No. 18 Southeastern Louisiana (1-1, 1-1 SLC) vs. Northwestern State (0-1, 0-1 SLC)
March 13, 2021 | 6 p.m. | Strawberry Stadium | Hammond, La.
Series History: SLU leads, 34-29
Last Meeting: Southeastern Louisiana 44, Northwestern State 27 (Sept. 28, 2019 – Natchitoches, La.)
Television: ESPN+
            Announcers: Eli Settoon, Jace Lejeune, Caroline Fussell
Radio: Southeastern Sports Radio Network (KSLU 90.9 FM, Kajun 107.1 FM, The Highway 104.7 FM, The Boss 103.7 FM/1400 AM)
            Announcers: Mark Willoughby, Robbie Rhodes and Allen Waddell
Promotions: Solid Gold Saturday
Game Sponsor: First Guaranty Bank
Live Video | Live Audio | Live Stats | SLU Game Notes | NSU Game Notes
 
HAMMOND, La. – No. 18 Southeastern Louisiana will host its second straight Southland Conference opponent on Saturday, welcoming Northwestern State for a 6 p.m. league football contest in Strawberry Stadium.
 
The contest between the Lions (1-1, 1-1 Southland) and the visiting Demons (0-1, 0-1 Southland) will be televised on ESPN+ and can be heard on the Southeastern Sports Radio Network (KSLU 90.9 FM, Kajun 107.1 FM, The Highway 104.7 FM and The Boss 103.7 FM/1400 AM). Fans can also listen live at www.LionSports.net/listenlive and via the Lions Game Day Experience and TuneIn Radio apps.
 
SLU got into the win column for this spring with a 25-20 victory over McNeese on Saturday. Southeastern forced four Cowboy turnovers in the win, while also gaining 492 total yards on offense.
 
Southeastern is averaging 31.5 points and 514.0 yards per game through the first two contests of the season. Quarterback Cole Kelley has completed 57-of-92 passes for 763 yards and five touchdowns this spring.
 
CJ Turner (17 catches, 221 yards, 3 TD) and Austin Mitchell (13-160-1 TD) have been Kelley's top targets thus far, while Javon Conner caught five balls for 104 yards in his season debut versus McNeese. Morgan Ellison leads the Lion ground game with 156 yards and a touchdown.
 
The SLU defense is yielding 31.5 points and 501.5 yards per outing. Donniel Ward-Magee leads the team with 17 tackles, followed by Alexis Ramos (16), Matthew Wright (14), Herman Christophe (14) and Justin Douglas (11).
 
Wright and Ferlando Jordan, who was named Southland Conference and LSWA Defensive Player of the Week earlier this week, each have interceptions, while Ward-Magee, Ramos and Christophe all have fumble recoveries to their credit.
 
The reigning league and state Special Teams Player of the Week, Mateo Rengifo is a perfect 5-for-5 on field goals for the Lions, while Austin Dunlap carries a 44.5 punting average into Saturday's contest.
 
Northwestern State was held off by No. 7 Nicholls, 31-24, in last Saturday's season opener. Aubrey Scott (121 yards, 1 TD) and Scooter Adams (90-1 TD) were both effective on the ground to lead the NSU offense. Kaleb Fletcher (8-for-17, 49 yards, 1 TD) and Zachary Clement (5-13, 18 yards) split time under center for the Demons.
 
Ja'Quay Pough led the Demons with 16 tackles. Jomard Valsin and Blake Stephenson chipped in with 13 and 10 stops, respectively.
 
Eddie Godina made his lone field goal attempt for Northwestern State, while Scotty Roblow averaged 41.8 yards per punt.
 
Saturday will mark the 64th meeting between the in-state rivals with SLU holding a 34-29 advantage. The Lions have had the edge in recent years, winning the last eight meetings in the series.
 
Up Next
SLU will travel to face No. 25 UIW on Saturday, March 20 at 2 p.m. in San Antonio, Texas. The game will be televised on ESPN+ and can be heard on the Southeastern Sports Radio Network (KSLU 90.9 FM, Kajun 107.1 FM, The Highway 104.7 FM and The Boss 103.7 FM/1400 AM). Fans can also listen live at www.LionSports.net/listenlive and via the Lions Game Day Experience 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. Southeastern is implementing mobile ticketing as the primary source for securing tickets for the 2020-21 season. All tickets will be available via e-mail or text message in a PDF format for fans to download on their phone or print at home. Tickets can also be downloaded to Apple Wallet. SLU is scheduled to host McNeese (March 6), Northwestern State (March 13) and Lamar (April 3) this coming spring. Current state and local health and safety regulations limit capacity at Strawberry Stadium to 2,518.
 
INSIDE SOUTHEASTERN FOOTBALL WITH FRANK SCELFO
Inside Southeastern Football With Frank Scelfo, presented by Louisiana's First Choice Auto Auction, will air every Monday through the end of the season at 7 p.m. on the patio at Pour House Pizza and Beer Garden (505 West Thomas Street) in downtown Hammond. Hosted by Scelfo, the reigning Southland Conference Coach of the Year, 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.
 
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.