ATHENS, Ohio – A 21-0 first-half deficit was too much for No. 17/20 Southeastern Louisiana to overcome in a 35-14 loss at Ohio in Saturday's battle of unbeatens in Peden Stadium.
 
The Lions (2-1) closed out non-conference play with a loss heading into the off week. Ohio improved to 3-0 with the victory, as SLU could not bounce back from a subpar first half.
 
Southeastern cut the lead to 21-14 early in the fourth quarter, but would get no closer. SLU is now 0-20 versus Football Bowl Subdivision opponents since the program's return prior to the 2003 season.
 
Playing without starting quarterback D'Shaie Landor and the team's top two rushers – senior Xavier Roberson and freshman Julius Maracalin, the Lion offense was limited to just four first downs in the opening half. Making his first career start as a Lion, freshman quarterback Donovan Isom threw for 174 yards on 21-of-31 passing and connected with seniors Jeff Smiley and Dylan Bossier on touchdown passes.
 
The Lion defense, which came in to the game leading FCS in sacks, finished with three sacks. Junior defensive end Solomon Parker led SLU with 1.5 sacks, while senior defensive linemen Ashton Henderson and Tupou Aleamotua each had a sack. Senior defensive back Jordan Batiste recorded his first interception of the season.
 
Ohio was led by senior quarterback Derrius Vick, who threw for a career-high 327 yards, throwing touchdown passes to junior Sebastian Smith and sophomore Brendan Cope. Freshman running back Papi White rushed for two touchdowns to lead the Bobcats.
 
Ohio had a touchdown called back on its opening drive due to a penalty and a big sack by Ashton Henderson on third down forced a punt. The teams traded turnovers on the following drive. Isom and junior wide receiver William French mishandled a handoff allowing the Bobcats to take over at the Lion 38-yard line.
 
On the ensuing drive, however, Batiste intercepted Vick to stop the Bobcats' scoring threat. After the Lions were forced into a three-and-out, Ohio took advantage of 30 yards in SLU penalties on a 56-yard scoring march. Senior running back Daz Patterson scampered in from three yards out to give OU a 7-0 lead with 6:57 left in the opening quarter.
 
The Lion defense held strong over the next few series before the Bobcats padded their lead early in the second quarter. Passes of 30 and 35 yards by Vick highlighted a five-play, 68-yard drive. White scooted around left end from 10 yards out to put OU up, 14-0, with 9:40 left in the opening half.
 
After the Lions were forced to punt, Ohio added to its lead. On fourth-and-seven from the SLU 31-yard line, senior defensive back Denzel Thompson narrowly missed on a pass breakup and Smith was able to haul in a touchdown pass from Vick for a 21-0 Bobcat lead with 2:47 remaining in the second quarter – a lead it would take into halftime.
 
The Lions took the opening kickoff of the second half deep into Ohio territory. With SLU facing a fourth and short from inside its own territory, they ran a fake punt with senior Jeff Smiley racing 22 yards for a first down. A 28-yard scamper by Isom highlighted a march that saw SLU march the ball to the Bobcat one-yard line.
 
On first-and-goal, junior safety Toran Davis stripped SLU senior running back Kody Sutton and OU senior safety Devin Jones fell on the loose ball to end the Lions' scoring threat.
 
After Lions forced a punt, a kick catch interference penalty gave the Lions the ball on their own 48-yard line. Isom capped the SLU six-play, scoring drive with a 10-yard pass to Smiley, who slid his way into the end zone to cut the Ohio lead to 21-7 with 4:15 left in the third quarter.
 
After another SLU defensive stop, SLU cut further into the lead early in the fourth quarter. Bossier made a leaping 48-yard touchdown catch to cap an 11-play, 85-yard drive and cut the Bobcat advantage to 21-14 with 11:01 remaining in the contest.
 
However, the Bobcats answered on the ensuing play. White swept around right end for a 58-yard touchdown to put Ohio back up two scores with 10:44 left.
 
Following a Lion punt, the game went into a lightning delay with 8:05 remaining in the contest. The lightning delay lasted one hour, six minutes before the game resumed.
 
Three plays after the game resumed, Cope ran under a bomb from Vick, racing in from 67 yards out to give the Bobcats a 35-14 lead with 6:21 remaining to provide the final margin.
 
SLU will take the week off before returning home to host Southland rival Lamar at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 1 at Strawberry Stadium. The game will be broadcast on American Sports Network with affiliates available at southland.org/asn. It can also be heard on KSLU-FM (90.9) and LionSports.net, as well as affiliates and Northshore Broadcasting stations Kajun 107.1 FM (WHMD) and The Highway 104.7 FM (WJSH).