Box Score



HAMMOND – For the first time since joining the Southland Conference, the Southeastern Louisiana football team is 3-0 in Southland Conference play after a 27-22 victory over Northwestern State Saturday afternoon at Strawberry Stadium.
 
The Lions (3-4, 3-0 Southland) are off to a 3-0 mark in league play for the first time since 1974, when Southeastern was a member of the Gulf South Conference. Northwestern State fell to 3-4 overall and 1-2 in league action.
 
Southeastern came away with the win after its most balanced effort of the season. Freshman Xavier Roberson carried 15 times for 85 yards and two touchdowns, while senior quarterback Nathan Stanley completed 17 of 27 passes for 208 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Stanley spread his completions among 10 different receivers. Junior Marquis Fruge' led the Lions with four catches for 56 yards, while junior Jerry Anderson caught his first touchdown of his Southeastern career.
 
The Lion defense put together another banner effort, finishing with six sacks. Senior Devan Walker led the way with two sacks, while senior Mairo Stovall, freshman Caleb Young, sophomore Robert Scarpati and freshman Denzel Thompson each had one apiece. Thompson's sack forced a fumble, which junior Cqulin Hubert recovered, while senior Robert Alford recorded his team-high third interception of the season.
 
Northwestern State quarterback Brad Henderson managed 234 yards and a pair of scores on 21 for 34 passing, while also rushing for 30 yards on 18 carries and another score. Corey Simmons and Daniel Taylor each had touchdown catches for the Demons.
 
NSU junior Ryan Sorrell led all players with 10 tackles, while senior Derek Rose had nine tackles and a fumble recovery. However, for the third time in as many Southland games, Southeastern did not allow a sack.
 
Northwestern State took the early lead after senior Jamaal White picked off Stanley on the game's opening possession. The Demons drove to the Lion five-yard line, but had to settle for a 22-yard field goal by senior John Shaughnessy to take a 3-0 lead with 9:20 left in the opening quarter.
 
Southeastern answered with a 15-play, 75-yard scoring march. The Lions were 4-for-4 on third downs on the drive, including a 27-yard Stanley to Fruge' pass that converted a third-and-11. Anderson caught a fade in the left corner of the end zone from four yards out to cap the drive and give Southeastern a 7-3 lead with 2:14 left in the opening quarter.
 
The Lions held firm on the next Demon drive and moved into Demon territory, but a nice hit by senior Brashard Booker forced a fumble by sophomore Stanley Moore and gave NSU the ball back. The Lions again thwarted the NSU offense, as Scarpati's sack highlighted a three-and-out.
 
Stanley and Moore hooked up on a 21-yard completion down to the Northwestern State 35-yard line on the ensuing drive. Two plays later, Roberson burst up the middle and cruised in for a 34-yard touchdown and a 14-3 Southeastern lead.
 
Northwestern State drove deep into Southeastern territory on its ensuing possession, but the Lions seemed to have them stopped on fourth-and-five at the Lion 12-yard line. However, NSU head coach Bradley Dale Peveto reached into his bag of tricks and holder Spencer Harrell shoveled a pass to Chris Dever Jr. on a fake field goal attempt.
 
The play gained eight yards and set NSU up with first-and-goal. Two plays later, Henderson found Simmons from four yards out to cut into the Lion lead. The score remained 14-9 with 6:29 left in the second quarter after Shaughnessy banged the extra point attempt off the right upright.
 
Southeastern seemed to push the lead to 21-9, when freshman Rasheed Harrell made a tremendous run down the right sideline, spinning out of a tackle and cruising into the end zone from 31 yards out. However, Harrell was called for taunting during the play and had to settle for a 22-yard field goal by junior Seth Sebastian to head into the break with a 17-9 advantage.
 
Northwestern State picked up a couple of first downs on the opening drive of the second half. However, Alford came up big on a second-and-11 from the Southeastern 44-yard line. Running out of the wildcat formation, NSU senior wide receiver Phillip Harvey attempted a jump pass to Henderson, but Alford snagged it to give the Lions the ball near midfield.
 
A 23-yard screen pass from Stanley to senior Blaine LeBlanc highlighted a six-play, 47-yard drive that was capped by a Sebastian 30-yard field goal. Sebastian's successful kick gave Southeastern a 20-9 lead with 10:14 left in the third quarter.
 
Northwestern State answered with its most impressive drive of the contest, a nine-play, 92-yard scoring march helped by three Lion penalties for 40 yards. Taylor caught a screen from Henderson, made two Lions miss and scored from 30 yards out. Sophomore Maurice Sutton sacked Henderson on the two-point attempt to keep the Lion lead at 20-15 with 5:49 left in the third quarter.
 
NSU forced Southeastern into a three-and-out on its next possession and moved into Lion territory. On third-and-six from the Lion 49-yard line, Thompson came on a corner blitz and lit up Henderson. The crushing hit forced the ball loose and Hubert was right there for the recovery.
 
On the first play of the drive, sophomore Chris Malott skied for a circus catch along the right sideline to set Southeastern up in the NSU red zone. Two plays later, Roberson scampered in from 11 yards out to put the Lions up, 27-15, with 2:49 left in the third quarter.
 
The two teams traded empty possessions for the next few trips, before Northwestern State pulled within five with just over four minutes left. A 27-yard pass from Henderson to Simmons highlighted the drive, which Henderson closed out with an eight-yard scoring run. Shaughnessy's PAT try was true and the Lion lead shrunk to five with 4:08 remaining.
 
Malott fair caught an onside kick attempt near midfield and 15 yards were tacked on after a personal foul on NSU. Southeastern was able to milk the clock thanks to a Stanley to Fruge six-yard pass on fourth and five.
 
By the time NSU was able to stop Southeastern on downs, the Demons took over on their own 21-yard line with 19 seconds left and no timeouts. Henderson managed one completion, but the Demons could get no further than their 37-yard line and were called for an illegal forward pass to end the game.
 
Southeastern will enjoy a bye week, before hosting Central Arkansas for Homecoming on Saturday, Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. The Lions-Bears matchup will be broadcast live in the Hammond area on KSLU-FM (90.9) and on the Internet at www.LionSports.net.