Southeastern up in FCS polls after win over Lamar

HAMMOND, La. – Fresh off a 45-34 victory over Southland Conference foe Lamar to open Southland Conference play, the Southeastern Louisiana football team moved up in both FCS national polls released on Monday.

The Lions (2-1, 1-0 Southland) amassed 502 total yards in the win over the visiting Cardinals, as quarterback Chason Virgil threw for 307 yards and a career-high-tying four touchdowns. The Southeastern defense sacked Lamar quarterback Jordan Hoy five times, finishing the first quarter of the season atop the nation in tackles for loss and second in FCS in sacks.

The win was Southeastern’s first in a league opener since 2016. Lamar is the second 2018 FCS playoff participant the Lions have defeated this season.

SLU moved up two spots to No. 19 in the STATS poll. Southeastern is joined in the top 25 by league foes Nicholls (No. 12) and Central Arkansas (No. 15). Sam Houston State, Houston Baptist and Lamar are among the Southland schools receiving votes.

In the AFCA FCS Coaches poll, SLU moved up one spot to No. 22. The Lions are one of three Southland top 25 representatives, along with No. 9 Nicholls and No. 14 Central Arkansas. League rivals Sam Houston State and Houston Baptist are also among those receiving votes.

Up Next
Southeastern will open up the road portion of its Southland Conference schedule in Natchitoches, facing league foe Northwestern State at 6 p.m. 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 (153) 4-0 3,921 1
2. James Madison (4) 3-1 3,725 2
3. South Dakota State 3-1 3,646 3
4. UC Davis 2-2 3,115 4
5. Weber State 1-2 3,005 6
6. Kennesaw State 3-1 2,924 7
7. Montana State 3-1 2,760 8
8. Villanova 4-0 2,545 18
9. Northern Iowa 2-1 2,491 9
10. Towson 3-1 2,456 5
11. Jacksonville State 3-1 2,398 10
T12. Nicholls 2-1 2,069 13
T12. Maine 2-2 2,069 12
14. Illinois State 3-1 2,014 15
15. Central Arkansas 3-1 1,792 14
16. Furman 2-2 1,603 17
17. North Carolina A&T 2-1 1,541 16
18. Montana 3-1 1,228 19
19. Southeastern Louisiana 2-1 1,030 21
20. Delaware 3-1 963 20
21. Eastern Washington 1-3 679 11
22. Youngstown State 3-0 662 24
23. Southeast Missouri 2-2 568 23
24. Elon 2-2 441 22
25. The Citadel 2-2 339 25
Others receiving votes: Princeton 269, Stony Brook 237, South Carolina State 97, Dartmouth 86, Indiana State 69, North Dakota 57, Sam Houston State 55, Yale 48, Idaho 25, Wofford 22, Sacramento State 17, Houston Baptist 12, Southern Illinois 12, Duquesne 11, Northern Arizona 10, Eastern Kentucky 7, Central Connecticut State 4, Lamar 2, Idaho State 1, Alcorn State 1.

AFCA FCS Coaches Poll
Team (First-place votes) Record Points Prv.
1. North Dakota State (26) 4-0 650 1
2. James Madison 3-1 622 2
3. South Dakota State 3-1 600 3
4. Kennesaw State 3-1 551 6
5. UC Davis 2-2 491 4
6. Weber State 1-2 462 7
7. Northern Iowa 2-1 455 8
8. Illinois State 3-1 424 10
9. Nicholls 2-1 404 9
10. Towson 3-1 397 5
11. Montana State 3-1 378 14
12. Jacksonville State 3-1 376 13
13. Villanova 4-0 356 18
14. Central Arkansas 3-1 351 12
15. Furman 2-2 310 15
16. Maine 2-2 252 16
17. Montana 3-1 240 19
18. North Carolina A&T 2-1 208 17
19. Delaware 3-1 177 20
20. Youngstown State 3-0 174 21
21. Eastern Washington 1-3 132 11
22. Southeastern Louisiana 2-1 109 23
23. Princeton 1-0 72 24
24. Elon 2-2 53 22
25. North Dakota 2-1 44 NR
Others receiving votes: Southeast Missouri State 43, The Citadel 24, Stony Brook, 23, Yale 15, Northern Arizona 12, South Carolina State 12, Sam Houston State 11, Houston Baptist 8, Dartmouth 5, Indiana State 3, Tennessee Tech 3, Sacramento State 2, Wofford 1