Southeastern continues to rise in FCS polls

HAMMOND, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana football team’s 44-27 Southland Conference win at Northwestern State allowed the Lions to move up in both FCS national polls released Monday.

Southeastern took control of a tight game with the Demons in the third quarter, outscoring the hosts, 20-3, and limiting NSU to 36 total yards in the period. Chason Virgil (24-for-32, 344 yards, 1 TD) engineered a SLU offense that accumulated a season-high 537 yards. CJ Turner grabbed seven passes for 128 yards and a score, while Taron Jones led the rushing attack with 108 yards on the ground and two touchdowns.

The Lions climbed from No. 19 to No. 17 in the STATS FCS Top 25 and are one of three Southland schools on the list, along with No. 11 Central Arkansas and No. 16 Nicholls. Sam Houston State and Houston Baptist are both receiving votes.

In the AFCA Coaches poll, the Lions climbed three spots up to No. 19. Southeastern is one of four league teams in the top 25, along with No. 10 Central Arkansas, No. 15 Nicholls and No. 25 Houston Baptist. Southland rival Sam Houston State is receiving votes.

Up Next
Southeastern will play its second straight in-state Southland foe on the road on Saturday, facing McNeese at 4 p.m. in Lake Charles. The game will air on Cox Sports Television and ESPN+ (outside of the CST viewing area). It also can be heard on the Southeastern Sports Radio Network (KSLU-FM (90.9), Kajun 107.1 FM, The Highway 104.7 FM and The Boss 103.7 FM/1400 AM WFPR), online at www.LionSports.net/listenlive and via the Radio FX and TuneIn Radio apps.

STATS FCS Top 25
Team (First-place votes) Record Points Prv.
1. North Dakota State (152) 4-0 3,968 1
2. James Madison (7) 4-1 3,786 2
3. South Dakota State 3-1 3,670 3
4. Weber State 2-2 3,349 5
5. Villanova 5-0 3,178 8
6. Montana State 4-1 3,058 7
7. Kennesaw State 4-1 2,928 6
8. Montana 4-1 2,594 18
9. Towson 3-2 2,370 10
10. Illinois State 3-1 2,307 14
11. Central Arkansas 3-1 2,096 15
12. UC Davis 2-3 2,021 4
13. Northern Iowa 2-2 1,962 9
14. Furman 3-2 1,943 16
15. North Carolina A&T 3-1 1,754 17
16. Nicholls 2-2 1,505 12
17. Southeastern Louisiana 3-1 1,393 19
18. Youngstown State 4-0 1,253 22
19. Delaware 3-2 1,167 20
20. Maine 2-3 1,147 12
21. Jacksonville State 3-2 892 11
22. Eastern Washington 2-3 731 21
23. Southeast Missouri 2-2 616 23
24. Stony Brook 4-1 527 NR
25. Princeton 2-0 483 NR
Others receiving votes: Dartmouth 146, South Carolina State 113, Austin Peay 99, Sam Houston State 97, Houston Baptist 86, Elon 82, Indiana State 66, Yale 66, The Citadel 40, Sacramento State 32, Samford 30, Wofford 26, Tennessee Tech 24, Southern Illinois 23, Central Connecticut State 17, Idaho State 13, Eastern Kentucky 12, Alcorn State 2, North Dakota 2, Cal Poly 1.

AFCA FCS Coaches Poll
Team (First-place votes) Record Points Prv.
1. North Dakota State (25) 4-0 650 1
2. James Madison 4-1 621 2
3. South Dakota State 3-1 594 3
4. Kennesaw State 4-1 551 4
5. Weber State 2-2 521 6
6. Illinois State 3-1 484 8
7. Montana State 4-1 477 11
8. Villanova 5-0 466 13
9. Montana 4-1 388 17
T10. Central Arkansas 2-2 379 14
T10. Towson 3-2 379 10
12. UC Davis 2-3 356 5
13. Northern Iowa 2-2 340 7
14. Furman 3-2 329 15
15. Nicholls 2-2 267 9
16. North Carolina A&T 3-1 265 18
17. Youngstown State 4-0 248 20
18. Delaware 3-2 189 19
19. Southeastern Louisiana 3-1 172 22
20. Jacksonville State 3-2 134 12
21. Eastern Washington 2-3 129 21
22. Maine 2-3 127 16
23. Princeton 2-0 91 23
24. Stony Brook 4-1 67 NR
T25. Southeast Missouri State 2-2 34 NR
T25. Houston Baptist 4-1 34 NR
Others receiving votes: Tennessee State 23, South Carolina State 21, Yale 19, Austin Peay 15, Dartmouth 13, North Dakota 13, Sacramento State 12, Sam Houston State 12, Elon 9, Samford 9, Idaho State 5, Campbell 3, Indiana State 2, Central Connecticut State 1, The Citadel 1.