HAMMOND – The Southeastern Louisiana defense forced three first half turnovers and outgained Sam Houston State, 473-272, on the way to a 37-21 Homecoming victory and its first-ever 2-0 start to Southland Conference play in front of 6,902 fans Saturday night at Strawberry Stadium.

The Lions (4-2, 2-0 SLC) fed off the energy of its emotional 51-50 comeback win at Texas State to put together their most impressive victory of the 2009 season and move into a first-place tie with Stephen F. Austin atop the Southland Conference standings. Sam Houston State fell to 3-3 overall and 1-1 in league play.

After falling behind 7-0, Southeastern answered with 20 unanswered points to take a 20-7 halftime lead. Sam Houston State cut the lead to 20-14 midway through the third quarter, but the Lions responded with 17 consecutive points to take a 37-14 lead with 5:21 left in the game.

Southeastern senior quarterback Brian Babin completed 24 of 40 passes for 286 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. All three of his scoring strikes went to sophomore Simmie Yarborough, who hauled in eight passes for a career-high 151 yards and now has 10 touchdown receptions – the second-highest single-season total in school history. Senior Merrick Lanaux was also a favorite target of Babin's, catching six balls for 95 yards with seemingly every reception coming in a crucial situation.

The Lions featured one of their most balanced attacks of the year, as they racked up 187 yards rushing to go with their 286 yards passing. Senior Jasper Ducksworth carried 22 times for 92 yards, while freshman Zeke Jones bulled ahead for 71 yards and a score on 11 carries.

Southeastern had 25 first downs in the contest, while allowing the Bearkats to move the chains just 12 times. The Lions harassed SHSU quarterback Blake Joseph into three interceptions, forcing the Bearkat signal caller to complete 16 of his 35 passes for 180 yards and two scores.

Southeastern juniors Mark Newbill and Curtis Strong, along with senior Quinten Pierre each had interceptions for the Lions. Junior Ryan Godare, Newbill and junior Michael Ducksworth led the way with six tackles apiece for the Lions, while Godare, junior Nathan Clophus and freshman Tramaine Lucas all recorded sacks.

The lone bright spot offensively for the Bearkats was the play of James Aston, who carried 14 times for 103 yards, caught a team-high six passes for 54 yards and had an 89-yard kickoff return for a score.

Sam Houston State jumped out to a 7-0 lead with 6:13 left in the first quarter, as Joseph found Madkins for a 16-yard score. The Lions answered with a 13-play, 80-yard drive that ate up over six minutes of the clock, capped by a Babin two-yard toss to Yarborough to even the score after one quarter.

A Newbill interception set up Southeastern senior placekicker Jeff Turner for a 43-yard field goal to give the Lions the lead for good. The Lions forced the Bearkats to punt on the next drive and a 24-yard reverse by senior Andre Cryer set up Babin's five-yard scoring strike to Yarborough, giving the Lions a 17-7 advantage with seven minutes left in the half.

The Lions capped the half with Turner connecting on a 46-yard field goal to put Southeastern up by 13 at the break.

After the two teams swapped punts to open the second half, Sam Houston State cut the lead to 20-14 with a four-yard Joseph to Madkins hookup with 7:51 left in the third quarter.

On the next Lion drive, Babin was five-for-five passing and marched the Lions down for a 20-yard Turner field goal to take a 23-14 lead. After forcing the Bearkats to go three-and-out, Southeastern took over at their own 48-yard line. On the first play of the drive, Babin found Yarborough on a deep crossing route and the Brookhaven, Miss. native waltzed into the end zone for his third touchdown of the game, giving Southeastern a commanding 30-14 lead with 2:37 left in the third quarter.

With a little over 12 minutes left in the fourth quarter, Jones and Ducksworth led Southeastern on the drive that ended any doubt in the outcome. With the two Lion runners moving the chains, Southeastern milked over seven minutes off the clock. A leaping 20-yard grab by Lanaux set up the Lions with first-and-goal at the one-yard line and Jones powered in on the next play to put Southeastern up, 37-14, with 5:21 left.

Aston took back the ensuing kickoff 89 yards for a score, but the Bearkats got no closer with a sack by Clophus in the final minute putting the capper on the victory.

Southeastern will return to action next Saturday in Lake Charles taking on No. 11 McNeese State (4-2, 1-1 SLC), which defeated Northwestern State, 51-23, tonight. The Lions and Cowboys will kick off at 6 p.m. and the league contest will be televised live on the Southland Television Network and will also be broadcast in the Hammond area on KSLU-FM (90.9) and on the Internet at www.LionSports.net.