Game 11 | Southeastern (3-7, 3-3 SLC) vs. Nicholls (5-4, 6-0 SLC)
Nov. 16, 2023 | 6 p.m. | Strawberry Stadium (7,408) | Hammond, La.
Series History: SLU leads, 17-16
Last Meeting: Southeastern 40, Nicholls 17 | 11/17/22 | Thibodaux, La.
Television: ESPN+
            Announcers: Patrick Wright and Lucas Hill
Radio: Kajun 107.1 FM, The Highway 104.7 FM, The Boss 103.7 FM/WFPR 1400 AM
            Announcers: Mark Willoughby, Harris Beall, Allen Waddell and Robbie Rhodes
 
HAMMOND, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana University football team will close out its 2023 season Thursday, hosting Nicholls for the 34^th River Bell Classic at 6 p.m. in Strawberry Stadium.
 
The contest between the Lions (3-7, 3-3 SLC) and the visiting Colonels (5-4, 6-0 SLC) will be televised on ESPN+ and can be heard live on the Southeastern Sports Radio Network (Kajun 107.1 FM, The Highway 104.7 FM, The Boss 103.7 FM/WFPR 1400 AM).
 
Burns Estate Planning and Wealth Advisors is Thursday's game sponsor. Thursday will be Heroes Night, as all first responders and military personnel receive free admission by presenting a valid ID.
 
The 2023 senior class of Herman Christophe IV, Tyrone Legette, Arlen Williams, Zachary Clement, Jacob Logan, Victor Tademy, Austin Dunlap, Robert Buqoui, Anthony Britton Jr., Mateo Rengifo, Taylor Martin, Korey Karbowsky, Garrett Crawford, John Allen, Rodney Sopsher, Slade Ziegler, William Granville, Jalen Bell, Marcellus Johnson, Tanner Olsen and Tyrik Mitchell will be recognized in a special Senior Day ceremony approximately 30 minutes before Thursday's kickoff.
 
The senior class has been a part of three FCS playoff appearances and a Southland Conference championship during their Lion careers.
 
"When you start 0-7, teams have the tendency to go away and it was our seniors that held us together," Southeastern head coach Frank Scelfo commented. "We have a chance to close out the season with four consecutive wins because of the leadership of that group. This group has done a lot for our program and this university and we're looking forward to honoring them Thursday night."
 
Southeastern heads into its season finale on a three-game winning streak. The Lions forced Texas A&M-Commerce into five turnovers and outgained the hosts, 416-209, in a dominant 52-14 SLC road victory.
 
Eli Sawyer (1,398 yards passing, 6 TD, 5 INT) and Clement (1,079, 9 TD, 5 INT) have split time under center for a SLU offense that is averaging 26.2 points and 399.8 yards per contest.
 
Darius Lewis continues to be the team's top receiver with 46 catches for 561 yards. Lewis and Logan have each hauled in four passing touchdowns apiece.
 
Clement leads the Lions with 452 rushing yards on the year. Harlan Dixon and Bauer Sharp share the team lead with five rushing touchdowns apiece.
 
Southeastern's defense has steadily improved throughout the season and comes into Thursday's season finale yielding 29.2 points and 403.1 yards per contest. Ian Conerly-Goodly leads the team with 101 tackles, followed by Christophe IV (78), Britton Jr. (45), Coryell Pierce (44), Tademy (40) and KK Reno (40).
 
Tademy also leads the team with three interceptions, while Legette has a pair of picks and a team-high eight pass breakups. Williams continues to pace Southeastern with eight tackles for loss and six sacks.
 
Dunlap enters his final game as a Lion with an SLC-best 43.0 punting average to highlight the Lion special teams efforts.
 
Nicholls clinched no less than a share of the Southland Conference champions and an automatic bid in the NCAA FCS playoffs with a 37-24 home win versus Lamar Saturday.
 
The Colonel offense averages 27.3 points and 367.3 yards per contest. Quarterback Pat McQuaide (1,769 passing yards, 11 TD, 9 INT) engineers the Nicholls attack with Neroy Lemay (38 catches, 390 yards, 3 TD) serving as the program's top receiving threat.
 
Nicholls features the league's premier 1-2 rushing combo. Collin Guggenheim (745 yards, 11 TD) and Jaylon Spears (658 yards, 6 TD) have both been very effective on the ground for the Colonels.
 
Opponents are averaging 25.6 points and 379.3 yards per game versus the Nicholls defense. Ethan Lee leads the team with 55 tackles, followed closely by Tyler Morton (53), who also paces the team with four interceptions.

Southeastern holds a slight 17-16 edge in the series history. The Lions reclaimed the River Bell trophy last fall, clinching the Southland Conference championship with a 40-17 win in Thibodaux.
 
Single-game tickets for the 2023 home football season are available online at https://vivenu.com/event/2023-football-2klkar.
 
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 2023-24 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 X, like /SLUathletics on Facebook and follow lionupfootball on Instagram.
 
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.
 
INSIDE SOUTHEASTERN FOOTBALL WITH FRANK SCELFO
The 2023 season of Inside Southeastern Football with Frank Scelfo is airing from its new home – Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux (305 CM Fagan Dr) in Hammond. Hosted by Scelfo and Allen Waddell, the hour-long radio show will air Mondays throughout the football season on Kajun 107.1 FM, The Highway 104.7 FM and The Boss 103.7 FM/WFPR 1400 AM.
 
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.