NACOGDOCHES, Texas – A 17-0 first half deficit was too much for the Southeastern Louisiana football team to overcome, as the No. 8 Lions fell to Stephen F. Austin, 27-17 in Southland Conference action Saturday afternoon at Homer Bryce Stadium.
 
With senior quarterback and Walter Payton Award candidate Bryan Bennett nursing a sore shoulder and sitting out the first half, the Lions (6-3, 4-1 Southland) could only manage 55 total yards and no points in the first half. In addition to the slow start, Southeastern was victimized by 16 penalties for 117 yards.
 
Bennett came in the second half to give Southeastern a spark, but SFA (6-2, 3-1 Southland) was able to hold off the Lions. The defending Southland Conference champions had their league winning streak snapped at 14 games, losing to a league opponent for the first time since a 70-0 loss at Sam Houston State on Nov. 3, 2012.
 
After replacing senior Jordan Barnett to start the second half, Bennett finished 8-for-15 passing for 186 yards and a touchdown, while also rushing for his team-high 13^th touchdown of the season. Junior Jeff Smiley was the Lions' top target with four catches for 143 yards and a touchdown.
 
Southeastern's defense did its best to keep SFA within striking distance. Junior Micah Eugene led the Lumberjacks with 11 tackles, while senior Kaleb Muse and junior JQ Sandolph each had sacks for the Lions.
 
SFA senior running back Gus Johnson led the Lumberjack offense with 116 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries. Sophomore quarterback Zach Conque was efficient with 160 yards on 14-of-21 passing, while also rushing for a touchdown.
 
SFA jumped out to a 7-0 lead on the opening drive of the first quarter. Johnson capped the drive with a seven-yard scoring run to put the 'Jacks ahead with 11:31 left in the opening quarter.
 
The Lion defense kept SLU in the game while the offense struggled. The Lions picked up their initial first down of the game with 11:43 left in the second quarter. SLU moved into SFA territory, but Barnett underthrew a fourth-and-six try to give SFA the ball back. Eight plays later, Johnson capped a 59-yard drive with a 13-yard touchdown run to put the Lumberjacks up, 14-0, with, 5:47 left in the half.
 
SFA added to its lead on the final play of the first half. Senior Jordan Wiggs knocked in a 25-yard field goal to take a 17-0 lead into the break.
 
Bennett entered the game in the third quarter. On the ensuing drive, a 30-yard run by junior Xavier Roberson highlighted a seven-play, 65-yard scoring drive. Bennett scampered in from eight yards out to put the Lions on the board and cut the lead to 17-7 with 11:40 left in the third quarter.
 
After a SLU stop, the Lions again moved into SFA territory. A 37-yard strike from Bennett to Smiley highlighted a 10-play, 66-yard scoring drive. Senior Ryan Adams capped the march with a 45-yard field goal to cut the Lumberjack advantage to 17-10 with 2:21 remaining in the third quarter.
 
SFA answered early in the fourth quarter. A 40-yard run by Johnson set up a 26-yard field goal by Wiggs to give the Lumberjacks a 20-10 lead with 13:04 remaining in the contest.
 
After Southeastern was stopped, UCA drove to near midfield and decided to go for it on fourth-and-short. Junior A.J. Bowen stopped Conque to give the Lions the ball back.
 
Southeastern drove deep into SFA territory, extending the drive with a 21-yard strike from Bennett to senior Devante Scott. However, two plays later, sophomore Patrick Martin stepped in front of a Bennett pass and returned it 75 yards. Three plays later, Conque dove in from 10 yards out to provide SFA with a 27-10 lead with 3:23 left.  
 
Bennett answered less than a minute later, as he and Smiley connected on an 83-yard catch and run for a score to cut the lead to 27-17 with 2:24 remaining. The Lions would get no closer, as their onside kick try failed.
 
Southeastern will now finally have its first week off of the season. The Lions will then return home to host Houston Baptist on Nov. 8 at 3 p.m. in Strawberry Stadium. The game will be televised on tape delay by the Southeastern Channel (Charter Channel 18) and LionVision subscribers will be able to access a live video stream at LionSports.net.
 
The contest will also be broadcast live in the Hammond area on the flagship station of Southeastern Football, KSLU-FM (90.9), as well as affiliates and Northshore Broadcasting stations Kajun 107.1 FM (WHMD) and The Highway 104.7 FM (WJSH).   The game with HBU will be the annual Hall of Fame game and 2014 Southeastern Athletics Hall of Fame inductees Wade Miley and Emilija Arnaudovska will be recognized at halftime.