HAMMOND – Coming off one its most spectacular comebacks in school history, the Southeastern Louisiana University football team returns home for the first time in over five weeks when it celebrates homecoming on Saturday against Sam Houston State in a Southland Conference tilt at Strawberry Stadium.

Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. The game can be heard in the Hammond area on KSLU-FM (90.9) and on the internet at www.LionSports.net. The contest is also being televised on a tape-delayed basis on the Southeastern Channel (Charter Cable 18 in Tangipahoa/St. Tammany/St. Helena/Livingston Parish and Charter Cable 17 in Washington Parish).

Southeastern (3-2, 1-0 SLC), which last played on its home field on Sept. 10 against Union College, staged its biggest fourth-quarter comeback in school history when it scored 24 points in the final 9:06 to force overtime and stun defending Southland champion Texas State, 51-50. The Lions scored three touchdowns and converted on three 2-point conversions to tie the game at 44-44 before Jasper Ducksworth gave the Lions the lead for good with a 2-yard scoring run in overtime.

The Lions, who will look for their first 2-0 start in Southland Conference play since joining the league in 2005, bring an offense that ranks seventh among FCS programs in scoring offense and 17th in total offense.

Quarterback Brian Babin, the top-rated passer in the Southland Conference, is eighth among FCS quarterbacks in pass efficiency and is No. 16 nationally in total offense. The senior from St. Amant has completed 116 of 173 passes for 1,343 yards with 13 touchdowns and two interceptions. Against Texas State, Babin went 23-for-36 for 285 yards and four touchdowns in the game after going 5-for-11 for 32 yards in the first half.

Simmie Yarborough, who is tied for 10th nationally in receptions per game, leads Southeastern with 35 catches and seven touchdowns. The sophomore caught two touchdown passes against Texas State to increase his total to 13 and tie former Lion Duane Floyd for fifth in school history.

Merrick Lanaux, who tied a season-high with six receptions against Texas State, has 24 receptions with two touchdowns for the Lions and is ranked sixth in school history wit 90 receptions.

Ducksworth earned Southland Conference and LSWA Offensive Player of the Week honors after rushing for a career-high 143 yards with three touchdowns in the Lions' win. On the season, Ducksworth has rushed for 251 yards and four touchdowns while recording nearly 125 all-purpose yards per game.

Defensively, Mark Newbill (41 tackles) and Ryan Godare (40 tackles) lead Southeastern with Brian Reynolds (26 tackles), Quinten Pierre (25 tackles) and Michael Ducksworth (24 tackles) next.

Sam Houston State (3-2, 1-0 SLC) opened Southland Conference play with a 44-21 win over visiting Nicholls last week. Quarterback Blake Joseph, a transfer from Houston, passed for 269 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 54 yards and two scores as the Bearkats pulled away to win their second straight game.

James Aston led SHSU with 81 yards rushing and three touchdowns while Jason Madkins caught seven passes for 93 yards.

Joseph has thrown for 1,222 yards and five touchdowns for the Bearkats while Aston has recorded 175.6 all-purpose yards per game. Madkins has caught a team-high 22 passes for SHSU, averaging nearly 24 yards per reception with two touchdowns.

Southeastern claimed last year's contest, rallying for a 30-27 overtime victory in Huntsville, snapping a six-game losing streak in the series and getting its first win over the Bearkats since 1978.

Tickets are available by calling the Southeastern Athletic Ticket Office at (985) 549-5466 or on-line at www.LionSports.net.

Game Day Details
Date/Time: Saturday, Oct, 17, 2009, 6 p.m. CDT
Location: Hammond, La. (Strawberry Stadium)
Capacity/Surface: 7,408/SprinTurf
Talent: Mark Willoughby (PBP), Damon Sunde (color), Robbie Rhodes (sideline)
Radio: KSLU-FM (90.9)
Television: Southeastern Channel
Livestats/Audio: www.LionSports.net
The Series: Sam Houston State leads, 7-3
Last Meeting: SLU 30, SHSU 27 (ot); Nov. 15, 2008 in Huntsville