The Lions (2-1) ran their record in home openers to 6-0 since bringing back the program in 2003, but to do so had to survive a South Dakota team (1-2) that scored two touchdowns in the final three minutes to have a chance to win on the game's final play.
Trailing 31-24 with 1:42 remaining, USD quarterback Noah Shepard marched the team 11 plays and 59 yards, completing the drive with a 12-yard strike to Dan Skelly in the back of the end zone as time expired to set up the final two-point try.
Shepard pumped to throw and took off on a delayed draw, but Newbill drilled him short of the goal line and the ball rolled into the end zone. The fumble was recovered by South Dakota, but because the fumble occurred prior to the goal line, USD was not credited with two points due to an NCAA rule that does not allow a team to recover a fumble to convert a two-point conversion.
The wild rally by the Coyotes nearly spoiled a career day by Lion junior quarterback Brian Babin. Back in the starting lineup for the first time since suffering a concussion on the final play of the first half in Southeastern's season-opening win over Alcorn State, Babin threw for a career-high 330 yards, completing 27 of 44 passes and throwing for two scores.
Junior wide receivers Chris Wilson and Krishna Muhammad were Babin's favorite targets. Wilson caught 11 passes for the Lions for 101 yards, while Muhammad pulled down seven catches for 84 yards and a score.
Senior running back Jay Lucas posted his best performance of the young season, rushing for 95 yards and two scores on 21 carries, while also catching four passes for 94 yards and a touchdown. Lucas became the fifth Lion in school history with 100 career receptions with Saturday's reception total.
The game was tied at 14 at halftime, but the Lions appeared to take control with a dominating third quarter. On the half's second play from scrimmage, senior defensive end Steven Honore forced a Shepard fumble, which junior linebacker Quinten Pierre recovered at the USD 3. However, USD's defense kept Southeastern out of the end zone, forcing the Lions to settle for a 24-yard Jeff Turner field goal.
After USD answered with a field goal to knot the score at 17, Southeastern took control of the game. On the next possession, Babin marched the Lions 11 plays on 81 yards, hitting passes to Muhammad (21 yards), Lucas (23 yards) and Wilson (16 yards) to fuel the drive, which Lucas capped with a one-yard plunge to give the Lions the lead for good with 2:03 left in the third quarter.
On the ensuing kickoff, Turner drilled a perfect onside kick that junior Curtis Strong recovered to give the Lions the ball back at the USD 48. Five plays later, Babin hit Muhammad on a short pass and several key blocks freed him for an 18-yard touchdown, giving Southeastern a commanding 31-17 lead heading into the final quarter.
USD still trailed by two scores with 7:34 remaining, but Shepard, who finished 16-for-31 for 291 yards and two touchdowns, led the Coyotes back. A 14-play, six-minute drive covered 66 yards, as Isaac Newton scored from a yard out to bring the Coyotes within a score. Southeastern was stopped three-and-out and forced to punt on the ensuing series, setting up the final drive.
USD opened the scoring in the first quarter, scoring on their opening drive. Running back Chris Ganious powered in from six yards out to give USD a 7-0 lead with 9:39 remaining.
Southeastern answered with a score of their own, as Lucas capped a 11-play, 90-yard drive with a two-yard touchdown run to knot the score at 7-7 with 3:27 remaining in the opening quarter. On the next play from scrimmage, Shepard hit Skelly with a 68-yard touchdown strike to give USD a 14-7 advantage heading into the second quarter.
Southeastern's defense stiffened over the next several possessions, allowing the Lions to tie the score just before halftime. Babin found Lucas on a perfectly-designed screen pass and the Baton Rouge native took it to the house from 51 yards out to send the game into the break tied at 14.
Newbill's final heroics capped a stellar night for the Monroe product, as he led Southeastern with 13 tackles, including two for loss. Junior defensive back Tommy Connors also had 12 stops for the Lions.
Southeastern will be back in action on Saturday, facing Louisiana Tech at 6 p.m. in Ruston. Contact the Southeastern Athletics Ticket Office at (985) 549-5466 or 1-866-LION-TIX for ticket information.
