HAMMOND – No. 18/20 Southeastern Louisiana forced nine turnovers and scored three defensive touchdowns to allow the Lions to hold off Florida Tech, 28-17, in non-conference action Saturday night at Strawberry Stadium.
The two-time reigning Southland Conference champion Lions (2-0) outscored the visiting Panthers (0-2), 14-0, in the deciding fourth quarter. Southeastern intercepted five FIT passes and recovered four Panther fumbles to win its third straight home opener, despite being held to 235 yards total offense.
"We didn't execute as well as we needed to on offense, but it was great to get (freshman quarterback)
Donovan Isom some important experience," Southeastern head coach
Ron Roberts said. "Our defense stepped up and made some big plays tonight and that was the difference."
SLU junior linebacker
Demareyeh Lane finished with two interceptions and returned one pick for a 58-yard touchdown that helped clinch the win. Junior defensive end
Solomon Parker and senior defensive lineman
Ashton Henderson each returned fumbles for touchdowns.
Senior linebacker
Tre' Bennett was credited with two forced fumbles, while junior defensive back
Javon Tillman, senior linebacker
Herbert Harris, senior defensive end
Aaron Price and sophomore defensive back
Ryan Sigers all were credited with forced fumbles. Junior defensive back
Will Hines and Tillman recovered fumbles.
In addition to Lane's two picks, Hines, senior defensive back
Harlan Miller and senior defensive back
Josh Dakin each had one interception apiece. The Lions also held FIT to four rushing yards, thanks in large part to five sacks. Price led SLU with two sacks, while Bennett, Sigers and Henderson had one sack apiece.
The Lion defense was able to make enough plays to offset 426 yards passing by junior quarterback Sean Ashley. Ashley's top target was senior T.J. Lowder, who finished with 14 catches for 152 yards.
The Lion offense never truly got going after junior starting quarterback
D'Shaie Landor left with an injury early in the game. Isom, a redshirt freshman from Destrehan, led Southeastern with 55 yards rushing on 13 carries in his SLU debut. Senior
Xavier Roberson rushed for the Lions' lone offensive touchdown.
It looked as if Southeastern was going to run away with it early, scoring two defensive touchdowns in the opening quarter as the first four Panther drives ended with turnovers. The Lions scored the first touchdown midway through the first quarter, as Sigers stripped Ashley. Parker scooped up the loose ball at the seven-yard line and bulled his way in to give SLU a 7-0 lead with 10:24 remaining in the opening quarter.
SLU made another big play later in the quarter. Ashley misplayed the snap and was forced to drop well behind his line of scrimmage. Bennett was there to strip the Panther junior at the 45-yard line. Henderson scooped up the loose ball and the 320-pounder rumbled to pay dirt, putting the Lions up, 14-0, with 5:44 left in the first quarter.
Florida Tech would get right back in it, controlling the rest of the first half. A 44-yard field goal by senior Drake Hillman got the Panthers on the board, before a 59-yard catch and run by junior tight end Kenny Johnston cut the Lion lead to 14-10 at the end of the opening quarter.
The Panthers would close out the first half scoring with its most impressive drive of the game early in the second quarter. Sophomore Josh Denton powered in from a yard out to cap an eight-play, 85-yard march that gave the Panthers a 17-14 lead with 9:29 left in the first half.
The defenses took over from there, as the score would remain the same into the fourth quarter. The Lions finally took the lead for good with its best sustained drive of the game. Roberson scooted in from two yards out to put SLU up, 21-17, with 13:09 remaining.
On the ensuing drive, Lane made the game-clinching play. The newcomer from Oakland stepped in front of a short Ashley pass and took it to the house from 58 yards out to give SLU a 28-17 lead with 11:49 left.
Southeastern made the lead stand by forcing turnovers on each of Florida Tech's final four drives of the game. A big hit by Tillman forced senior Gabe Hughes to fumble after a long catch and Hines was right there to pounce on it to end one Panther scoring threat. On the next drive, Price ripped the ball from the grasp of sophomore Richard Burrows and Tillman fell on it on the Lion 33-yard line.
On the final two drives, Hines and Lane intercepted passes to give Southeastern a double-digit victory over a game Panther squad.
Southeastern will close out non-conference play on Saturday with a 1 p.m. (CDT) game at FBS opponent Ohio. The game with the Bobcats can also be heard on affiliates and Northshore Broadcasting stations Kajun 107.1 FM (WHMD) and The Highway 104.7 FM (WJSH).
