Box Score

HAMMOND – Northwestern State quarterback Paul Harris threw for four touchdowns and Southeastern Louisiana could not overcome an early 21-0 deficit in a 35-16 loss to the Demons in the Lions' home finale Saturday night at Strawberry Stadium.

Southeastern fell to 2-7 overall and 1-4 in Southland Conference action. Northwestern State remained in a tie for first place in the league standings with McNeese State and Stephen F. Austin, improving to 5-4 overall and 4-1 in league action.

“I felt like we were totally unprepared, mentally and emotionally,” Southeastern head coach Mike Lucas said. “They were screening us very effectively early in the game and they were more physical than us in every aspect.”

The Lions honored 19 seniors who were playing in their final home game of their careers. Senior defensive back Tommy Connors led Southeastern with 15 tackles, while linebacker Mark Newbill made 13 stops to move over the 400-tackle plateau with 401 career tackles. Seniors Clint Coleman, Re'Keem Wilson and Curtis Strong all had interceptions for Southeastern.

Senior wide receiver Andre Cryer pulled down a game-high eight catches for 66 yards for the Lions. Junior wide receiver Brandon Collins posted his third consecutive 100-yard receiving performance for Southeastern, catching four passes for 106 yards and a touchdown.

Sophomore Brian Young took over at quarterback for the Lions after senior Tyler Beatty left with an injury late in the second quarter. Young completed 17-of-31 passes for 224 yards with a touchdown and three interceptions. Sophomore running back Sam Fairley carried the load for Southeastern, rushing 24 times for 68 yards.

Southeastern had no answer for Harris, who completed 23 of 35 passes – including 11 straight during the first half – for 271 yards. Eleven different players caught passes for NSU, led by Phillip Harvey (4-82) and Justin Aldredge (4-62).

NSU scored on their first three drives to take a 21-0 first quarter lead on three short Harris touchdown passes.

Southeastern managed three field goals in the second quarter, but a 33-yard Harris to Aldredge touchdown sent the Demons into half with a 28-9 lead.

Northwestern State drove deep into Southeastern territory on the opening drive of the third quarter, but a fake field goal failed. Southeastern drove to the Northwestern State 21-yard line on the ensuing drive, but Jamaal White intercepted a Young pass at the Demon 15-yard line and returned it to his 42-yard line, then pitched it to Cortez Paige, who rolled the remaining 58 yards for the score that ended any chance of a Southeastern comeback.

The Lions managed one more score in the middle of the fourth quarter. Young hit Collins for a 58-yard bomb down the left sideline to cut the final margin to 35-16.

Southeastern will head to Nacogdoches, Texas next Saturday for a 2 p.m. game at league co-leader Stephen F. Austin.