HAMMOND – The Southeastern Louisiana football team will close out its 2015 road schedule on Saturday, traveling to Abilene Christian for a 2 p.m. Southland Conference contest in Shotwell Stadium.
 
The Lions (4-5, 3-4 Southland) hit the road one last time on Saturday in an attempt to keep its hopes for a third straight winning season alive. The game can be heard live in the Hammond area on KSLU-FM (90.9), as well as affiliates and Northshore Broadcasting stations Kajun 107.1 FM (WHMD) and The Highway 104.7 FM (WJSH) and on the Internet at LionSports.net, where a live video stream provided by ACU will also be accessible.
 
Both SLU and the host Wildcats (2-7, 2-6 Southland) started the season 2-0 in conference play before hitting a lull midway through the season. Southeastern fell at home last Saturday to Incarnate Word, 16-2, as it was held to 204 total yards. ACU traveled to Natchitoches last Saturday and saw Northwestern State score 33 unanswered points in a 39-22 loss -  the team's sixth consecutive defeat.
 
The Lions enter Saturday's game averaging 20.0 points and 350.9 yards per contest. SLU is averaging just under 200 yards per outing on the ground. Senior running back Kody Sutton (481 yards, 3 TD), freshman running back Julius Maracalin (413 yards, 3 TD) and junior quarterback D'Shaie Landor (182 yards, 3 TD) fuel the Lion rushing attack.
 
Landor and junior quarterback Justin Alo could both see time under center in Saturday's game. Junior wide receivers Brandon Acker (17 catches, 255 yards) and William French (16 catches, 215 yards) are the Lions' top two targets.
 
The Lions will be matching up with a Wildcat defense that yields 465.7 yards and 33.4 points per game. Sophomore linebacker Sam Denmark leads the Southland Conference with 116 tackles, while freshman defensive back Jabari Butler has recorded a league-high six interceptions.
 
On offense, junior Parker McKenzie (1,306 yards, 10 TD, 7 INT) and freshman Dallas Sealey (814 yards, 4 TD, 3 INT) have split time under center with senior wide receivers Cedric Gilbert (35 catches, 552 yards, 6 TD) and Jonathan Epps (35-393-3 TD) serving as their top targets. Sophomore De'Andre Brown (531 yards, 5 TD) and senior Hershel Sims (224 yards, 5 TD) are the top running backs for a Wildcat offense that averages 343.2 yards and 23.9 points per contest.
 
SLU will be looking to slow down the ACU attack with a consistent defensive unit that held opponents to 352.6 yards and 21.3 points per game. Senior defensive back Jordan Batiste leads the defense with 57 tackles, followed by senior linebacker Herbert Harris (54), senior defensive back Micah Eugene (44), senior defensive back Harlan Miller (38) and junior linebacker Tre' Bennett (38).
 
Batiste and senior defensive lineman Aaron Price share the team lead with four sacks, while Harris has a team-high 8.5 tackles for loss. Miller, a candidate for STATS FCS Defensive Player of the Year and CFPA FCS Defensive Back of the Year, leads the team with three interceptions and eight pass breakups.
 
Following Saturday's contest, the Lions will close out the season on Thursday, Nov. 19, hosting Nicholls in the annual River Bell Classic at 6 p.m. in Strawberry Stadium. The game will be televised by the American Sports Network with WUPL (Charter Channel 16 in Hammond) serving as the local affiliate in the Hammond area. The game can also be heard live in the Hammond area on KSLU-FM (90.9), as well as affiliates and Northshore Broadcasting stations Kajun 107.1 FM (WHMD) and The Highway 104.7 FM (WJSH) and on the Internet at LionSports.net.
 
Thursday will also be Senior Day at Strawberry Stadium. Sutton, Batiste, Eugene, Miller, Harris, Price, running back/kick returner Xavier Roberson, defensive back Denzel Thompson, defensive back Marquis Hatcher, wide receiver Trey Hallman, wide receiver Jeff Smiley, linebacker Dereck Robinson, wide receiver Isaiah Kepley, defensive back JQ Sandolph, defensive back Josh Dakin, kicker/punter Harris Beall, linebacker T.J. West, defensive end A.J. Bowen, offensive lineman Aaron Reed, offensive lineman Joe Graves, offensive lineman Josue Miranda, wide receiver Dylan Bossier, tight end Chris Briggs, wide receiver Byron Johnson, defensive lineman Ashton Henderson, defensive lineman Tupou Aleamotua and defensive back Reggie Lesueur will be honored 30 minutes prior to Thursday's game.