-0
Coach - Scott Stoker
NWLA Record - 34-29/6th year
Career Record - Same

ON NORTHWESTERN STATE
After three rough outings on the road, Northwestern State returns home for the first time since a 31-28 win over Central Arkansas on Sept. 8 ... the Demons were outscored, 175-21, in its three-game roadtrip that included games against Northeastern University, Big 12 member Texas Tech and Nicholls State ... Byron Lawrence, the SLC's second-leading rusher, paces the Demon offense with 437 yards on the ground while averaging 97.2 in all-purpose yards ... Dudley Guice is the Demons' top receiver with 16 catches with tight end Clay Broyles averaging 24.5 yards on four receptions ... Germayne Edmond has been the staring quarterback for Northwestern State, but was one of two QBs (including backup Drew Branch) knocked out of the game in the first quarter of its game last week in Thibodaux ... Mack Dampier leads the "Purple Swarm" defense with 34.5 tackles while Gary Riggs and Kasey Brown have two interceptions each to lead the Demons.

THE NORTHWESTERN STATE SERIES
Today's game marks the 51st meeting between the schools with Northwestern State holding a narrow 26-24 lead ... Northwestern State has dominated the series in Natchitoches winning nine consecutive games against the Lions dating back to a 24-19 Southeastern win in the 1968 season finale ... eighteen games in the series have been decided by a touchdown or less, including seven by three points of less ... the Northwestern State series is Southeastern's longest followed by Louisiana-Lafayette (46 games), Louisiana-Monroe (38) and Louisiana Tech (36) ... The schools have met three times since Southeastern's re-instatement of football in 2003 with the Demons winning both games played in Natchitoches (2003 and 2005) ... Southeastern rallied from a 14-point deficit in last season's contest to stake a 31-24 overtime decision for its lone SLC victory of the season ... below is a look back at Southeastern's longest series in school history.

Series Record - Northwestern State leads, 26-24
At Hammond - SLU leads, 16-10
At Natchitoches - Northwestern State leads, 16-8
Last Southeastern win - Oct. 14, 2006 (31-24 overtime at Hammond)
Last Southeastern win in Natchitoches - Nov. 23, 1968 (24-19)

Year Site Result Score
1935 Hammond W 19-13
1936 Natchitoches W 34-6
1938 Natchitoches L 0-6
1939 Hammond L 6-18
1940 Natchitoches L 0-47
1941 Hammond L 0-6
1942 Natchitoches L 6-7
1946 Hammond W 13-0
1947 Natchitoches L 12-14
1948 Hammond L 0-49
1949 Natchitoches W 25-13
1950 Hammond W 28-14
1951 Natchitoches W 33-14
1952 Hammond W 19-0
1953 Natchitoches W 27-19
1954 Hammond W 32-6
1955 Hammond W 27-20
1956 Hammond W 20-15
1957 Natchitoches L 7-13
1958 Hammond L 0-7
1959 Natchitoches W 15-13
1960 Natchitoches W 7-0
1961 Hammond W 19-0
1962 Natchitoches L 6-19
1963 Hammond L 7-13
1964 Natchitoches W 37-21
1965 Hammond L 22-38
1966 Natchitoches L 24-27
1967 Hammond W 26-14
1968 Natchitoches W 24-19
1969 Hammond L 6-34
1970 Natchitoches L 14-22
1971 Hammond L 6-14
1972 Natchitoches L 3-6
1973 Hammond L 14-21
1974 Natchitoches L 3-40
1975 Hammond W 31-6
1976 Hammond W 34-27
1977 Hammond W 38-21
1978 Natchitoches L 12-13
1979 Hammond W 33-7
1980 Natchitoches L 14-16
1981 Hammond W 21-16
1982 Natchitoches L 9-31
1983 Natchitoches L 7-23
1984 Hammond L 14-34
1985 Hammond W 20-14
2003 Natchitoches L 27-87
2005 Natchitoches L 10-31
2006 Hammond W 31-24 (ot)

AGAINST FBS (FORMALLY I-A) INSTITUTIONS
After three games against I-A (now Football Bowl Subdivision) opponents in 2006, Southeastern faced three more FBS schools in 2007 ... The Lions opened Aug. 30 against New Mexico State and Sept. 8 at Kansas before closing out its FBS schedule Sept. 22 against Tulane in the Louisiana Superdome ... Since the program's resurrection, Southeastern has played seven games (going 0-7) against the top level of college football beginning with a 28-0 loss at Troy in 2003 ... Two years later, Southeastern tangled with Tulane (playing its 11 games in 11 different stadiums after the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina) in LSU's Tiger Stadium and lost a narrow decision 28-21 before dropping games to NMSU, Southern Miss and Texas Tech last season.

