October 19, 2013 - 6 p.m. - Turpin Stadium (Natchitoches, La.)
Records: Southeastern Louisiana (4-2, 1-0 SLC) / Northwestern State (3-3, 0-1 SLC)
Television: None
Radio: KSLU 90.9 FM, Kajun 107.1 FM, The Joint 104.7 FM
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Southeastern Game Notes
Northwestern State Game Notes
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LAA to Host Tailgate in Natchitoches for Lions-Demons Contest

HAMMOND – The Southeastern Louisiana football team will open up the road portion of its Southland Conference Schedule on Saturday, when it travels to face Northwestern State at 6 p.m. in Turpin Stadium.
 
The Lions (4-2, 1-0 Southland) will be looking for their second straight 2-0 start to league play and their first four-game winning streak since 1983. Northwestern State (3-3, 0-1 Southland) searches for its first league win, as the Demons look to bounce back from last week's 33-21 loss at Nicholls State.
 
"This will be a great test for our football team," Southeastern head coach Ron Roberts said. "Northwestern State will be celebrating Homecoming, so we know we can expect a hostile environment. We have a lot of respect for (NSU coach) Jay Thomas and his staff and they will have the Demons well-prepared and ready to play. Our focus has to be on us and the things we need to do to continue to improve and grow as a team."
 
The game will be broadcast on KSLU 90.9 FM, the flagship station of the Southeastern Sports Radio Network, as well as Northshore Broadcasting stations Kajun 107.1 FM and The Joint 104.7 FM. Fans can listen online at www.LionSports.net or on their smart phone using the TuneIn Radio app. LionVision subscribers can access a live video stream, provided by Northwestern State, at LionSports.net, where NSU's live stats feed will also be accessible.
 
Southeastern opened league play last Saturday with an emphatic 56-14 victory over Stephen F. Austin. After the convincing victory, the Lions are in the cusp of breaking into the top 25 in both the Sports Network and FCS Coaches' polls.
 
A pair of Lions received national, league and state accolades for their roles in Saturday's league opener. Junior quarterback Bryan Bennett was named the National Performer and Quarterback of the Week by College Football Performance Awards and was selected as the Offensive Player of the Week by the Southland Conference and LSWA. The Granada Hills, Calif. native threw for season highs of 337 yards and four touchdowns on 13 of 20 passing, while also rushing for 72 yards and a score.
 
Bennett was one of two Lions to receive recognition, as junior defensive back Marice Sutton was named the CFPA National Defensive Back of the Week and the Southland Defensive Player of the Week after posting two interceptions to key a defensive effort that saw the Lions limit high-powered SFA, which came in No. 2 nationally in total offense and boasting the nation's top-ranked pass offense, to 315 total yards and 139 yards through the air. His first interception was taken back for a 45-yard touchdown, allowing him to tie the single-season and career school record for interception return touchdowns.
 
Though the Lions aired it out in Saturday's win, the offense's bread and butter has been the ground game through the first half of the season. Southeastern is currently second in the conference with 227.2 yards on the ground per game. Bennett leads the team with 392 yards and seven touchdowns and is backed by the sophomore running back trio of Rasheed Harrell (277 yards, 3 TD), Kody Sutton (258 yards, 3 TD) and Xavier Roberson (258 yards, 2 TD).
 
Bennett's passing efficiency numbers have improved greatly after he tossed six touchdowns and no interceptions over the past two weeks. He enters Saturday's contest with 1,253 yards, seven touchdowns and six interceptions, having completed nearly 63 percent of his throws.
 
Bennett has spread the ball around throughout the season, as six different Lions have caught touchdown passes. Sophomore Jeff Smiley leads the team with 23 receptions and three touchdown receptions, while senior Tony McCrea has a team-high 344 yards on 17 catches. Senior Marquis Fruge' (12 catches, 192 yards, 1 TD) gives the Lions three players with double-digit catches. Juniors Chris Malott, Isaiah Kepley and Marquis Hayes also have touchdown receptions.
 
On defense, junior Drew Misita leads the team with 30 tackles, followed by seniors Kevin Harmon and John Graves with 29 apiece. Juniors Jacob Newman (8.0 tackles for loss, four sacks) and Isiah Corbett (6.0 tackles for loss, five sacks) have been forces on the defensive line for the Lions. In the secondary, Sutton leads the Southland with three interceptions, while senior Todd Washington has a team-high seven pass breakups.
 
A pair of national leaders highlight the Southeastern special teams units. Senior Seth Sebastian has yet to miss a field goal (6-for-6) or point after attempt (27-for-27) and leads the nation in field goal percentage. Roberson, the school's career leader in kickoff return average and kickoff return touchdowns, leads the nation with a 38.3 kickoff return average. Senior Matt McCormick sits in second in the Southland with a 42.6 yard punting average.
 
Northwestern State has featured a balanced attack through the first six games, as junior Zach Adkins has been effective, throwing for 1,224 yards, eight touchdowns and five interceptions while completing over 62 percent of his passes. Freshman Shakeir Ryan (25 catches, 209 yards, 2 TD) and sophomore Ed Eagan (22-226-1 TD) are Adkins' most frequent targets, while senior Louis Hollier has a team-high three touchdown receptions.
 
Much like Southeastern, the Demons use a multitude of people in their rushing attack as eight different players have rushing touchdowns in 2013. Junior Garrett Atzenweiler (223 yards, 3 TD) and sophomore Daniel Taylor (214 yards, 3 TD) have been the team's top rushers through the first six games.
 
Opponents are scoring 30.3 points and gaining 368.2 yards per contest versus the Demon defense. Senior Patrick Black leads the team with 58 tackles, while junior Tyler Roussel has made 51 stops. Freshman JeMarcus Marshall has been credited with seven tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks to pace NSU, while junior Fred Thomas has both of the team's interceptions.
 
Eagan is a dangerous return man for the Demons, averaging 23.8 yards per kickoff return and bringing back punts for a 9.1 yard average. Sophomore Chris Moore has connected on 50 percent of his field goals, including a long of 47, while freshman Chase Tassin (36.6) and sophomore Andy Wickman (34.5) have split the punting duties.
 
Southeastern has faced Northwestern State more times than any other opponent with the Demons holding a slight 29-27 advantage in the all-time series. The teams have split the eight meetings since the Lion program returned in 2003. Roberson rushed for two touchdowns to lead the Lions to a 27-22 win in Hammond last season.
 
After Saturday's contest, Southeastern will begin preparations for Homecoming, as Lamar comes to town on Oct. 26 for a 7 p.m. contest. The game between the Lions and the visiting Cardinals will air live on ESPN3. The game will also be broadcast on KSLU 90.9 FM, the flagship station of the Southeastern Sports Radio Network, as well as Northshore Broadcasting stations Kajun 107.1 FM and The Joint 104.7 FM. Fans can listen online at www.LionSports.net or on their smart phone using the TuneIn Radio app.