Louisiana Game of the Week: Lamar at Southeastern

by Eric Brown

September 22, 2010 – On Saturday night in Hammond,Southeastern Louisiana(1-2) opened up a 28-8 lead over Lamar University (2-1) early.  In the third quarter, the Lions couldn’t close the door and the cardinals broke in and took a 29-28 win.Two teams combined for 878 yards and 51 first downs in an improbable Lamar comeback. Lamar took a 29-28 lead on an 11 play, 80 yard drive caped by Quarterback Andre Bevil hooking up with J.J Hayes from 19 yards out with 1:52 left.  Hayes 3rd touchdown catch and Bevil’s fourth TD pass.  After the game Southeastern Coach Mike Lucas was quoted as saying”this was one of the most embarrassing losses I’ve ever been a part of in 28 years of coaching.”  SLU coach Mike Lucas said that Lamar wide receiver J.J Hayes who lit the Lions up for three touchdowns was “the best receivers we’ve seen in some time”.

Lamar would strike first on a short 4 play 25 yard drive after SLU Simmie Yarbourgh would fumble and Asim Hicks would recover on the SLU 25, a 21 yard TD from Bevil to Hayes caped the drive followed by a Marcus Jackson 2 point conversion catch to make it 8-0 Lamar.  SLU would come back on the next drive.  Zeke Jones would rush 5 yards for his first of three touchdown rushes for the Lions to make it a 8-7 game at the 4:55 mark.  Early in second SLU would take there first lead 14-8 with quarterback Brian Young throwing his first career touchdown pass 30 yards out to Kory Theodore who had 7 catches for 164 yards.  SLU took a comfortable 21-8 half time lead into the locker room after a 1 yard TD run by Zeke Jones his second TD with only :53 left in the half.

SLU opened the second half with a big 3rd and 9 play.  Young hooked up with Theodore for 49 yards to keep the drive alive.  Later Jones caps it off going in again from one yard out to make it 28-8 with 11:45 to play in the third.  Down 28-8 the Lions are in total command, but the Cardinals kept fighting. With 1:45 to play in the third Hayes from Bevil 13 yard Touchdown on a 6 play 72 yard drive with big play being a 46 yard connection between Bevil and Jackson.  SLU went into the fourth Quarter up 28-15,  but an SLU fumble inside the LU 10 yard line and a 34 yard missed field goal by Seth Sebastian with 6:41 on the clock would prove to be costly.  Lamar junior Quarterback Andre Bevil finished 34-55-417 yards and 4 Touchdown.

Lamar made things happen in the fourth starting with an 11 play, 90 yard drive, the key play being Bevil hitting Kendrick Prejean for a 68 yard bomb to the SLU 19 on 3rd and 26.  Clint Coleman of SLU was called for Pass interference in the endzone and then Bevil would hit Jackson from 4 yards out making it a 28-22 game at the 10:45 mark.  After SLU missed FG later in the fourth, LU would march 11 plays, 80 yards in 4:45 caped by Hayes catching his third touchdown from Bevil from 14 yards out giving the Cardinals a 29-28 lead with 1:52 remaining.The Lions last chance they get on the LU side of the field, but as the clock ticks, Darby Jackson would get the big sack of Young,forcing a fumble and recovered by Mark Murrill with :59 to salt away the clock. The Lamar Cardinals, who will join the Southland Conference next season, pick a big win. Lamar in there first game back after the program dropped football 20 years ago.  They lost 30-27 at McNeese State.  SLU will play at UL Monroe next week, while Lamar will visit Stephen F. Austin another future Southland Conference rival.

Team Statistics (Final)

Team Totals LU SL