LIONS TOP NATION IN PUNT RETURNS ...
Southeastern has not been known for its punt return prowess since bringing the program, and the Lions have not run back many in 2007 ... But when the Lions have run them back, they've counted. In the latest statistics released by the NCAA, Southeastern leads all FCS programs in punt returns with a 28.0 average ... While no Lion in ranked individually due to lack of returns, Southeastern's two main returners - Eric Jackson and Andre Cryer - have helped in the average ... Jackson has averaged 16.8 yards on four returns while Cryer has returned one - for a 67-yard touchdown, which is the fourth-longest in school history and the first punt returned for a touchdown since Anthony Vereen's 64-yard TD return against Livington (now West Alabama) in 1977.

... AND TURNOVER MARGIN
With 16 forced turnovers, including 12 interceptions, in the first five games, Southeastern enter's today's game against Northwestern State as the leader among FCS schools in turnover margin ... The Lions' +11 margin (and 2.20 turnovers per game) is ahead of Eastern Kenticky, Yale, Southern Illinois and Eastern Washington ... Southeastern's 12 picks this season has already surpassed the 2006 season-total of seven ... individually, Eric Jackson is second in the Southland Conference and is tied for 12th nationally in interceptions with three.

(RUNNING) BACK TO BASICS
Southeastern head coach Mike Lucas has always preached that the best attack on offense is a balanced attack ... and with the return of running backs Jay Lucas and Mario Gilbert, the Lions have a pair of weapons in the backfield to go along with a vaunted passing attack under the tutelage of new offensive coordinator Tommy Condell ... Jay Lucas, who played one season at Texas A&M before enrolling at Southeastern last year, currently leads the Southland Conference in rushing (92.0), is tied for third in receptions per game (5.2) and is second in all-purpose yards (137.0) ... in 2006, Lucas finished fifth in the SLC in rushing, receptions and all-purpose yards and is 14 yards shy of surpassing 1,000 rushing yards in his Southeastern career.

MR. SMITH COMES TO HAMMOND
The Lions' receiving corp received an additional boost when New Orleans native Courtney Smith transferred to Southeastern after spending the 2006 season at UAB ... Smith, a 6-foot-4, 215-pound sophomore has played in three of the Lions' first four games including a start Sept. 8 at Kansas ... A former all-city product at New Orleans' John F. Kennedy High School before being displaced by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Smith joins a solid group of receivers that include Merrick Lanaux, Byron Ross, Krishna Muhammad, Jamarr' Garrett and Keylam Davis ... As a true freshman at UAB, Smith played in 10 games catching five passes, including a season-high two in a non-conference contest at Georgia ... Smith also recorded receptions against East Carolina, Troy and Marshall ... Smith, who chose UAB over Alabama and Memphis, recorded over 600 receiving yards with six touchdowns as a junior at Kennedy ... After the destruction caused by Katrina, Smith spent his senior season at Prattville (Ala.) High School joining the team midway through the season and helping the Lions to a 13-1 record and a state runner-up finish in Class 6A ... In six games with PHS, Smith caught 24 passes for 502 yards and six touchdowns and was named to the Birmingham News Super Seniors 2006 "Best of the Rest."

ON OPENERS
Southeastern has a 35-20-3 record in season-opening games dating back to 1930 ... The Lions had their three-game win streak in season openers snapped last year in a 30-15 setback at New Mexico State and opened on the road for the first time since 1982 - a span of seven seasons (the school did not play football from 1986-2002) ... Since 1946, the Lions are 11-9-1 when opening the season on the road.

