Box Score

          
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Southeastern Louisiana tied a season high with 309 rushing yards and held off a late Samford rally for a 34-31 road victory over the Bulldogs in non-conference action Saturday at Seibert Stadium.
 
Southeastern (2-2) built a 34-14 lead early in the fourth quarter and was able to hold off a furious Samford run for its first non-conference road victory since a 34-28 road victory at Alcorn State on Aug. 30, 2008. The Bulldogs, who were just outside of both the FCS Coaches and Sports Network polls, fell to 2-2 with the loss in their home opener.
 
"Any road win is going to be tough and we knew it wouldn't be easy against a team as talented as Samford," Southeastern head coach Ron Roberts commented. "We played hard and they made it a little closer than we would've liked at the end, but the bottom line is we were able to come away with a road victory against a quality opponent. We're very pleased to close out this difficult road swing with a win and we're looking forward to getting back home in two weeks."
 
Southeastern was able to amass the rushing totals despite losing Bryan Bennett to an undisclosed leg injury early in the game. Junior quarterback Jordan Barnett was more than a capable replacement for Bennett, completing 10-of-17 passes for 155 yards and a touchdown, while also rushing for 58 yards on 15 carries.
 
"We were very pleased with how Jordan stepped up for us," Roberts commented. "Bryan probably could've come back in if we needed him to, but Jordan played well enough that we didn't feel like it was necessary."
 
With Barnett running the show, the Lions were able to rack up 490 total yards and control the ball for nearly 39 minutes. The rushing attack was buoyed by the efforts of the sophomore trio of Kody Sutton (25 carries, 100 yards, 2 TD), Xavier Roberson (8 carries, 94 yards, 1 TD) and Rasheed Harrell (17 carries, 53 yards). Junior Isiah Kepley was the top receiver for the Lions, catching four balls for 107 yards and his first touchdown as a Lion.
 
Samford did manage 587 total yards, but a good chunk of that total was accumulated after Southeastern built a near three-touchdown lead. Bulldog quarterback Andy Summerlin threw for a school-record 478 yards and three touchdowns on 27-for-48 passing, as Kelsey Pope (six catches, 128 yards), Fabian Truss (five catches, 101 yards) and Chris Cephus (four catches, 101 yards) all topped the century mark for the Bulldogs.
 
Sophomore Josh Dakin and senior John Graves led the Lions with five tackles apiece. Seniors Cqulin Hubert and Greg Triay each had sacks for the Lions, while Hubert also picked off his first career pass. Junior Tyler Stoddard was credited with a forced fumble, which senior Kevin Harmon recovered.
 
Samford took the opening kickoff quickly down the field to take the early lead. The Bulldogs marched 77 yards on seven plays with Summerlin finding Jerry Mathis from four yards out to cap the drive and give Samford a 7-0 lead with 13:12 left in the first quarter.
 
After Southeastern was forced to punt on its first trip, the Lions quickly forced a turnover on Samford's first play. Stoddard stripped Samford's Chris Cephus and Harmon pounced on the loose ball near midfield to put Southeastern in good field position. The Lions were able to drive down to the Samford 13-yard line. Sebastian capped a 13-play, 42-yard drive with a 30-yard field goal to cut the lead to 7-3 with 7:39 left in the opening quarter.
 
The Lions then regained possession with an onside kick, as Marice Sutton recovered the loose ball. Using a methodical ball control attack, Southeastern marched 56 yards on 13 plays, only throwing one pass on the drive with Kody Sutton bulling in from one-yard out to give Southeastern a 10-7 lead with 1:45 left.
 
Samford was able to drive into Southeastern territory on the ensuing drive, but the Lion defense stiffened and Warren Handrahan missed a 46-yard field goal with 13:39 remaining in the second quarter.
 
Southeastern answered to extend its lead, as Roberson broke several tackles on the way to an electrifying 57-yard run that set up the Lions deep in Samford territory. Roberson capped the seven-play, 75-yard drive three plays later by bulling in from a yard out to put the Lions ahead, 17-7, with 10:43 to go in the opening half.
 
Samford again drove into Southeastern territory, but the Lion defense again came up big, turning the Bulldogs over on downs. Southeastern moved onto the Bulldog side of the field, but Tae Lewis intercepted Barnett at the 13-yard line. The Lions got the ball right back, as pressure by Triay forced Summerlin to throw an interception to Hubert and put the Lions with the ball at the Bulldog 27-yard line.
 
Five plays later, Kody Sutton raced around right end from three yards out to five Southeastern a commanding 24-7 lead with 4:27 left in the half.
 
The two teams exchanged punts, but freshman Marquis Hayes fell on a Truss fumble of a punt to give Southeastern one more scoring opportunity. However, time ran out on the Lions and the team couldn't extend its 17-point lead heading into the break. 
 
After the two teams traded punts to open the half, Samford struck first in the second half. Utilizing a double pass, Pope found a wide open Truss for a 43 yard touchdown pass to pull the Bulldogs within 10 at 24-14 with 8:29 left in the third quarter.
 
Southeastern was given a short field on its ensuing possession, as Isiah Corbett fell on a Samford onside kick attempt at the Bulldog 39-yard line. The Lions were able to pick up a couple of first downs to set up a Sebastian 32-yard field goal to put the lead up to 27-14 with 4:37 left in the third quarter.
 
Samford again drove into Southeastern territory, but the Lion defense held fast to force a punt that the Bulldogs downed inside the Lion five-yard line. Behind the rushing of Kody Sutton and Barnett, the Lions marched 96 yards on 11 plays. The final 25 yards came as Kepley raced in from 25 yards after catching a short pass from Barnett. Barnett's first career touchdown pass gave the Lions a 34-14 lead on the first play of the fourth quarter.
 
After Southeastern forced Samford to punt, the Lions quickly moved into Samford territory. However, Barnett mishandled a snap and Mathis fell on it to give the Bulldogs the ball back at the Lion 39-yard line. Samford was able to move down to the Lion 10-yard line, but a sack by Hubert ended that drive and the Bulldogs had to settle for a 32-yard field goal by Handrahan to cut the lead to 34-17 with 11:12 left.
 
After Southeastern was stopped on the ensuing drive, Samford pulled closer after a six-play, 80-yard scoring drive. Summerlin found Karel Hamilton for a 16-yard score to cut the lead to 34-24 with 7:17 remaining.
 
On the ensuing drive, Barnett hooked up with Kepley on a 52-yard strike to set the Lions up deep in Bulldog territory. However, Samford was able to turn the Lions over on downs. Two plays later, Summerlin avoided a heavy Lion rush and found Javian Ramson for a 66-yard touchdown to cut the Lion lead to 34-31 with 2:57 left.
 
Kody Sutton would make sure the Bulldogs never got the ball back after Tony McCrea recovered a Samford onside kick attempt. The sophomore from Texarkana, Texas lowered his head to bull forward for the game-clinching first down and a statement victory for the Lions.
 
Southeastern will now take a week off 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.