Box Score

STEPHENVILLE, Texas – The Southeastern Louisiana University football team's upset bid fell just short in a 36-33 road loss to No. 16 Tarleton State Saturday evening at Memorial Stadium.  
 
SLU closes out nonconference play with a 1-4 overall record. The host Texans (4-1) clinched the victory with a Blake Smith interception in the final minute as Southeastern looked to take the lead.
 
The failed upset bid spoiled a tremendous rushing performance by Southeastern's Antonio Martin Jr., as the Atlanta native finished with 206 yards and three touchdowns on 32 carries. His single-game rushing yardage total was the fifth-highest in school history and the most by a Lion since Jay Lucas rushed for 215 yards in 2007.
 
After starter Damon Stewart suffered a game-ending injury early in the first quarter, Eli Sawyer finished 17-for-27 for 155 yards and an interception. Darius Lewis (seven catches, 49 yards) and Jaylon Domingeaux (four catches, 59 yards) were the top SLU pass catchers.
 
Defensively, KK Reno led SLU with 11 tackles. Donte' Daniels followed with nine tackles, while Coryell Pierce recorded his first interception of the season.
 
The nation's leading rusher heading into the game, Kayvon Britten, led the Texans with 173 yards and a score on 28 carries. Victor Gabalis threw for 203 yards, three touchdowns and an interception on 15-for-25 passing for Tarleton State, which was led by Darius Cooper's eight catches for 90 yards and two touchdowns.
 
The two teams traded punts on each of its first two possessions, then Tarleton State took the lead with a 12-play, 90-yard scoring drive that carried into the second quarter. Britten bulled in from two yards out to give the Texans a 7-0 lead with 12:21 remaining in the opening half.
 
Southeastern answered with a 12-play, 75-yard scoring drive to knot the score. It appeared that the Lions were going to have to settle for a 40-yard field goal, but SLU faked it and holder Justin Dumas raced untouched from 23 yards out to tie the score at 7-7 with 7:26 left in the second quarter.
 
On the next Tarleton State drive, Pierce intercepted Gabalis at the TSU 26-yard line and a Texan penalty set up SLU at the TSU 13-yard line. Five plays later, Martin Jr. took the direct snap and powered in from three yards out to give the Lions a 13-7 lead with 3:44 left in the first half.
 
Tarleton State answered to end the half. Gabalis found Cody Jackson from 27 yards out to give the Texans a 14-13 lead with 47 seconds remaining.
 
Southeastern did not rest on its laurels. Sawyer drove the Lions down for a 20-yard Riley Callaghan field goal to send SLU into the break with a 16-14 advantage.  
 
After a Tarleton State three-and-out to open the half, a 39-yard Martin Jr. run highlighted a seven-play, 59-yard scoring drive that Callaghan capped with a 28-yard field goal to put SLU up, 19-14, with 10:15 left in the third quarter.
 
Tarleton State retook the lead on the next drive, marching 83 yards on nine plays. Derrel Kelley III raced in from 11 yards out and the Texans converted a two-point try to take a 22-19 advantage with 7:11 left in the third period.  
 
On the next Lion drive, Darnell O'Quinn was stripped by Ty Rawls who fell on the loose ball at the SLU 23-yard line. On the next play, Gabalis found Cooper for a 23-yard scoring toss and a 29-19 Texans advantage with 6:15 left in the third quarter.
 
Southeastern struck right back. Martin Jr. rumbled home from 57 yards out to cut the Texan lead to 29-26 with 4:59 left in the third quarter.
 
SLU forced a three-and-out, then Adrian Guzman dropped the snap on the punt and hurried a nine-yard punt to give Southeastern the ball at the TSU 35-yard line. The Lions took advantage of the short field, as Martin Jr. finished the scoring drive with a two-yard scoring plunge. His third score of the game put the Lions back up, 33-29, on the first play of the final quarter.
 
Tarleton State came right back on the ensuing possession with an 11-play, 75-yard scoring drive. Gabalis found Cooper for a four-yard scoring toss to put the Texans back up, 36-33, with 9:39 left.
 