ON SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE OPENERS
Last week's 21-3 win over Stephen F. Austin marked the first-ever Southland Conference opening win for Southeastern, which was 0-2 in league openers prior to the contest ... Southeastern opened its first SLC slate in 2005 dropping a 30-15 decision to 14th-ranked Texas State at Strawberry Stadium before falling at Nicholls State, 14-10, in last year's SLC opener in Thibodaux ... the win by the Lions also marked the first time since 1976 (a 28-12 win over Tennessee-Martin in the Gulf South Conference opener) that Southeastern won its opening conference game ... a win today would give Southeastern its first 2-0 conference start since 1974 when the Billy Brewer-led Lions opened with wins over North Alabama and UTM.

OVERCOMING ADVERSITY ... TWICE
In 2005, Southeastern overcame a number of obstacles to produce a successful season ... South Louisiana's (and the entire region's) battle with Hurricane Katrina has been well-documented, with over a dozen players losing their homes due to the storm surge ... The team's first game that season was also cancelled and the Lions had to deal with former coach Dennis Roland's diagnosis with cancer ... After being not missing a game on the sidelines in 2005 and being cleared following successful treatment, Roland's illness returned (his only game on the sidelines came against New Mexico State) and he eventually took a leave of absence and replaced by Mike Lucas.

AND THEN THERE WERE EIGHT
Southeastern's senior class is relatively small compared to the past two seasons with 15 playing their final season in Hammond ... But for eight Lions (Earl Cager, Keylam Davis, John Dume, Johnny Flowers, Donald Frazier, Brennen Harris, Kyle LeBlanc and Byron Ross) it will mark the end of a journey that began in 2003 with the school's first season of football in 18 years.

A NEW BABIN AT THE HELM
Sophomore Brian Babin, who had thrown a total of two passes in his collegiate career, made his first start Aug. 30 at New Mexico State and finished 14-for-27 for 145 yards and an interception ... The 6-foot-4 signal-caller took over the reins from last year's starting QB - his older brother Seth Babin - after a successful spring ... after a challenge by returning letterwinner Bradd Schlosser and junior college transfer Mike Neville, Babin has completed 65 percent of his passes (99-for-152) with seven touchdowns while throwing one interception (in the season opener at New Mexico State) in five games.

D-LINE EXTREME MAKEOVER
Last season, Southeastern had a veteran defense, including a solid group on the front line ... This season will be a total overhaul as all four starters from last season are gone to graduation ... The Lions opened the 2007 season with a defensive line that had four freshmen listed on the two-deep ... Redshirt freshman Caleb St. Louis, Walter Vaughn, Dwight Womack and Brennen Harris, a converted linebacker, were listed as starters along the defensive line ... after a season-ending injury to Vaughn Sept. 8 against Kansas, the Lions got even younger along the defensive line as freshmen Ryan Anderson, Devin Boutwell, Josh Bridges, Nathan Clophus and John Williams have all seen action in Vaughn's place.

YOUNG CUBS ON OFFENSE TOO
While there is youth on the defensive side of the ball, there are a lot of new faces on the offensive side as well with five freshmen listed on the two-deep roster ... Nine players overall on the offense are sophomores or younger, including starters at quarterback (Brian Babin, Soph.) and tight end (Luis Sobalvarro, R-Fr.).

WELCOME TO DIVISION I FOOTBALL
A total of twenty players, including 10 true freshmen, saw their first taste of Division I football in Southeastern's season-opener at New Mexico State on Aug. 30 ... A total of 13 freshmen, including 2006 redshirts Kevin Hughes, Tim Richardson and Caleb St. Louis, saw their first action in a Southeastern uniform and were joined by seven junior college transfers. St. Louis was the only freshman among the starting 22 for Southeastern, lining up at defensive tackle.

NO PLACE LIKE DOME
Southeastern's Sept. 22 game against Tulane marked the fourth visit to the Louisiana Superdome for the Lions and the first since 1978 ... Southeastern, then coached by Billy Brewer, faced in-state rival Nicholls State in 1975, 1976 and 1978 with the Lions claiming wins in 1976 (17-7) and 1978 (10-0) ... the first two games in the Superdome series between the former Gulf South Conference rivals drew around 20,000 with the final game, played on Nov. 11, 1978, drawing 10,000.

