HAMMOND – Behind career nights from senior quarterback Brian Babin and sophomore tight end Simmie Yarborough, as well as a stifling defensive effort, the Southeastern Louisiana football team opened the 2009 campaign with a dominant 41-7 win over visiting Texas A&M-Commerce Saturday night in Strawberry Stadium.

The Lions (1-0) won their home opener for the seventh consecutive season and held Texas A&M-Commerce to just six first downs and 198 total yards. The win was the program's most lopsided victory in a season opener since a 35-0 win over Louisiana-Monroe (then Northeast Louisiana in 1956). Conversely, Southeastern was able to rack up 470 yards on offense and posted 28 first downs.

“It was a total team effort,” Southeastern head coach Mike Lucas, who coached his first game on the sideline since undergoing a heart valve procedure on Oct. 30, 2008. “I was really pleased with the job of our defense and the job that (defensive coordinator) Matt Webb did in getting our defensive staff ready.”

Babin completed 37 of 55 passes for a career-high 379 yards and three touchdowns. His favorite target was Yarborough, who finished with 13 catches for 129 yards and two touchdowns – all career-highs. Senior Chris Wilson also caught a Babin pass for a score, while freshman Zeke Jones and senior Jasper Ducksworth each added rushing touchdowns.

The Lions held A&M-Commerce to two first downs on the way to a 17-0 halftime lead that grew to 34-0 early in the fourth quarter. Junior linebacker Ryan Godare led Southeastern with eight tackles, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

A&M-Commerce was led by running back Marcus Graham, who rushed for 68 yards on eight carries. Defensively, Cory Whitfield had a game-high 15 tackles for the visiting Lions and was one of three A&M-Commerce defenders with double-digit tackles.

Southeastern took a 3-0 lead in the first quarter on a career-long tying 47-yard field goal by senior placekicker Jeff Turner. Turner's field goal capped an 11-play, 38-yard drive to open the game.

The score remained the same until Southeastern's opening drive of the second quarter. Babin engineered a seven-play, 65-yard march that ate up 3:19 off the clock. Babin was 7-for-7 on the drive and ended it with a perfect 17-yard fade that Yarborough hauled in at the back of the end zone for a 10-0 lead.
Both teams traded empty possessions before the Lions hit pay dirt again late in the first half. A 37-yard strike from Babin to senior Merrick Lanaux highlighted a seven-play, 72-yard scoring drive. A 12-yard reception by sophomore Kory Theodore on third-and-nine set Southeastern up with first-and-goal. On the next play, Babin and Yarborough connected on a four-yard score to send the Lions into halftime with a 17-0 cushion.

Southeastern padded the lead late in the third quarter on Turner's second field goal of the game, as the Houston, Texas native capped the Lions' seven-play, 50-yard march with a 22-yard field goal to give the Lions a 20-0 lead.

Southeastern put the game away for good early in the fourth quarter. A blocked punt by freshman Zach Albin gave the Lions the ball deep in A&M-Commerce territory. Three plays later, Jones bulled in from two yards out for his first collegiate touchdown.

On the ensuing Texas A&M-Commerce possession, sophomore Lindsey Leavoy sacked A&M-C quarterback Adam Farkes, forcing a fumble that Godare recovered at the Commerce one-yard line. Ducksworth dove in the end zone to put the Lions ahead, 34-0, with 11:08 left.

Southeastern was looking for its first shutout victory since a 28-0 win over Western Kentucky on Sept. 29, 1984. However, Graham broke out loose for a 55-yard run deep into Southeastern territory. Three plays later, Farkes scored on a draw from three yards out to put A&M-Commerce on the board.

Southeastern answered back with its longest drive of the contest – an 11-play, 74-yard march. Babin hit Wilson on a nine-yard strike to cap the scoring and provide the final 41-7 yard margin.

Southeastern will be back in action on Thursday, Sept. 10, hosting Union College (1-0) at 7 p.m. in Strawberry Stadium.