Box Score



HAMMOND – South Dakota State running back Zack Zenner rushed for 278 yards on 34 carries to lead the Jackrabbits to a 31-14 win over Southeastern Louisiana in the Lions' home opener Saturday night at Strawberry Stadium.
 
Southeastern (0-2) cut a 13-point halftime deficit to six with a touchdown drive to open the second half. However, South Dakota State (1-1) answered with 18 unanswered points to put the game away and send the Lions to their first loss in a home opener since 1985.
 
The Jacks out-gained Southeastern, 439-179, in the win, controlling the ball for nearly 37 minutes. Despite the yardage disparity, the Southeastern defense was able to keep the Lions in it for the majority of the game.
 
On the defensive side of the ball, Southeastern sophomore linebacker Kaleb Muse led the way with 14 tackles, followed by senior defensive end Devan Walker with 10 stops. Sophomore safety Tyler Stoddard had an interception, while freshman defensive lineman Collin Middleton forced a fumble that senior defensive back T'Darryl Grays returned for a score in the game's final minutes.
 
Southeastern also recorded five sacks, as Muse, Walker, sophomore linebacker Drew Misita, senior linebacker Tay Alford and sophomore linebacker Aaron Harris all pulled down SDSU quarterback Austin Sumner behind the line. Sumner didn't test the Southeastern secondary much, completing eight of 18 passes for 134 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.
 
Offensively, Lion senior quarterback Nathan Stanley completed 22 of 43 passes for 190 yards and a touchdown, connecting on a 19-yard scoring pass to senior running back Michael Chaney. Sophomore wide receiver Stanley Moore (five catches, 34 yards) and junior wide receiver Marquis Fruge' (four catches, 65 yards) were Stanley's top targets.
 
Southeastern's running attack was non-existent, as the Lions finished with minus-11 rushing yards, thanks in large part to five SDSU sacks. Chaney led Southeastern with seven carries for 10 yards.
 
After the two teams traded empty possessions to open the game, South Dakota State drew first blood late in the first quarter. A 35-yard Sumner pass to Cam Jones, as well as a roughing the passer penalty to eliminate a third-down stop highlighted a 12-play, 80-yard drive that was capped by a 23-yard Justin Syrovatka field goal.
 
Southeastern could not manage much offensively on its next drive and South Dakota State started the second quarter with a three-play, 25-yard scoring drive. A 39-yard punt return by Dom Wright and a personal foul set SDSU up with prime field position. Sumner capped the drive with a 12-yard toss to Seth Daughters for a 10-0 lead.
 
On the next SDSU drive, Zenner rushed five times for 40 yards to highlight a nine-play, 57-yard scoring march that Syrovatka capped with a 22-yard field goal with 6:58 remaining in the half.
 
Southeastern had its only scoring chance of the first half, after Stoddard's interception set the Lions up in the SDSU red zone. However, the Lions could not gain any ground and junior Seth Sebastian's 34-yard field goal attempt sent Southeastern into the break with a 13-0 deficit.
 
The Lions came out with purpose to start the second half, as Stanley marched the Lions quickly down the field. The Tahlequah, Okla. native completed six of 10 passes for 66 yards, including a 19-yard scoring toss to pull Southeastern within six at 13-7 with 10:12 left in the third quarter.
 
The turning point came on the following South Dakota State drive. Southeastern had the Jacks facing a third-and-16 near midfield. Sumner escaped a Lion sack attempt and threw a strike – narrowly avoiding crossing the line of scrimmage – to Jason Schneider for 46 yards and a 21-7 lead.
 
The Lions went three-and-out and SDSU put the game away with a 55-yard scoring march that saw Zenner account for all the yards on the ground. Zenner busted a 35-yard run to cap the drive, putting SDSU up, 28-7, with 3:08 remaining.
 
Syrovatka added a 26-yard field goal with 12:03 left in the game to push the lead to 31-7. On Southeastern's last offensive drive, Stanley drove the Lions inside the SDSU 10-yard line, hitting Fruge' with a 34-yard strike to highlight the march. However, an eight-yard scoring touchdown pass to freshman Jeff Smiley was called back due to penalty, then Sebastian missed another field goal to keep Southeastern down, 31-7.
 
The Lions were able to cut the final margin, when Middleton stripped Zenner and Grays raced down the sideline for a 25-yard touchdown.
 
Southeastern will have a short turnaround in search of its first win, as the Lions will head to Martin, Tenn. to face Tennessee-Martin on Thursday at 6 p.m. Thursday's contest will be broadcast live in the Hammond area on KSLU 90.9 FM and on the Internet at www.LionSports.net.