SLU heads to Commerce for Battle of the Lions

Game 10 | Southeastern (2-7, 2-3 SLC) at Texas A&M-Commerce (1-8, 1-4 SLC)
Nov. 11, 2023 | 3:30 p.m. | Strawberry Stadium (11,582) | Commerce, Texas
Series History: AMC leads, 5-4-1
Last Meeting: Texas A&M-Commerce 31, Southeastern 28 | 10/8/22 | Hammond, La.
Television: ESPN+
Radio: Kajun 107.1 FM, The Highway 104.7 FM, The Boss 103.7 FM/WFPR 1400 AM
— Announcers: Mark Willoughby and Harris Beall

HAMMOND, La. – The reigning Southland Conference champion Southeastern Louisiana University football team will close out its 2023 road schedule with a 3:30 p.m. SLC contest Saturday at Texas A&M-Commerce.

The game between SLU (2-7, 2-3 SLC) and the host Lions (1-8, 1-4 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/WFPR 1400 AM).

Southeastern earned its win of the season, 38-24, over McNeese last Saturday. The Lions finished with 491 total yards – including a season-high 333 on the ground – on the way to its second straight victory.

Eli Sawyer (1,368 yards, 6 TD, 5 INT) and Zachary Clement (919 yards, 8 TD, 5 INT) have split quarterbacking duties this fall for a Lion offense that is averaging 23.3 points and 398.0 yards per contest.

Darius Lewis (41 catches, 520 yards, 4 TD) has been SLU’s top target in the passing game, while Bauer Sharp and Jacob Logan each have three touchdown receptions.

On the ground, Clement leads the team with 374 rushing yards, while he, Rodeo Graham Jr. and Sharp each have three rushing scores.

The Lion defense enters Saturday’s contest allowing 30.9 points and 424.7 yards per outing. Ian Conerly-Goodly leads SLU with 97 tackles, followed by Herman Christophe IV (75), Anthony Britton Jr. (43), Coryell Pierce (41) and Victory Tademy (38).

Tademy and Tyrone Legette each have two interceptions. Arlen Williams paces the squad with eight tackles for loss and six sacks.

Austin Dunlap continues to lead the Southland with a 42.9 punting average. Lewis (13.3 punt return average) and Tristan Goodly (34.0 kickoff return average) are the leaders in the return game.

Texas A&M-Commerce will be looking to snap a four-game losing streak in its 2023 regular season finale, as its scheduled game versus Northwestern State on Nov. 18 was canceled. The host Lions will be looking to bounce back from a 41-21 loss to Lamar last Saturday in Beaumont.

Texas A&M-Commerce enters Saturday’s game averaging 16.1 points and 302.8 yards per contest. TAMU-C has seen four different players at quarterback in 2023 with Josh Magana (1,149 yards, 8 TD, 6 INT) handling the most snaps.

The trio of Shamenski Rucker (25 catches, 172 yards), Micaelous Elder (25-215-1 TD) and Keith Miller III (20-268-4 TD) are the squad’s top pass catchers. Reggie Branch leads the Commerce Lions with 256 rushing yards.

Opponents are averaging 30.1 points and 411.9 yards per game versus Texas A&M-Commerce. Daryion Taylor leads TAMU-C with 61 tackles, while Max Epps has a team-best four interceptions.

Following Saturday’s game, Southeastern will close out the season by hosting Nicholls for the River Bell Classic Thursday at 6 p.m. in Strawberry Stadium. The contest between the Lions and the visiting Colonels 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, 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.

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.