The two teams traded punts with Southeastern taking over at its own 13-yard line with 4:09 remaining. SLU moved it to near midfield, but Smith's interception sealed it for the Texans.
 
After the contest with the Texans, SLU will return home to host Texas A&M-Commerce next Saturday at 6 p.m. in the Southland Conference opener for both teams. The game 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).
 
The Southeastern Athletics Ticket Office will be collecting nonperishable food items for the Southeastern Food Pantry. Fans can dedicate 2-3 food items at the Southeastern Athletics Ticket Office prior to Saturday's game versus visiting A&M-Commerce in exchange for a general admission ticket to the contest. No exchanges will be made on game day. The SLU Ticket Office is located on the west side of Strawberry Stadium and is open Monday-Thursday from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. – noon.
 
SLU – 0 16 10 7 – 33 (1-4)
TSU – 0 14 15 7 – 36 (4-1)
 
Scoring Summary
1^st Quarter
No Scoring
2^nd Quarter
TSU – Britten 2 run (Guzman kick), 12:21
SLU – Dumas 23 run (Callaghan kick), 7:26
SLU – Martin Jr. 3 run (Callaghan kick failed), 3:44
TSU – Jackson 27 pass from Gabalis (Guzman kick), 0:47
SLU – Callaghan 20 FG, 0:00
3^rd Quarter
SLU – Callaghan 28 FG, 10:15
TSU – Kelley III 11 run (Gabalis pass to Omayebu), 7:11
TSU – Cooper 23 pass from Gabalis (Guzman kick), 6:15
SLU – Martin Jr. 57 run (Callaghan kick), 4:59
4^th Quarter
SLU – Martin Jr. 2 run (Callaghan kick), 14:57
TSU – Cooper 4 pass from Gabalis (Guzman kick), 9:39
 
                                                                             SLU        TSU
FIRST DOWNS                                                  21           24                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              RUSHES-YARDS (NET)                                  236         212                                                                                       
PASSING YDS (NET)                                        160         203  
Passes Att-Comp-Int                                          29-18-1   25-15-1                         
TOTAL OFFENSE PLAYS-YARDS                73-396    66-415                                                                     
Fumble Returns-Yards                                        0-0          1-0                                                                                                        
Kickoff Returns-Yards                                       2-33        3-88                                             
Punt Returns-Yards                                             1-2          1-2         
Interception Returns-Yards                                 1-0          1-17                          
Punts (Number-Avg)                                          4-38.3     5-32.8                                                                                      
Fumbles-Lost                                                      1-1          3-0                                                                                                                                      
Penalties-Yards                                                   3-35       7-74       
Possession Time.                                                 32:10     27:50                       
Third-Down Conversions                                   5-for-16 5-for-10                                                                                                                
Fourth-Down Conversions                                  5-for-6   0-for-0                                                                                  
Red Zone Scores-Chances                                  4-for-4   3-for-3                                                                                  
 
RUSHING: SLU – Martin Jr. 32-206, Dumas 1-23, Dixon 4-10, Stewart 3-5, Sawyer 1-2, Graham Jr. 1-2, Murray 1-1, O'Quinn 1-13. Totals – 44-236. TSU – Britten 28-173, Kelley III 7-43, Gabalis 3-8. Totals – 41-212.
 
PASSING: SLU – Sawyer 17-27-155-0-1, Stewart 1-2-5-0-0. Totals – 18-29-160-0-1. TSU - Gabalis 15-25-203-3-1. Totals – 15-25-203-3-1.
 
RECEIVING: SLU – Lewis 7-49, Domingeaux 4-59, Drobocky 2-3, Collier 1-19, Rogers 1-18, Lorio 1-5, Martin Jr. 1-4, Dixon 1-3. Totals – 18-160. TSU – Cooper 8-90, Johnson 2-44, Omayebu 2-37, Jackson 1-27, Hearine 1-5, Henderson 1-0. Totals – 15-203.
 
A – 22,312.
 
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.