HUNTSVILLE, Texas – After a first half in which it was outgained 323-46, Southeastern played for its fallen coach in a place where he spent 15 years of his coaching career.

 

Brian Babin found Chris Wilson on a 14-yard scoring pass in overtime and Southeastern rallied for an improbable 30-27 win over Sam Houston State on a chilly Saturday night at Bowers Stadium.

 

With head coach Mike Lucas, who was the defensive coordinator at Sam Houston State from 1987-2001, at home as he continued his recovery from a heart valve procedure, Southeastern (5-6, 2-4 SLC) played one of its best halves and withstood a 508-yard passing performance by SHSU quarterback Rhett Bomar.

 

“The ship was set with Mike, he laid the foundation for the course that this program has taken,” acting head coach Tommy Condell said. “The players came out in the second half and took it. It was all the players tonight. It had nothing to do with the coaches. They decided to step up and play for Coach Lucas and the program.”

 

Taylor Wilkins gave SHSU (4-5, 2-4 SLC) a 27-24 lead with a 30-yard field goal on the first possession in overtime before the Lions got the ball at the 25-yard line.

 

Andre Cryer gained 10 yards to the SHSU 15 on an end-around before Jay Lucas was stopped for a 1-yard gain to the SHSU 14 on the following play. Babin, who finished 24-for-46 for 271 yards and three touchdowns, then lifted a pass into the left corner of the end zone where Wilson made a spectacular grab and gave Southeastern its first SLC road win since a 45-23 win at Stephen F. Austin on Oct. 29, 2005.

 

Lucas gained 98 yards on the ground while catching a team-high six passes for 78 yards as Southeastern gained 355 yards total offense after halftime.  

 

And when Sam Houston scored late in the game after Patrick Robinson forced a Brian Babin fumble gave Sam Houston State a 24-17 lead, the Lions punched back.

 

James Aston scored on a 16-yard run one play after Babin's fumble to give SHSU a 24-17 lead, but Southeastern found the end zone three plays later as Lucas caught a screen pass and raced 60 yards to tie the game with 2:58 left.

 

Southeastern forced Sam Houston to punt on the next possession where Derrick Raymer's boot was downed at the SLU 4.

 

The Bearkats forced Southeastern to punt and took over at the SLU 41 with 34 seconds remaining. Bomar, who finished 35-for-69 for 506 yards, hit Trey Payne on a 15-yard pass to the SLU 15 before a penalty pushed SHSU back.

 

A penalty by Southeastern moved the ball to the SLU 15, giving Wilkins a chance to win the game, but Tommy Connors blocked his 32-yard attempt forcing Southeastern's first overtime contest since a 31-24 win over Northwestern State on Oct. 14, 2006.

 

Southeastern took the opening possession of the second half and drove 64 yards in three plays as Lucas took a handoff from the SHSU 39, cut across the field and scored his fourth rushing touchdown of the season to get the Lions to within 10-7.

 

After Quinten Pierre broke up Bomar's pass on fourth-down on the ensuing possession at the SLU 16, the Lions drove the distance as Babin connected with Kory Theodore on a 62-yard touchdown with 8:24 remaining.

 

One play later, Bomar found Houston on a quick slant and the speedster went the distance to complete a 76-yard scoring pass for a 17-14 Bearkat lead with 8:09 left.

 

Southeastern got a key break defensively as Connors picked off Bomar at the SHSU 16, but the Lions coughed up the ball four plays later when Babin was hit and fumbled at the SHSU 4.

 

After forcing Southeastern to punt on its first two drives, SHSU got on the board as Bomar connected with Houston on a 73-yard touchdown pass with 3:35 remaining in the first quarter.

 

Wilkins added a 30-yard field goal to cap a 16-play drive and give SHSU a 10-0 lead with 7:14 left in the second quarter. But the Lion defense stiffened as Curtis Strong broke up a fourth-down pass and Wilkins missed a 43-yard field goal attempt at the end of the half after Bomar drove the Bearkats 64 yards to the SLU 26.

 

Chris Lucas led Sam Houston State with 10 receptions while Payne added nine catches for 107 yards. Houston caught seven passes for 229 yards for the Bearkats while Aston gained 80 yards on 21 carries.

 

Southeastern will wrap up the regular season on Saturday at 1 p.m. when it faces arch-rival Nicholls State in the River Bell Classic at John L. Guidry Stadium.

 

Southeastern Louisiana 0          0          14        10        6          -           30

Sam Houston State       7          3          7          7          3          -           27

 

Scoring Summary

First Quarter

SHSU – Houston 73 pass from Bomar (Wilkins kick); 3:35

 

Second Quarter

SHSU – FG Wilkins 30; 7:14

 

Third Quarter

SLU – Lucas 39 run (Turner kick); 14:16

SLU – Theodore 62 pass from Babin (Turner kick); 8:24

SHSU – Houston 76 pass from Bomar (Wilkins kick); 8:09

 

Fourth quarter

SLU – FG Turner 34; 5:52

SHSU – Aston 16 run (Wilkins kick); 3:14

SLU – Lucas 60 pass from Babin (Turner kick); 2:58

 

Overtime

SHSU – FG Wilkins 30

SLU – Wilson 14 pass from Babin (no kick)

 

A – 5,027

 

SLU     SHSU

First Downs      18        28

Rushes-Yards   36-130 31-82

Passing Yards   271      506

C-A-I  24-46-0           35-71-2          

Punts-Avg.       10-41.7            7-43.7

Fumbles-Lost   5-2       2-1

Penalties-Yards            10-65   11-75

Possession Time           29:12   30:48

 

RUSHING

SLU – Lucas 19-98, Cryer 3-22, Ducksworth 3-10, Theodore 1-2, Babin 10-(-2); SHSU – Aston 21-80, Bomar 10-2.

 

PASSING

SLU – Babin 24-46-0 271; SHSU – Bomar 35-69-2 506; Aston 0-1-0 0; Randolph 0-1-0 0.

 

RECEIVING

SLU – Lucas 6-78, Cryer 5-28, Yarborough 4-49, Theodore 3-71, Wilson 3-28, Neville 2-10, Muhammad 1-7; SHSU – Lucas 10-94, Payne 9-107, Houston 7-229, Lebens 3-30, Aston 2-10, Madkins 1-18, Powledge 1-6, McCall 1-6, Mansfield 1-6.