AT HOME SINCE THE RETURN
The Lions have been solid at home in Strawberry Stadium since returning football ... The Lions are 17-8 in the friendly confines with a 5-1 mark in 2003 and another solid 5-2 slate in 2004. Southeastern was 2-2 in 2005 following wins over Alcorn State and McNeese State and losses to Texas State and Nicholls and went 2-3 last season with wins over Jacksonville (Fla.) and Northwestern State.

THE ROAD HAS NOT BEEN KIND
Since returning football for the 2003 season, the Lions are 4-20 when playing outside of Strawberry Stadium, including an 0-6 record last season ... two wins came in 2004 as the Lions knocked off nationally-ranked McNeese State in Lake Charles and Jacksonville in Jacksonville, Fla. ... Southeastern picked up its first-ever road win as a member of the Southland Conference with a 45-23 win at Stephen F. Austin in 2005 and closed the year with a 38-21 win at Mississippi Valley State on Nov. 19, 2005 - the Lions' last road win.

FREE SAMPLES
For the first time since the return of football in 2003, someone other than Jim Hall will be the Lions' punter ... after Hall's graduation last year, head coach Mike Lucas had to recruit a punter and in 2007, that job goes to junior college transfer Cody Samples ... the top punter in the Mississippi JUCO ranks last season, Samples averaged 41.5 yards per punt over a two-year career and was a Preseason JUCO All-America in 2006 ... this season, Samples has posted a 35.8 yard average with his longest punt - 55 yards - coming at New Mexico State ... Samples has placed 13 kicks inside the opponent's 20-yard line, including one at the 2 and another inside the 1.

VERSUS THE RANKED
Southeastern is 2-6 against FCS (formally I-AA) ranked opponents since 2003 ... The biggest win to date for the Lions since returning football came in 2004 as they knocked off then sixth-ranked McNeese State, 51-17, in Lake Charles ... In 2003, top-ranked McNeese State defeated the Lions 52-21 at home while No. 24-ranked Sam Houston State handed the Lions a 45-17 defeat in 2004 ... Also in 2003, No. 20 Northwestern State slapped an 87-27 defeat on the Lions in Natchitoches ... In the 2005 season, the Lions dropped a decision at home to No. 14 Texas State followed by a loss at 23rd-ranked Northwestern State and a 37-13 win over No. 20 McNeese State ... The most recent was a loss to No. 25-ranked Nicholls State in the final home game of the 2005 season.

HONORING CURRIE
Southeastern received a surprise visit Aug. 26 from teammate Devon Currie, who is battling bone cancer ... The sophomore linebacker was diagnosed with the disease earlier this year and has been undergoing treatment in Georgia ... The Alpharetta, Ga., native played in 11 games last season, mainly on special teams, and finished with nine tackles ... As a tribute to Currie, the Lions will wear a "DC" sticker on the back of their helmets this season.

HONORING RENTON
Southeastern will honor former Lion letterwinner Ray Renton by wearing a "Ray" sticker on the back of their helmets. Renton, who was a four-year letterwinner at Southeastern from 1967-71, died of a heart attack at his home in Hammond on Aug. 31.

He was a significant supporter of athletics at Southeastern, being a member of the Southeastern Football Players Association for more than 10 years, president of the Lion Athletic Association, and a member of the Football Coaches' Inner Circle. Ray and his wife, Jamie, made a Leadership Gift to the Campaign for Southeastern Athletics that helped return football to Southeastern Louisiana University.

The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Ray Renton Scholarship for Football. All donations may be mailed to Southeastern Development Foundation, SLU 10703, Hammond, LA 70402.

SOUTHEASTERN OFFERING BUS TRIPS
Southeastern Louisiana University Director of Athletics Joel Erdmann announced that fans wishing to attend the Lions' three remaining road games can do so by riding a chartered bus ... Fans can attend the Lions' games at Northwestern State (Oct. 13), McNeese State (Oct. 27) and Texas State (Nov. 3) leaving the day of the game and returning immediately after. The cost, which includes tickets to the game, for the Northwestern State and McNeese State game is $60 per seat with the Texas State contest costing $100 ... Reservations must be confirmed and payment received by 5 p.m. the Tuesday prior to each game ... Make checks, stating each game attending, payable to: Lion Athletic Association ... For more information, contact the Southeastern Athletic Department at (985) 549-2395.