Southeastern Game Notes | Sam Houston State Game Notes

HAMMOND – The co-champions of the Southland Conference will square off in the first round of the FCS playoffs on Saturday, when No. 9/11 Southeastern Louisiana will travel to face No. 19 Sam Houston State at 1 p.m. in Bowers Stadium.

Saturday's game between the Lions (9-3) and the host Bearkats (8-4) will be televised on ESPN3 and WatchESPN. The contest will be broadcast live in the Hammond area on KSLU-FM (90.9) and on the Internet at www.LionSports.net, as well as affiliates and Northshore Broadcasting stations Kajun 107.1 FM (WHMD) and The Highway 104.7 FM (WJSH). Live stats, provided by the Bearkats, will be accessible at LionSports.net.

Southeastern will be making its second straight trip to the FCS playoffs. Last season, SLU received the No. 4 national seed and a first-round bye. In the second round, the Lions used a six-play, 85-yard drive in the final minute – dubbed "The Drive to Stay Alive" - to earn a 30-29 win over Sam Houston State. In the quarterfinals, New Hampshire edged Southeastern, 20-17.

Southeastern will be making its first postseason road trip on Saturday. Head coach Ron Roberts knows his Lions faces a tough challenge heading to Huntsville to face their fellow league champion.

"We're expecting a great game Saturday," Roberts said. "Sam Houston State is very talented. They have an excellent defensive line and the best running game in the Southland Conference. It's playoff football. Everybody puts their best foot forward and we'll have to be at our best to advance."
The Lions enter the game on a three-game winning streak, closing the regular season by out-scoring its final three opponents, 167-19. Sam Houston State has been hot as well, winning its last five contests of the regular season.

Senior quarterback Bryan Bennett engineers an SLU offense that enters the playoffs averaging 480.5 yards and 42.2 points per contest. The Southland Offensive Player of the Year and Walter Payton Award candidate has thrown for 2,176 yards and 18 touchdowns, while rushing for 655 yards and 13 scores. A pair of All-Southland receivers – senior Devante Scott (45 catches, 1,011 yards, 6 TD) and junior Jeff Smiley (34-568-7 TD) – are Bennett's top targets.

The Lions are averaging 243.9 yards per game on the ground. Junior Kody Sutton (588 yards, 6 TD), junior Rasheed Harrell (380-4 TD) and freshman Eugene Bethea (320-2 TD) team with Bennett to give Southeastern a deep rushing attack.

Bennett and company will be facing a SHSU defense that is allowing 415.2 yards and 28.4 points per game. Senior Michael Wade leads the Bearkats with 86 tackles, while Southland Freshman of the Year and Jerry Rice Award candidate P.J. Hall has a team-high 20 tackles for loss and eight sacks. All-Southland junior Trenier Orr leads the team with four interceptions.

The Lion defense is allowing 295.2 yards and 17.4 points per contest heading into Saturday's game. All-Southland Conference senior Drew Misita leads Southeastern with 80 tackles, followed by all-conference senior Tyler Stoddard (79), all-conference senior Isiah Corbett (65), all-conference junior Micah Eugene (59) and senior Kaleb Muse (59). Corbett, a Buck Buchanan Award candidate, also leads the team with 12.0 tackles for loss and four sacks.

Corbett and All-Southland junior Denzel Thompson share the team lead with four interceptions, while all-conference junior Harlan Miller, senior Marice Sutton and freshman
Ryan Sigers have two picks apiece. Eugene leads the team with two fumble recoveries.

Southeastern will be looking to slow down an explosive Bearkat offense that averages 37.3 points and 474.0 yards per game – including 268.0 rushing yards per contest. All-Southland Sophomore Jared Johnson has thrown for 2,224 yards and 15 touchdowns, while also rushing for 753 yards and five touchdowns. All-conference freshman Yedidiah Louis is Johnson's top target with 52 catches for 633 yards and a touchdown.

Johnson is part of a deep, dangerous rushing attack. Senior Keshawn Hill leads the way for Bearkats with 1,001 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns, followed by Johnson, junior Donovan Williams (575-7 TD) and sophomore Jalen Overstreet (560-4 TD).

Saturday's game will also feature the top two placekickers in the Southland Conference. SLU's Ryan Adams has made 15-of-16 field goals – including his last 11 attempts – on the way to a first team All-Southland nod. SHSU sophomore Luc Swimberghe has netted 14-of-16 field goal tries heading into Saturday's contest.
The winner of Saturday's game will advance to face Ohio Valley Conference champion and No. 3 national seed Jacksonville State next Saturday at 1 p.m. in Jacksonville, Alabama. The game will be televised on ESPN3.