HAMMOND, La. – Southeastern Louisiana rushed for a season-high 222 yards on the way to a 47-30 victory over Stephen F. Austin in Southland Conference football action Saturday evening at Strawberry Stadium.
 
A week after throwing for a season-high 489 yards in a 52-13 win at Houston Baptist, SLU (5-4, 4-2 Southland) turned to the ground game in the win over the visiting Lumberjacks (1-8, 1-5 Southland).
 
"Our team's going to compete for 60 minutes and I was really pleased with how we responded tonight against a tough challenge from a Stephen F. Austin team that has a bright future," Southeastern head coach Frank Scelfo said. "(SFA) wanted to limit our big plays and we were able to show patience with our running game and our screen game. Our offensive line won the battle up front tonight."
 
Cole Kelley rushed for two scores, while Devonte Williams led the Lions with eight carries for 65 yards. Ed Magee and Taron Jones each also found the end zone on short scoring runs.
 
Kelley (11-for-12, 77 yards, 1 TD) and Chason Virgil (15-for-21, 122 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT) split time under center, combining for an efficient night. Williams was SLU's top receiving option with 11 catches – tied for fifth-most in school history – for 71 yards and a touchdown. Austin Mitchell also hauled in his team-high seventh touchdown of the season, as Kelley and Virgil connected with 11 different receivers.
 
The Lion defense yielded 471 yards, but came up with big plays throughout. Ferlando Jordan sealed the win with a 65-yard interception return for a touchdown – his school-record third pick six of the year. Xavier Lewis also had an interception for SLU.
 
"We gave up some yards, but overall I was pleased with our defensive effort tonight, especially the two big picks," Scelfo said. "Ferlando's putting himself in the position to make plays – which is the hardest part – and then taking advantage of his opportunity."
 
Donniel Ward-Magee and Trae Drake led SLU with seven tackles each, while Isaac Adeyemi-Berglund paced the Lions with 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. Alexis Ramos and Ronald Cherry III each forced fumbles, as Cherry III, Steven Wright and Gladar Huszar were all credited with partial sacks.
 
Trae Self led the SFA offense, throwing for 332 yards, two touchdowns and an interception on 25-of-39 passing. Xavier Gipson (eight catches, 94 yards, 1 TD) and Lar'Darion Cobb (6-88-1 TD) were his top targets, while Josh McGowen (16 carries, 63 yards, 1 TD) paced the 'Jacks run game.
 
DaRyan Williams led Stephen F. Austin with 11 tackles, while Trenton Gordon had SFA's lone interception.
 
First Quarter
The Southeastern defense forced a SFA punt on the opening drive and the Lions promptly marched 85 yards on 12 plays on their opening possession of the contest. A 21-yard Williams run set up a goal-to-go situation and Kelley powered in from three yards out three plays later to give SLU the lead. The snap was mishandled on the extra point, leaving the score at 6-0 with 6:37 remaining in the opening quarter.
 
Southeastern got the ball back quickly, as Lewis picked off Self and returned the interception into Lumberjack territory. Four plays later, Magee swept around right end on a reverse. The Kentwood, Louisiana native stretched for the goal line on the eight-yard score – his first as a Lion – to put SLU up, 13-0, with just under four minutes remaining in the first period.
 
Second Quarter
SFA got on the board early in the second quarter. Self found a wide-open Allen Arclies III from 27 yards out to cap a nine-play, 75-yard drive and cut the lead to 13-7 less than a minute into the second quarter.
 
After a Southeastern punt, SFA drove into Lion territory. On fourth-and-eight from the SLU 24-yard line, the Lumberjacks elected to go for the first down. A blitz by Tre' Spann forced Self to rush his throw just enough to result in an incompletion and a turnover on downs.
 
SLU took advantage of the switch in momentum, as Kelley was 5-for-5 for 36 yards on a methodical 10-play, 76-yard march that took nearly five minutes off the clock. Kelley snuck in from a yard out to put SLU up, 19-7, with 4:04 left in the opening half.
 
SFA was forced to punt, giving the Lions a scoring opportunity with just over two minutes left. However, Virgil's third-down pass bounced off of Schwebel and into the hands of Gordon to give the Lumberjacks the ball in Lion territory.
 
Stephen F. Austin moved into the SLU red zone, but had to settle for a 29-yard Ruiz field goal and a 19-10 halftime deficit.
 
Third Quarter
The Lions quickly moved into Lumberjack territory on the opening possession of the second half, but the drive stalled and SLU was forced to punt. SFA then trimmed the Southeastern advantage with a nine-play, 80-yard drive.
 
On third-and-goal, Ward-Magee intercepted Self in the end zone, but the play was waved off due to a penalty. On the next play, McGowen bulled in from two yards out to cut the lead to 19-17.
 
Southeastern answered right back with a 10-play, 65-yard scoring march of its own. Facing fourth-and-goal, Kelley found a wide-open Williams from two yards out to put Southeastern ahead, 26-17, with 4:41 remaining in the quarter.
 
SLU forced SFA into a three-and-out and it appeared as if the Lumberjacks answered with a three-and-out of their own. However, facing a fourth-and-three from their own 37-yard line, the Lions snapped the ball to Adeyemi-Berglund, who was serving as the up back in punt formation, and he raced 36 yards into SFA territory on the fake punt.
 
Two plays later, Virgil threw a short pass to Mitchell, who shook a defender and tip-toed the left sideline for a 15-yard touchdown. The score moved the Plaquemine, Louisiana native into sixth place on the program's single-season receiving touchdown list and gave SLU a 33-17 lead heading into the final period.
 
Fourth Quarter
SFA would not go away, quietly, however. Self found Gipson in the left corner of the end zone to cap a nine-play, 70-yard scoring drive. The two-point try failed, but the Lumberjacks were down, 33-23, with 13:34 left in the contest.
 
SLU was forced into a three-and-out on the next drive, but answered by forcing Stephen F. Austin into a punt of its own. It was now the Lumberjacks turn for a fake, as punter Max Quick took off with the snap and raced 20 yards into Lion territory.
 
The short passing game of the Lumberjacks was very successful in the second half of Saturday's game, but SFA went to the well once too often. Jordan jumped the route on a short pass by reserve quarterback Cam Arnold and raced untouched for a 65-yard interception return. The Atlanta, Georgia native's third pick six of the season – and second in as many weeks – put SLU up, 40-23, with 7:17 left.
 
SFA marched right back down the field to pull closer, as Arnold found Cobb for a 20-yard touchdown and brought the Lumberjacks to within, 40-30, with 5:31 remaining.
 
Matt DeBlaiso grabbed Stephen F. Austin's onside kick attempt, then the Lions milked the clock with its final drive of the game. Jones scored from a yard out in the final minute to secure the final 47-30 margin.
 
Up Next
Southeastern travels to No. 9/10 Central Arkansas next Saturday for a 3 p.m. contest in Conway, Arkansas. The Southland Game of the Week will be televised on ESPN+ and 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 and TuneIn Radio apps.
 
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 foes UIW (Oct. 12), Stephen F. Austin (Nov. 2) and 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 Radio FX 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.