No. 21/22 Southeastern Louisiana (7-3, 6-2 SLC) vs. No. 23 Nicholls (7-4, 6-2 SLC)
Thursday, Nov. 21, 2019 | 6 p.m. | Hammond, La. | Strawberry Stadium (7,408)
Series History: Series tied, 14-14
Last Meeting: No. 15/18 Nicholls 44, Southeastern Louisiana 0 (Nov. 15, 2018 – Thibodaux, La.
Television: Cox Sports Television (ESPN+ outside of CST viewing area)
            Announcers: Lyn Rollins, Gary Reasons and Carley McCord
Radio: Southeastern Sports Radio Network (KSLU 90.9, Kajun 107.1, The Highway 104.7, The Boss 103.7 FM/1400 AM WFPR)
            Announcers: Mark Willoughby, Robbie Rhodes and Allen Waddell
Live Video
Live Audio
Live Stats
Southeastern Game Notes
Nicholls Game Notes
Southland Weekly Notes
 
HAMMOND, La. – The River Bell Classic between Southeastern Louisiana and Nicholls has never seen more at stake than the 29^th edition of the rivalry, scheduled for Thursday at 6 p.m. in Strawberry Stadium.
 
Southeastern (7-3, 6-2 Southland) and Nicholls (7-4, 6-2 Southland) are in a three-way tie atop the Southland Conference standings with Central Arkansas heading into the final week.
 
The winner of Thursday's meeting will clinch at least a share of the Southland Conference championship and the league's automatic bid to the NCAA FCS playoffs. Regardless of the result of UCA's game at UIW on Friday, both the Lions and Colonels have the tie-breaker over the Bears by virtue of each defeating them earlier this season.
 
The game will be televised on Cox Sports Television and on ESPN+ outside of the CST area. The contest can be heard on the Southeastern Sports Radio Network (KSLU-FM (90.9), Kajun 107.1 FM, The Highway 104.7 FM and The Boss 103.7 FM/1400 AM WFPR), online at www.LionSports.net/listenlive and via the Lions Game Day Experience and TuneIn Radio apps.
 
Thursday will also be Senior Day at Strawberry Stadium. The Lion senior class will be honored prior to Thursday's contest.
 
The SLU-Nicholls game will also feature Military Appreciation Day. All military personnel will receive two free tickets with a valid ID.
 
Southeastern won its fourth straight game on Saturday, defeating Abilene Christian, 35-14, on the road. The win set up Thursday's showdown for the Southland Conference championship and the league's automatic bid to the NCAA FCS Playoffs.
 
The Lion defense carried the day versus ACU, finishing with season highs of six interceptions and 10 interceptions. Southeastern did rack up 432 total yards on the way to building a 35-7 halftime lead.
 
Chason Virgil (2,560 yards, 17 TD, 9 INT) and Cole Kelley (725-9 TD-1 INT) share time under center for a Lion offense that ranks among the national leaders in scoring offense (37.6, 9th), passing offense (328.5, 3rd) and total offense (475.2 ypg, 5th).
 
CJ Turner (53 catches, 580 yards, 4 TD), Devonte Williams (47-419-2 TD), Bransen Schwebel (39-435-3 TD), Austin Mitchell (37-695-7 TD) and Javon Conner (37-371-4 TD) are the top pass catching options for the SLU quarterback duo. Williams also leads the team on the ground with 412 yards, while Kelley has a team-high eight rushing scores.
 
Opponents are averaging 23.7 points and 381.7 yards per game against SLU. Alexis Ramos leads the team with 65 tackles, followed by Xavier Lewis (51), Tre' Spann (48), Donniel Ward-Magee (47) and Trae Drake (44).
 
Southeastern is second in FCS with 39 sacks and ranks third with 91 tackles for loss. Isaac Adeyemi-Berglund (15.0 TFL, 7.5 sacks), Josh Carr Jr. (13.5 TFL, 6.0 sacks) and Ronald Cherry III (10.5 TFL, 4.5 sacks) are the leaders for SLU pass rush.
 
The Lions are also eighth nationally with 15 interceptions this season. Ferlando Jordan leads the way with five interceptions, followed by Lewis (3), Shawntrez Spates (3), Ward-Magee (2) and Spann (2).  
 
Nicholls carries a three-game winning streak into Thursday's River Bell Classic. The Colonels defeated McNeese, 34-20, in Thibodaux.
 
Reigning Southland Player of the Year Chase Fourcade leads a Nicholls offense that is averaging 411.7 yards and 29.6 points per game. Julien Gums (850 yards, 15 TD) and Fourcade (566, 11 TD) lead the Southland's top rushing attack.
 
Fourcade (2,432 yards, 12 TD, 9 INT) has also been an effective passer with Dai'Jean Dixon (33-666-3 TD) the top receiver for the Colonels.
 
The Colonel defense is yielding 406.8 yards and 28.3 points per game. Kevin Moore (91) and Khristian Mims (81) lead the team in tackles, while Sully Laiche (18.5 TFL, 10.0 sacks) is one of the team's top pass rushers.
 
Southeastern is 14-14 all-time versus the Colonels. The Lions will be looking to avenge last year's 44-0 shutout loss at Nicholls. 
 
Up Next
Southeastern will learn its postseason fate on Sunday, when the 24-team NCAA FCS Playoffs field will be announced live on ESPNU.
 
TICKETS
For ticket information, please contact the Southeastern Athletics Ticket Office at (985) 549-5466 or visit www.LionSports.net/tickets. The Lions' remaining home schedule will see SLU welcome Southland Conference foe Nicholls (Nov. 21).
 
2019 PROMOTIONS
For full details on promotions surrounding the Southeastern Louisiana football team's 2019 home schedule visit www.LionSports.net/FootballPromos.
 
INSIDE SOUTHEASTERN FOOTBALL WITH FRANK SCELFO
Inside Southeastern Football With Frank Scelfo will air every Monday through Nov. 18 at 7 p.m. at Tope La Catering (113 East Thomas Street) in downtown Hammond. Hosted by Scelfo, the Lions' second-year head coach, and Allen Waddell, the hour-long show will air on the Southeastern Sports Radio Network (KSLU-FM (90.9), Kajun 107.1 FM, The Highway 104.7 FM and The Boss 103.7 FM/1400 AM WFPR). Fans can also listen live at www.LionSports.net/listenlive and via the Lions Game Day and TuneIn Radio apps. A live video stream of the show will be available at www.youtube.com/sluathletics.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
For more information on Southeastern Football, follow @LionUpFootball and @Coach_Scelfo on Twitter, like /SLUathletics on Facebook and subscribe to the SLUathletics YouTube channel.
 
TOUCHDOWN CLUB/S CLUB
Fans interested in becoming active supporters of the football program are encouraged to join the Touchdown Club. Lion football alums are encouraged to join the exclusive S Club, which is restricted to Southeastern athletic letter winners.
 
All membership fees and donations to both the Touchdown Club and S Club (football) are available for the exclusive use of the Southeastern football program. Membership information is available by contacting the Lion Athletics Association at laa@southeastern.edu or (985) 549-5091 or visiting www.LionUp.com.
 
CLEAR BAG POLICY
Southeastern Athletics instituted a clear bag policy for all ticketed events, effective with the start of the 2018 football season. For more information on the clear bag policy, visit www.LionSports.net/clear.