HAMMOND, La. – The reigning Southland Conference champion Southeastern Louisiana University football team dropped a 34-19 decision to HCU in its SLC and home opener Saturday evening at Strawberry Stadium.
 
HCU (2-2, 1-0 SLC) earned its first win over the Lions in eight tries. SLU (0-4, 0-1 SLC) couldn't overcome a 24-6 second quarter deficit, getting as close as 24-19 late in the third quarter, before the Huskies outscored the hosts, 10-0, in the final quarter.
 
Eli Sawyer handled the majority of the quarterback duties for Southeastern, finishing 25-for-41 for 331 yards and two scores. Jacob Logan and Jaylon Domingeaux caught touchdown passes from Sawyer. Anthony Britton Jr., Herman Christophe IV and Ian Goodly each finished with 10 tackles apiece to lead the Lion defense.
 
HCU finished with a balanced attack, throwing for 282 yards and rushing for 267. Husky quarterback Colby Suits threw for three scores and rushed for another, while Darryle Evans led HCU with 173 yards on 21 carries.
 
The Huskies took the opening drive 75 yards on 13 plays to take the early lead. Suits found Darrion Sherfield from 24 yards out to stake HCU to a 7-0 lead with 10:23 left in the opening period.
 
Southeastern answered with a touchdown drive of its own on its first drive. Sawyer was stripped heading into the end zone on a quarterback draw, but Harlan Dixon fell on the loose ball for the SLU score. Riley Callaghan's extra point was blocked to allow HCU to maintain a 7-6 lead.
 
The Huskies answered on the next play from scrimmage. McMillan took a quick slant from Suits and housed it from 86 yards out to extend the HCU lead to 14-6 with 7:02 left in the first quarter.
 
A 30-yard field goal by Dillon Fedor and a 25-yard touchdown reception by Karl Reynolds extended the Huskies lead to 24-6 in the second quarter. A 19-yard strike from Sawyer to Domingeaux cut the HCU advantage to 24-13 heading into halftime.
 
The two teams traded punts to start the third quarter, before SLU cut further into the lead. Sawyer found Logan from 33 yards out to cut into the lead, but the Lions failed on a two-point try to keep the Huskies up, 24-19, with 2:40 left in the period.
 
HCU answered to extend the lead early in the fourth quarter. Suits busted through the line on a fourth-and-short and scored from 21 yards out to give the Huskies a 31-19 lead with 10:31 left.
 
Southeastern drove it deep into HCU territory on the ensuing drive. Facing a fourth-and-six inside the 10-yard line, Sawyer's throw to the end zone was just out of the reach of Domingeaux, giving the Huskies back the ball on downs. HCU tacked on a 31-yard Fedor field goal to provide the final margin.
 
Saturday's game was the first of two home games for the Lions, who will close out nonconference play with a 3 p.m. contest versus Tarleton State next Saturday. The game between SLU and the visiting Texans can be seen on ESPN+ and can be heard on the Southeastern Sports Radio Network (Kajun 107.1 FM, The Highway 104.7 FM, The Boss 103.7 FM/WFPR 1400 AM). Next Saturday will also be a Gold Out, as fans are encouraged to wear gold as Southeastern takes on Tarleton State.   
 
Season and single-game tickets for the 2023 home football season, which includes visits from HCU, Tarleton State, Lamar (Oct. 14), McNeese (Nov. 4) and Nicholls (Nov. 18) 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.