NATCHITOCHES – No. 19 Southeastern Louisiana racked up 438 rushing yards on the way to a 34-20 victory over Southland Conference rival Northwestern State in the football season opener for both teams Thursday night in Turpin Stadium.
 
In the first season opener that matched two Southland schools since 1992, the two-time reigning Southland champions Lions (1-0, 1-0 Southland) extended their winning streak versus in-state league opponents to 11 games dating back to 2011. The contest marked the first time SLU opened the season with a conference game since 1976.
 
Southeastern built a 20-point lead late in the third quarter before Northwestern State cut the advantage to 26-20 midway through the final quarter. However, Southeastern was able to clinch the game with a 16-play scoring march that took nearly eight minutes off the clock.
 
"We were able to establish the run throughout and our offensive line was very physical," Southeastern head coach Ron Roberts said. "We didn't have things work out in the passing game for us early, but once we kept having continued success running the ball we weren't going to go away from it. Northwestern State deserves some credit and made some plays to get back in it, but I was pleased with our defensive effort from the start of the game and that we were able to put the game away with that final drive."
 
The 438 yards on the ground marked the second-highest total for SLU since the program returned prior to the 2003 season. In his first career start, junior quarterback D'Shaie Landor rushed for a game-high 125 yards and a touchdown, while freshman running back Julius Maracalin finished with 120 yards on the ground in his collegiate debut.
 
Senior Xavier Roberson added 90 yards and a touchdown, while senior Kody Sutton chipped in with two rushing touchdowns. Landor only completed two passes for 15 yards in the game, though he had several long passes dropped that would've improved his final stats.
 
The Lion defense was led by senior defensive back Harlan Miller, as the STATS FCS Defensive Player of the Year candidate intercepted two passes. Junior defensive back Javon Tillman, senior linebacker Herbert Harris and senior defensive back Jordan Batiste shared the team lead with six tackles, as SLU limited the Demons to 259 total yards and 13 first downs. Batiste also forced a fumble that was recovered by junior defensive end Miki Fangatua.
 
Southeastern was able to pressure all three Demon quarterbacks that saw action, as the Lions finished with six sacks. Batiste, sophomore Ryan Sigers, senior Aaron Price, junior Solomon Parker, freshman Ja'Hmal Macklin, senior Micah Eugene and senior T.J. West all had at least a partial sack.
 
Northwestern State's most effective signal caller of the game was sophomore Joel Blumenthal, who finished with 103 yards passing and a touchdown on 4-for-8 passing and 15 yards rushing – all in the second half. Senior Stephen Rivers (4-for-6, 24 yards, 1 INT) earned the start for the Demons and was pulled early, while junior Daniel Hazlewood (4-for-8, 26 yards) also struggled under center for NSU.
 
The Demons were led in rushing by junior De'Mard Llorens (nine carries, 45 yards) and senior Daniel Taylor (10 carries, 34 yards, 1 TD). SLU was able to get a strong push up front all night and limited NSU to just 2.9 yards per carry.
 
Northwestern State took advantage of a turnover to grab the early lead. Junior safety Darius Poullard stripped Landor on a sack, giving the Demons the ball on the SLU 24-yard line. The Lion defense stiffened and held NSU to a 37-yard field goal by senior Chris Moore with 13:01 left in the first quarter that gave the Demons a 3-0 lead.
 
Southeastern drove into Northwestern State territory on the following drive, but the drive stalled and freshman Jonathan Tatum's 46-yard field goal fell just short. On the ensuing drive, Miller intercepted Rivers on the first play to give the Lions the ball back at their own 42-yard line.
 
Landor gave it right back to Northwestern State on the following possession. Sophomore Desmond Lacey intercepted Landor and gave NSU the ball at the Lion 49-yard line. The Lions kept NSU from adding to its lead with a three-and-out capped by a sack by West and Eugene.
 
The Lions finally got on the board after that punt with a 10-play, 80-yard drive that saw SLU roll down the field without throwing a pass. A 21-yard run by Maracalin highlighted the drive that was capped by a one-yard scoring run by Roberson with 1:42 left in the opening quarter. Tatum missed the extra point to keep the lead to 6-3 at the end of the first quarter.
 
NSU tied the game on its opening drive of the second quarter. A 27-yard run by Llorens highlighted an eight-play, 48-yard drive that ended with a 46-yard field goal by Moore to deadlock the game at 6-6 with 12:26 left in the opening half.
 
After the two teams traded empty possessions, Southeastern again went to the ground on all but one play of an 11-play, 77-yard drive on its final drive of the first half. A 29-yard Roberson run sparked the march. Senior wide receiver Jeff Smiley weaved in from 12 yards out on an end around to give SLU a 13-6 lead and cap a methodical nearly six-minute drive heading into the break.
 
The second half started much like the first for the Lion offense. Landor was stripped by senior Leroy Armstrong to give the Demons the ball at the SLU 33-yard line. But the SLU defense again answered the challenge, as Batiste stripped junior Chris Jones. Fangatua fell on the loose ball to give SLU the ball right back with 11:55 left in the third quarter.
 
SLU padded its lead on the ensuing drive. A 50-yard Maracalin run set Southeastern up with first and goal. Two plays later, Sutton powered in for a two-yard score. Tatum again missed the extra point to keep the Lion advantage at 19-6 with 9:58 left in the third quarter.
 
After another Southeastern defensive stop, Landor broke the game open with an 81-yard touchdown run to give SLU a commanding 26-6 lead with 6:03 left in the third quarter.
 
Northwestern State would not go away quietly and answered with its best drive to that point, as s Taylor raced in from 27 yards out to cut the SLU lead to 26-13 with 3:16 left in the third quarter.
 
After the two teams traded empty possessions, Northwestern State got right back into the game with a 44-yard catch and run by junior Shakeir Ryan off a throw from Blumenthal. The touchdown pulled the Demons within six, 26-20, with 8:53 left.
 
But once again, SLU went to the ground game to solidify the victory. A nifty 14-yard run by Landor on third-and-12 highlighted a methodical 16-play, 75-yard scoring drive that Sutton finished with the game-clinching touchdown with just over a minute left. Landor found Smiley on a two-point conversion to provide the final 34-20 margin.
 
On the final play, Miller intercepted a Blumenthal throw to give the Kentwood, Louisiana native his first multi-interception game of his career and ice the win for the Lions.
 
Following Thursday's opener, Southeastern will return home to host Florida Tech at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12 in Strawberry Stadium. The game will be broadcast on KSLU-FM (90.9) and on the Internet at www.LionSports.net. The game can also be heard on affiliates and Northshore Broadcasting stations Kajun 107.1 FM (WHMD) and The Highway 104.7 FM (WJSH).
 
LionVision subscribers will be able to access a live video stream of the home opener at LionSports.net, where live stats will be available. The matchup with Florida Tech will also be televised on tape delay by the Southeastern Channel.
 
Saturday's game will be Faculty/Staff Appreciation Day. All SLU faculty and staff will receive two complimentary tickets which they can pick up the day of the game beginning at 5:30 p.m. at Gate 2 of Strawberry Stadium.