Southeastern Louisiana at Samford Game Day Central
Sept. 21, 2013 - 2 p.m. - Seibert Stadium (Birmingham, Ala.)
Records: Southeastern Louisiana (1-2) / Samford (2-1)
Television: None
Radio: KSLU 90.9 FM, Kajun 107.1 FM, The Joint 104.7 FM
Live Video
Live Audio
Live Stats
Southeastern Game Notes
Samford Game Notes
Southland Conference Notes
Tailgating Information

HAMMOND – The Southeastern Louisiana football team will close out a three-game road swing with a 2 p.m. game at Samford on Saturday at Seibert Stadium.
 
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. Live video and stats will be available for free at www.samfordsports.com.
 
The Lions (1-2) will be looking to close their non-conference road schedule on a high note after posting valiant efforts in eventual losses at nationally-ranked TCU and South Dakota State. While Samford (2-1) will be the first road opponent for the Lions not ranked in the top 25, the talented Bulldogs are receiving votes and are just outside of both the Sports Network and FCS Coaches' polls.
 
For Southeastern to even its record, the Lions will have to limit the types of mistakes it made in last Saturday's 34-26 defeat at No. 6 SDSU. Southeastern moved the ball at will, outgaining the host Jackrabbits, 506-345. However, the Lions committed six turnovers and were charged with 12 penalties for 115 yards to negate the statistical advantage. Southeastern head coach Ron Roberts believes his team will learn from last Saturday's near upset.
 
"We learned a valuable lesson on Saturday," Roberts commented. "We controlled the game in all three phases, but you can't make that many mistakes against a team the caliber of South Dakota State and expect to win. This week will be no different. We're playing another top-25 caliber team in its stadium and we'll have to play very well to come home with a win."
 
Junior quarterback Bryan Bennett leads a Southeastern rushing attack that ranks second in the Southland with 233.3 rushing yards per game. Bennett currently sits in second in the league with 311 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns, leading a dangerous Lion ground game that also includes the sophomore trio of Rasheed Harrell (119 yards, 1 TD), Kody Sutton (115 yards, 1 TD) and Xavier Roberson (104 yards, 1 TD).
 
Twelve different Lions have caught a pass from Bennett, who has thrown for 623 yards in the first three contests. Senior Tony McCrea and sophomore Jeff Smiley share the team lead with 10 catches each with McCrea leading the team with 188 receiving yards.
 
The special teams units have been solid for the Lions with senior kicker Seth Sebastian perfect on four field goal attempts and 10 point after attempts, while senior punter Matt McCormick averages 40.0 yards per punt. In the return game, Roberson is the reigning Special Team Players of the Week and boasts a Southland-best 41.0 yards per return average.
 
Samford will be opening its home schedule on Saturday and comes in off a 27-20 win at Florida A&M last Saturday. A week after facing off against FCS' leading rusher, the Lions will face another dynamic runner in Samford senior Fabian Truss, who rushed for 115 yards and a score in the win over FAMU.
 
Truss currently leads the FCS in all-purpose yards with 231.0 yards per game. Like Bennett, Truss is a candidate for the CFPA FCS National Performer of the Year award and currently ranks in the top 20 nationally in punt return average (6^th, 18.8), kickoff return average (35.7, 10^th) and rushing yards (296, 18^th).  
 
Senior quarterback Andy Summerlin has been solid under center for the Bulldogs, completing 65.2 percent of his throws for 454 yards. Summerlin has connected with 14 different receivers this season with only Truss (12 catches) and senior Kelsey Pope (10) reaching double-digit receptions.
 
Opponents are scoring 24.0 points and gaining 380.0 yards per contest versus Samford through the season's first three games. Senior Justin Shade and sophomore Bobby Wilson share the team lead with 23 tackles with Shade also pacing the squad with 3.5 tackles for loss. Sophomore Josh Kimberlin leads the team with three interceptions and the Bulldog secondary will be buoyed by the return of All-American junior safety Jaquiski Tartt, who missed the FAMU game due to injury.
 
Southeastern and Samford will be meeting for the third time in school history with the all-time series tied, 1-1. The teams last met on Oct. 9, 1965, with Southeastern winning 13-7 in Hammond.
 
Southeastern will take a week off following Saturday's contest before returning home to close out its non-conference schedule. The Lions will host Incarnate Word on Oct. 5 at 7 p.m. in Strawberry Stadium in the Hall of Fame Game. 2013 Hall of Fame inductees Felton Huggins, Nate Lofton and Chris Carter will be honored at halftime.

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 will have access to a live video feed at LionSports.net, where live stats will also be available. The Southeastern Channel (Charter Channel 18) will also air the game on tape delay.