Game 9 | SLC Game 4 | Southeastern (4-4, 3-0 SLC) vs. No. 10/11 UIW (5-2, 2-0 SLC)
Oct. 26, 2024 | 6 p.m. | Strawberry Stadium (7,408) | Hammond, La.
Series History: UIW leads, 6-5
Last Meeting: No. 6/8 UIW 33, SLU 26 (San Antonio, Texas | Oct. 7, 2023)
Television: ESPN+
Radio: Kajun 107.1 FM, The Highway 104.7 FM, The Boss 103.7 FM/WFPR 1400 AM
            Announcers: Mark Willoughby, Robbie Mahfouz, Allen Waddell and Robbie Rhodes
 
HAMMOND, La. – The top two teams in the Southland Conference standings meet in Strawberry Stadium Saturday, as Southeastern Louisiana University hosts No. 10/11 UIW for a 6 p.m. league contest.
 
The game between the Lions (4-4, 3-0 SLC) and the visiting Cardinals (5-2, 2-0 SLC) will be televised 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/1400 AM).
 
Saturday's game versus UIW will also be a Gold Out, as fans are encouraged to wear their best gold Southeastern gear to the contest.
 
The game versus the Cardinals will be Faculty and Staff Appreciation Day. Southeastern faculty and staff can present their ID at the Southeastern Athletics Ticket Office to receive a free general admission ticket for SLU's matchup with the Cardinals. The office is open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. – noon. Faculty and staff can present their ID at Gate 1 on game day.
 
Southeastern improved to 3-0 in Southland Conference play in thrilling fashion, defeating Stephen F. Austin, 24-23, on Homecoming. Eli Sawyer engineered a 13-play, 75-yard game-winning scoring drive, finding SLC Offensive Player of the Week Darius Lewis from three yards out for the game-winning touchdown with two seconds remaining.
 
Sawyer has thrown for 1,062 yards, six touchdowns and four interceptions on the season. Lewis has been his top target with 53 catches for 485 yards in 2024. Lewis, who ranks seventh in FCS in receptions per game, Cade Collier and Brandon Hayes have caught two touchdowns apiece.
 
Antonio Martin Jr. continues to lead the Southeastern rushing attack. The Atlanta native is sixth in FCS with 917 rushing yards on the season and is within striking distance of becoming the first Lion to reach 1,000 rushing yards in a season since SLU Athletics Hall of Famer Bryan Bennett in 2013.
 
The Southeastern defense is allowing just 13.0 points per game in Southland Conference play. KK Reno leads SLU with 63 tackles, followed by Donte' Daniels (54), Khamron Ford (43), Coryell Pierce (42) and Kaleb Proctor (33).
 
Warren Peeples paces the Lions with four sacks. Daniels, Ford and Pierce each have interceptions to their credit, while Tylon Cooper has a team-high seven pass breakups.
 
Lewis is fourth nationally with 17.0 yards per punt return heading into Saturday's game to lead the Southeastern special teams.
 
The nationally-ranked Cardinals come to Hammond riding a four-game winning streak. The latest UIW victory was a 30-17 SLC win over McNeese last Saturday.
 
Zach Calzada (1,867 yards, 18 TD, 4 INT) is the leader of a UIW offense averaging 37.0 points and 425.6 yards per contest. Jalen Walthall (45 catches, 702 yards, 10 TD) and Roy Alexander (45-504-3 TD) have been the top targets, while Dekalon Taylor has rushed for a team-high 527 yards and six touchdowns.
 
Mason Chambers leads the Cardinal defense with 45 tackles. Mister Williams has a team-high 8.5 tackles for loss and Devin Grant paces the team with five sacks. Kendrick Stone leads UIW with two interceptions.
 
Taylor leads the Southland with 17.1 yards per punt return, while Cardinal kicker Brack Peacock is 7-for-9 on field goals.
 
UIW leads the all-time series between the two schools, 6-5. Last season in San Antonio, the Cardinals outlasted SLU, 33-26.
 
Saturday's game will be the first of two straight versus Cardinals for SLU. The Lions will travel to Lamar next Saturday for a 3 p.m. contest in Beaumont, Texas. The Nov. 2 contest will be televised 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/1400 AM).
 
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. 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.
 
CLEAR BAG POLICY
Southeastern Athletics observes a clear bag policy for all ticketed events. For more information on the clear bag policy, visit www.LionSports.net/clear.