Southeastern returns home to host SFA for 4 p.m. Green Out, Youth Day Contest

Southeastern Louisiana (4-3, 3-2 SLC) vs. Stephen F. Austin (1-7, 1-4 SLC)
Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019 | 4 p.m. | Hammond, La. | Strawberry Stadium (7,408)
Series History: SFA leads 11-8-1
Last Meeting: Southeastern Louisiana 58, Stephen F. Austin 34 (Oct. 15, 2016 – Nacogdoches, Texas)
Video: Southeastern Sports Network
Radio: Southeastern Sports Radio Network (KSLU 90.9, Kajun 107.1, The Highway 104.7, The Boss 103.7 FM/1400 AM WFPR)
Announcers: Mark Willoughby, Robbie Rhodes and Allen Waddell

HAMMOND, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana football team will look to start the final month of the regular season on a high note when it welcomes Southland Conference rival Stephen F. Austin to Strawberry Stadium on Saturday for a 4 p.m. contest.

The Southeastern Sports Network will offer a free video stream of Saturday’s matinee between the Lions (4-3, 3-2 Southland) and the visiting Lumberjacks (1-7, 1-4 Southland). Tune in online at www.LionSports.net or the Lions’ Gameday Experience app for Android or iOS devices. Fans can also watch on Southeastern’s YouTube channel (/SLUathletics) with any mobile, tablet or smart TV device (e.g., Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Android TV and Roku).

The game 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 Lions Game Day and TuneIn Radio apps.

Fans are encouraged to wear green to the SLU-SFA contest, as next Saturday is a Green Out in Strawberry Stadium. Children 12 and under will receive a complimentary ticket (one free children’s admission per each adult ticket purchased). Younger Lion fans with a local school ID will receive a general admission ticket for the low price of $8.

The 13th Annual Gumbo Cook-Off is also set for Saturday. Visit www.LionSports.net/gumbo for more information.

Southeastern is in the midst of a jumble of teams at the top of the Southland Conference standings. Central Arkansas, who SLU visits next Saturday, is atop the league with one Southland loss, while Southeastern, Nicholls, UIW and Sam Houston State each have two conference losses.

Southeastern ended a two-game skid last Saturday with a dominant 52-13 victory at Houston Baptist. The Lions racked up a season-high 634 total yards and 32 first downs, while holding the high-powered Huskies to 259 total yards.

In the win over Houston Baptist, Chason Virgil (22-for-31, 388 yards, 3 TD, 0 INT) threw for a career-high in yardage, while Cole Kelley (6-for-8, 101 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT) also contributed to the 489-yard passing day, as the SLU pair connected with 10 different receivers at HBU.

Southeastern is averaging 487.0 yards and 37.1 points per game heading into Saturday’s contest. Behind Virgil (2,170 yards, 14 TD, 8 INT) and Kelley (299 yards, 7 TD, 0 INT), the Lions are second in FCS with 352.7 passing yards per game.

Southeastern has no shortage of pass-catching options, as CJ Turner (41 catches, 465 yards, 4 TD), Austin Mitchell (28-584-6 TD), Bransen Schwebel (28-318-3 TD), Devonte Williams (26-234-1 TD), Javon Conner (25-267-2 TD), Marcus Cooper (17-157) and Lorenzo Nunez (3 TD) have alll been productive options for Virgil and Kelley. Williams also leads the team with 267 yards and four touchdowns on the ground.

Opponents are averaging 27.6 points and 400.3 yards per game versus the Lions. Alexis Ramos leads the team with 48 tackles and is joined in the top five by Xavier Lewis (38), Tre’ Spann (36), Isaac Adeyemi-Berglund (34), Trae Drake (33) and Donniel Ward-Magee (33).

SLU is seventh in the FCS with 66 tackles for loss and fifth with 24 sacks. Adeyemi-Berglund (11.5 TFL, 5.5 sacks), Josh Carr Jr. (11.0 TFL, 5.0 sacks) and Ronald Cherry III (8.5 TFL, 3.5 sacks) lead the Lion pass rush.

Ferlando Jordan has two interception returns for touchdowns to his credit, while Carr Jr. lead the Lions with eight pass breakups from his defensive end position.

Southeastern’s young kicking game continues to be solid, as Austin Dunlap is second in the Southland with a 43.3 punting average, while Bryce Broussard is 6-for-7 on field goals.

The Lumberjacks are looking to snap a three-game losing streak when they visit Hammond on Saturday. SFA fell, 33-10, at home versus McNeese last week.

Stephen F. Austin averages 23.6 points and 364.1 yards per game this season. Trae Self (2,041 yards, 9 TD, 9 INT) is the Lumberjack quarterback with his favorite target, Xavier Gipson leading the team with 29 catches for 525 yards and three touchdowns. Da’Leon Ward (471 yards, 1 TD) leads the ‘Jacks’ rushing attack.

Opponents are averaging 37.25 points and 472.5 yards per game versus SFA in 2019. Trenton Gordon leads the Lumberjacks with 70 tackles.

Southeastern is 8-11-1 versus Stephen F. Austin. The two teams will be meeting for the first time since the 2016 season, when the Lions won 58-34 at SFA.

Up Next
Southeastern travels to No. 9/10 Central Arkansas next Saturday for a 3 p.m. contest in Conway, Arkansas. The Southland Game of the Week will be televised on ESPN3 and 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 Lions Game Day and TuneIn Radio apps.

TICKETS
For ticket information, please contact the Southeastern Athletics Ticket Office at (985) 549-5466 or visit www.LionSports.net/tickets. The Lions’ remaining home schedule will see SLU welcome Southland Conference foes Stephen F. Austin (Nov. 2) and Nicholls (Nov. 21).