HAMMOND – The Southeastern Louisiana University football team returns to the friendly confines of Strawberry Stadium on Saturday when it plays host to unbeaten and nationally-ranked Sam Houston State for homecoming.

Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. The game can be heard in the Hammond area on KSLU-FM (90.9) and on the internet at www.LionSports.net. Tickets are available on-line at www.LionSports.net or the Southeastern Athletic Ticket Office, located in the Dugas Center for Southeastern Athletics.

Southeastern (2-6, 0-4 SLC) plays its 49th homecoming game dating back to the 1946 season where it has posted a 26-21-1 record. The Lions, who dropped a 13-10 contest to McNeese State in last year's Homecoming game, defeated Sam Houston State (8-0, 5-0 SLC), 37-21, in the 2009 contest.

The Lions enter the game ranked fifth nationally among schools in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) in passing offense (319.25 yards per game) and 13th in total offense (433.50 yards per game). Brian Young, a former Hahnville High product, has thrown for 2,245 yards and 11 touchdowns while leading the Southland Conference in total offense (285.4 yards per game) and ranking second in passing yards (280.6).

Brandon Collins (50 receptions, 684 yards), Kory Theodore (40-555) and Simmie Yarborough (40-541) rank among the top five players in the Southland Conference in receptions per game and receiving yards per game.

Defensively, Ricky Irvin leads Southeastern in tackles (67) followed by Tay Alford (63) and freshman Tyler Stoddard (56). Hammond native Robert Alford, who is fourth on the team with 39 tackles, leads the Lions with three interceptions.

Redshirt freshman Jordan Wells has set Southeastern and Southland Conference single-season records in kickoff returns (1,171 yards) and enters the game 240 yards from tying the NCAA single-season FCS record set by David Primus of Samford in 1989.

SHSU, which has won its last 10 games dating back to last season, enters the game ranked as the FCS leader in rushing defense (55.63 yards per game), scoring defense (12.38 points per game) and turnover margin (+21). The Bearkats rank second in the nation in total defense (259.63 yards per game) and are seventh in rushing offense (255.25).

Paced by Tim Flanders, the Southland Conference's leading rusher with 811 yards, SHSU has earned road wins at New Mexico and McNeese State coupled with five wins at home and a 45-10 win over arch-rival Stephen F. Austin on Oct. 8 at Houston's Reliant Stadium.

Quarterback Brian Bell has thrown for 1,106 yards and 10 touchdowns for the Bearkats with Flanders and Torrance Williams catching a team-high 19 receptions each.