Box Score

NEW ORLEANS – Despite holding an advantage in total yards and first downs, the Southeastern Louisiana football team fell just short in its upset bid of Football Bowl Subdivision opponentTulane and dropped a 27-21 decision in the 2010 season opener for both teams Thursday night at the Louisiana Superdome.

The Lions (0-1) held a 266-252 advantage in total yards and finished with 17 first downs to 15 for the Green Wave (1-0). However, Tulane forced Southeastern into four turnovers that ultimately led to the Lions' 12th loss in as many tries versus FBS competition since the program's return in 2003 from an 18-year absence.

The Lions were down by 13 early in the fourth quarter but battled back to cut the lead to six. Southeastern took over with just under a minute remaining and drove into Tulane territory. On the game's final play, Tulane defensive end Justin Adams sacked Lion senior quarterback Tyler Beatty before he get off one last Hail Mary attempt.

The Southeastern defense held Tulane to four first downs in the second half. Senior linebacker Mark Newbill led Southeastern with 10 tackles, while senior safety Tommy Connors returned with seven tackles, a sack and a forced fumble. The Lions had four sacks total with senior Nathan Clophus, sophomore Tramaine Lucas and sophomore Devan Walker each were credited with sacks. Senior safety Re'Keem Wilson – the Southland Conference's interception leader in 2009 – picked off his first pass of 2010.

Beatty was solid in his fourth career start, tossing three touchdowns and completing 17 of 34 attempts for 202 yards, but also committing two turnovers. Beatty hooked up with junior Kory Theodore (three catches, 77 yards) for two touchdowns, while junior Simmie Yarborough hauled in a team-high six passes for 52 yards and a score. Sophomore running back Zeke Jones paced the Lions on the ground with 61 yards on 12 carries.

True freshman Orleans Darkwa led the Tulane offensive attack, rushing for 75 yards and three touchdowns on 19 attempts. Green Wave sophomore quarterback Ryan Griffin managed the game well, completing 17-of-26 passes for 129 yards and an interception. Sophomore D.J. Banks hauled in a game-high seven passes for 65 yards for Tulane, while sophomore linebacker Trent Mackey led all players with 13 tackles to lead the Green Wave defensive efforts.

Southeastern trailed by 10 at the half, but took the opening drive of the third quarter 82 yards on 12 plays. A Zeke Jones 22-yard run set up the Lions with first-and-goal at the Tulane one. On the next play, Jones was initially called down before losing the ball into the end zone where it was recovered by the Green Wave. However, after review the ball was awarded to Tulane and a scoring chance for Southeastern was squandered.

On the ensuing Tulane possession, Wilson picked off Griffin to give the Lions the ball back at the Green Wave 31-yard line. Two plays later, Beatty hit a streaking Yarborough for a 29-yard touchdown, cutting the Tulane lead to 17-14 with 6:53 left in the third quarter.

The two teams traded stops to send the game into the final quarter. Tulane drove down to the Lion eight-yard line, but the Lion defense held firm, forcing Cairo Santos to hit a 27-yard field goal to put the Green Wave up, 20-14, with 12:17 left.

On the Lions' next play, Mackey stripped Yarborough and Adams recovered to set up the Green Wave with first-and-goal at the Southeastern eight-yard line. Darkwa cruised in untouched two plays later for a six-yard score to give Tulane its largest lead at 27-14 with 11:15 remaining.

Southeastern would not go away quietly, however, as the Lions quickly marched down the field with a 77-yard scoring drive that took just under two minutes off the clock. Beatty capped the drive with a 41-yard touchdown to Theodore that pulled the Lions within six with 9:29 left. The teams traded punts for the remainder of the game until Southeastern's last gasp drive in the final minute.

Tulane took the early lead with a 16-play, 75-yard drive to open the game that took nearly nine minutes off the clock. The Green Wave were 3-for-3 on third-down conversions and Darkwa ran in from three yards to give Tulane a 7-0 lead.

Southeastern answered with an eight-play, 57-yard march capped by a 23-yard strike from Beatty to Theodore. Beatty completed three-of-four passes on the drive that knotted the score, 7-7 with 2:43 left in the opening quarter.

After the two teams traded three-and-outs, a short punt by sophomore Beau Mothe and a 14-yard punt return by senior Casey Robottom set up Tulane with the ball at the Lion 27-yard line to start its first drive of the second quarter. Four plays later, Darkwa broke several tackles and bulled in from eight yards out to put Tulane back on top, 14-7, with 12:11 left in the opening half.

An interception by Tulane sophomore Shakiel Smith gave the Green Wave another short field, but the Lion defense stiffened and held the Green Wave to a 29-yard field goal by Santos to put the Green Wave up, 17-7 with 6:25 left in the second quarter.

On the next play from scrimmage, Beatty missed a pitch to Zeke Jones and Tulane recovered at the Lion 17-yard line. Southeastern came up with a big defensive play of its own to keep the game from getting out of hand. Connors sacked Griffin on third-and-three to force a fumble and senior Stephen Moreaux recovered at the 20-yard line to give Southeastern the ball back and thwart a Green Wave scoring opportunity going into the half.

Southeastern will be back in action next Saturday, hosting Tennessee-Martin at 6 p.m. in Strawberry Stadium.