Box Score

HAMMOND – The Southeastern Louisiana defense forced five turnovers, including a game-clinching 12-yard interception return for a touchdown by senior Tommy Connors, on the way to a 24-10 win over UT Martin in the Lion football team's home opener Saturday night at Strawberry Stadium.

Connors' score with 4:20 remaining came on the second pick of the game for the Marrero native and put the game Skyhawks (0-2) away. Southeastern (1-1) took a 17-0 lead into the halftime break and was able to make that stand.

Connors' fellow seniors Re'Keem Wilson and Clint Coleman each had interceptions for the Lions, while sophomore T'Darryl Grays had a key strip and recovery. The ball hawking by the Lions was able to negate 525 total yards racked up by the Skyhawks.

Southeastern was able to get to UTM quarterback Derek Carr three times with senior Nathan Clophus, sophomore Devan Walker and sophomore Tramaine Lucas each credited with a sack. Senior Mark Newbill was credited with a game-high 14 tackles for the Lions.

Southeastern used a balanced rushing attack, as sophomore running backs Zeke Jones (17 carries) and Sam Fairley (15 carries) each rushed for 108 yards. Saturday's performance marked the first time the Lions have had multiple players surpass 100 yards rushing in the same game.

The rushing performances of Jones and Fairley supported sophomore quarterback Brian Young, who was making his first appearance as a Lion. The Hahnville native completed 18-of-38 passes for 148 yards and an interception. Junior wide receivers Brandon Collins (60 yards) and Simmie Yarborough (39 yards) had six catches apiece for the Lions.

UTM running back Jason McNair led the Skyhawks with 24 carries for 132 yards. Skyhawk sophomore quarterback Derek Carr threw for 390 yards on 20-of-41 passing, but threw four interceptions to go with his one touchdown. Chris Thompson led UTM with four catches for 72 yards and a score.

Defensively, UTM was led by senior linebacker Josh Bey who finished with 11 tackles. Senior Jonathan Utley posted an interception for the Skyhawks.

Southeastern jumped out to an early lead with an efficient 70-yard drive to open the game. Young was 4-for-4 on the opening drive, connecting with Collins on three times. Jones busted through the line and capped the seven-play march with a 39-yard touchdown jaunt to put the Lions up, 7-0.

The score would remain the same until early in the second quarter, when the Lions again used a methodical drive to march down the field. Southeastern covered 80 yards in 10 plays with Fairley rolling in from 26 yards out to put the Lions up, 14-0, with 8:24 remaining in the half.

A 67-yard McNair run on the ensuing drive gave UT Martin the ball at the Lion 25-yard line, but Southeastern defense stiffened. On fourth-and-one at the Lion 16, Clophus stopped McNair short to give the Lions the ball back with 6:10 left in the half.

Southeastern responded with a 10-play, 64-yard scoring drive. Two rushes by Jones for 24 yards and a 21-yard catch and run by Collins keyed the march. Freshman Seth Sebastian connected on a 37-yard field goal – his first of his collegiate career – and put the Lions up, 17-0, heading into the break.

UT Martin got on the board with a 10-play, 58-yard drive to open the third quarter. A 42-yard pass from Carr to Kenny Jones set up a Cody Sandlin 24-yard field goal to put the Skyhawks on the board with 10:19 left in the third quarter.

After a Lion three-and-out, UT Martin further cut into the Lion lead. Thompson caught a short pass from Carr, shook a Lion tackler and cruised in from 54 yards out to cut the Lion lead to 17-10.

The two teams traded punts on the next several possessions and the Skyhawks took over at their own 21-yard line to start the fourth quarter. Carr and Jones connected on a long pass to the Southeastern 35-yard line, but Grays stripped Jones and fell on the loose ball to end the Lion threat.

After Young was intercepted on the next Lion possession, a Carr 35-yard strike to Maurice Taylor set up UTM deep in Southeastern territory. The Lions again answered the call, as a Carr pass fell incomplete and the Lions took over on downs.

On the following drive, Southeastern was forced to punt on a fourth-and-six at their own 38-yard line. The Lions faked the punt and sophomore Beau Mothe rolled 18 yards to give Southeastern a fresh set of downs. Though Southeastern could not manage another first down, the successful fake allowed the Lions to take several minutes off the clock.

Mothe then hit a 39-yard punt that pinned UTM at its own three-yard line with just over five minutes to play. On the second play of the drive, Walker flushed Carr out of the pocket. As he tried to scramble away, Carr rushed his throw and threw it right to Connors, who walked in from 12 yards out to put the Lions up by two scores with 4:20 remaining.

UTM marched down the field in the final minutes, but Carr's last fourth-down pass to Bryan Milligan was too high and the Lions took over on downs and ran out the clock.

The Lions will be back in action next Saturday, hosting Lamar at 6 p.m. at Strawberry Stadium. The 2010 Southeastern Athletics Hall of Fame class of Sarah Gascon (volleyball/softball), Bobby Hill (football) and Andy Smith (men's golf) will be inducted prior to Saturday's game.