HAMMOND, La. –  The Southeastern Louisiana University football team moved up two spots to No. 13 in the latest Stats Perform FCS Top 25 released on Monday.
 
The Lions (1-0) opened the season with a 49-28 victory over North Alabama on Saturday in Florence, Alabama. Southeastern racked up 495 yards of total offense and 30 first downs, controlling the ball for nearly 37 minutes and converting 10-of-15 third-down situations.
 
Walter Payton Award winner and SLU quarterback Cole Kelley connected with 11 different receivers, finishing with 263 yards on 30-for-41 passing, while also finding Nolan Givan, Austin Mitchell and Cephus Johnson III on scoring throws. Taron Jones helped Southeastern to its highest rushing output under fourth-year head coach Frank Scelfo (232 yards), leading the Lions with 85 yards and a touchdown on 11 carriers. Jones, Kelley and Johnson III all found the end zone on the ground.
 
Alphonso Taylor led SLU with nine tackles, as the Lions held UNA to just 54 yards rushing. Mike Mason, Arlen Williams and Tainano Gaulua all recorded sacks for the Lions. Buck Buchanan Award candidate Ferlando Jordan returned an interception 41 yards for a touchdown – his Southland Conference-record fifth pick six of his career.
 
Southeastern is the only Southland team ranked in the Stats Perform poll this week. Nicholls is among those receiving votes.
 
On Saturday, SLU travels to Louisiana Tech for a 6 p.m. game in Ruston. The game will be televised on ESPN3 and can be heard in the Hammond area on Kajun 107.1 FM, Tangi 96.5 FM and WFPR 1400 AM, as well as online on kajun107.net and tangiradio.net.
 
Stats Perform FCS Top 25
Team (First-place votes)                   Record            Points  Prv.
1. Sam Houston (32)                           1-0                   1,212   1
2. South Dakota State (11)                  1-0                   1,185   3
3. James Madison (2)                          1-0                   1,150   2
4. Montana (5)                                    1-0                   1,087   9
5. North Dakota State                         1-0                   1,050   4
6. Delaware                                         1-0                   965      5
7. Eastern Washington                        1-0                   880      11
8. Southern Illinois                              1-0                   873      7
9. North Dakota                                  1-0                   858      8
10. Weber State                                  0-1                   764      6
11. Montana State                               0-1                   598      12
12. Villanova                                       1-0                   585      16
13. Southeastern                                1-0                   584      15
14. UC Davis                                      1-0                   576      23
15. ETSU                                            1-0                   442      NR
16. Jacksonville State                         0-1                   427      10
17. Austin Peay                                   1-0                   417      20
18. VMI                                              1-0                   415      17
19. Central Arkansas                           0-1                   407      14
20. Monmouth                                    0-1                   290      13
21. Northern Iowa                              0-1                   287      21
22. Kennesaw State                            1-0                   208      19
23. Missouri State                               0-1                   187      24
24. Holy Cross                                    1-0                   160      NR
25. Richmond                                     1-0                   135      NR
 
Others receiving votes: Murray State 125, Chattanooga 72, Nicholls 61, Sacramento State 40, Samford 40, New Hampshire 36, Alabama A&M 34, Furman 20, Sacred Heart 17, Jackson State 14, Illinois State 10, Rhode Island 8, Stephen F. Austin 8, North Carolina Central 7.    
 
2021 opponents in bold italics
 
TICKETS
For ticket information, contact the Southeastern Athletics Ticket Office at (985) 549-5466 or visit www.LionSports.net. Southeastern will continue offering mobile ticketing as the primary source for securing tickets for the 2021-22 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.
 
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.