NATCHITOCHES – The last time Southeastern Louisiana posted a win at Northwestern State, Jimmy Carter was just elected President. The last time the Lions pitched a shutout, Ronald Reagan was preparing for a landslide re-election victory.

Southeastern Louisiana scored a pair of touchdowns in the final 30 seconds of the first half and the Lions posted their first shutout since 1984 as it defeated in-state rival Northwestern State, 27-0, in a Southland Conference game Saturday afternoon at Turpin Stadium. Southeastern, which clinched its first winning season since a 7-4 record in 2004, improved to 6-3 overall and 4-1 in the Southland Conference.

Quarterback Brian Babin returned to the Southeastern lineup after missing last week's game against Central Arkansas with an injury, tossing three first-half touchdowns and throwing for 200 yards. Merrick Lanaux and Simmie Yarborough also returned to the lineup for Southeastern, as the Lions built a 24-0 halftime lead and posted their first win in Natchitoches since a 34-27 win in 1976.

“Our young men did a good job in executing the game plan,” Southeastern head coach Mike Lucas said. “It was the best defensive performance that I've seen since 2005. To shutout anybody in the Southland Conference is an accomplishment, especially with the athletes that they (Northwestern State) have on that side of the ball.”

Posting its first shutout since a 28-0 win against Western Kentucky – a span of 95 games - Southeastern held Northwestern State (0-9, 0-5 Southland) to 261 yards total offense and forced two turnovers.

Southeastern, which hosts nationally-ranked Stephen F. Austin on Saturday in a key Southland Conference battle, got its first turnover late in the second quarter when Re'Keem Wilson intercepted a Paul Harris pass at the SLU 28. Four plays later, Babin eluded the Demon pass rush and found Kory Theodore for a 48-yard touchdown pass that gave Southeastern a 17-0 lead with 30 seconds remaining.

On the ensuing kickoff, Southeastern's Kendrick Jackson forced a fumble that was recovered by Ryan Godare at the Northwestern 21. Two plays later, Babin connected with Jasper Ducksworth on a screen pass and the senior weaved his way into the end zone from 10 yards out with five seconds left for a 24-0 lead.

“It was a game-time decision on whether I could play,” Babin, who completed 15 of 30 passes for 200 yards, said. “Our training staff did a great job and I felt OK and wanted to get back in the rhythm.”

After Northwestern State's Bradley Russo was dropped for a 5-yard loss on an attempted fake punt at the Northwestern 24, the Lions needed two plays to find the end zone as Babin connected with Chris Wilson on a 22-yard touchdown pass that gave Southeastern a 10-0 lead.

“It (the fake punt) gave us a boost,” Babin said. “We were a little sluggish on offense the entire game, and we have to get that corrected before next week.”

Turner, who gave Southeastern a 3-0 lead with a 45-yard field goal, added a 36-yard field goal in the third quarter for a 27-0 lead.

Northwestern State, which controlled the football for nearly 34 minutes, got as close as the Southeastern 19 but missed on two field goal attempts. The Demons had a third-quarter touchdown called back on a holding penalty, resulting in a missed field goal attempt by John Shaughnessy.

On the Demons' next possession, Northwestern State drove as far as the Southeastern 22, but Grant Laurent blocked a 43-yard attempt by Shaughnessy.

Mark Newbill led Southeastern with 14 tackles while Godare and Quinten Pierre added six each. Lanaux and Yarborough, the Lions' top two receivers entering the game, caught five and two passes respectively while Ducksworth gained a game-high 80 yards on 15 carries.

Tyler Wolfe came off the bench for freshman starter Paul Harris and went 11-for-22 for 135 yards. Darius Duffy caught a career-high 12 passes for Northwestern State while Nebraska transfer Quentin Castille gained 31 yards on 10 carries.

Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 Score
Southeastern La. 10 14 3 0 27 Record: (6-3, 4-1)
Northwestern State 0 0 0 0 0 Record: (0-9, 0-5)

Scoring Summary:
1st
SLU – FG Turner 45
SLU – Wilson 22 pass from Babin (Turner kick)

2nd
SLU - Theodore 48 pass from Babin (Turner kick)
SLU – Ducksworth 10 pass from Babin (Turner kick)

3rd
SLU – FG Turner 36

SLU NWLA
FIRST DOWNS 18 13
RUSHES-YARDS (NET) 29-113 32-73
PASSING YDS (NET) 229 188
Passes Att-Comp-Int 43-18-0 37-20-1
TOTAL OFFENSE PLAYS-YARDS 72-342 69-261
Fumble Returns-Yards 0-0 0-0
Punt Returns-Yards 2-5 1-0
Kickoff Returns-Yards 1-32 6-114
Interception Returns-Yards 1-0 0-0
Punts (Number-Avg) 9-42.2 10-33.4
Fumbles-Lost 1-0 1-1
Penalties-Yards 7-55 9-81
Possession Time 26:32 33:28

RUSHING
Southeastern La. – Ducksworth 15-80; Jones 5-16; Beatty 3-14; Johnson 1-8; Cryer 2-6; TEAM 1-minus 1; Babin 2-minus 10. Northwestern State – Castille 10-31; Harris 7-28; Griffin 10-18; Jefferson 1-3; Wolfe 3-minus 2; Russo 1-minus 5.

PASSING
Southeastern La. – Babin 15-30-0-200; Beatty 3-13-0-29. Northwestern State – Wolfe 11-22-0-135; Harris 9-15-1-53.

RECEIVING
Southeastern La. – Lanaux 5-63; Wilson 3-50; Ducksworth 3-16; Theodore 2-53; Yarborough 2-21; Cryer 2-13; Jones 1-13. Northwestern State – Duffy 12-147; Edwards 4-21; Brown 1-20; Austin 1-5; Jefferson 1-minus 1; Castille 1-minus 4.