Box Score

HAMMOND – Southeastern Louisiana scored the game's first 42 points and never looked back on the way to a 69-20 victory over Union College Thursday night in non-conference football action in Strawberry Stadium.

The Lions (2-0) rolled to a 56-10 halftime lead – the most points in a half scored in school history – and opened the season with two victories for the first time since 2004. Union College, which came into the season ranked 10th nationally in NAIA, fell to 1-1 on the year. Combined with its 41-7 win over Texas A&M-Commerce last Saturday, Southeastern has scored 110 points on the year – the most-ever scored by the Lions in their first two games of the season.

Pulling the majority of their starters midway through the second quarter, the Lions racked up 565 yards offensively and 27 first downs on the night. Union was held to 11 first downs and 247 total yards.

Reigning Southland Conference and LSWA Player of the Week Lion senior quarterback Brian Babin completed 16 of 19 passes for 286 yards and a career-high-tying five touchdowns in a little over a quarter of play. Senior placekicker Jeff Turner connected on nine-of-10 point-after attempts, becoming the school's all-time leading scorer with 208 career points, besting the previous record of 204 points by former Lion Horace Belton.

Sophomore Simmie Yarborough (three catches for 95 yards) caught two touchdown passes for the second straight week and Babin also connected with senior Merrick Lanaux (5-72), sophomore Kory Theodore (3-79) and junior Cole Wardell (1-11) on scoring strikes. Junior quarterback Tyler Beatty completed 8-for-11 for 96 yards in Babin's relief. Beatty hit Greg Johnson for a 10-yard touchdown strike early in the third quarter.

Redshirt freshman Zeke Jones led the Lions on the ground with 13 carries for 106 yards and two touchdowns. Freshman Sam Fairley added 19 carries for 71 yards and one score for the Lions.

Defensively, junior Curtis Strong hauled in his first career interception and returned it 64 yards for a first quarter touchdown. Freshman Robert Alford also grabbed his first interception for the Lions. The Lions forced Union into five turnovers, as senior Tommy Connors, junior Mark Newbill and sophomore Keiron Jones each had fumble recoveries. Junior Ryan Godare led Southeastern for the second straight week with nine tackles, while sophomore Lindsey Leavoy and junior Michael Ducksworth had seven stops apiece.

Union College was led by running back Antonio Drane who had 16 carries for 83 yards. Three Bulldog quarterbacks combined to connect on just six of 26 passes for 128 yards and one touchdown.

Southeastern will return to action on Saturday, Sept. 19, when they face No. 6 Ole Miss at 6:30 p.m. in Oxford, Miss.