October marks the beginning of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the Lions football team (3-2) will be doing their part in raising awareness when they join with Raising Canes to support the Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center’s “Geaux Pink” initiative.
Southeastern will take on the Demons of Northwestern State University (2-2) this Saturday in Strawberry Stadium. The game is slotted to start at 3:30 p.m.
Fans attending the game are asked to leave their green and gold at home and instead don themselves in pink attire to show support for breast cancer victims and survivors. Free shirts will be handed out to the first 200 fans to enter the game. Prior to the game, the band Impaired Faculties, which is composed of Southeastern faculty members, will be playing for those tailgating in Friendship Circle from 12-2 p.m.
Southeastern is coming off of a tall win against the University of the Incarnate Word Cardinals. The 63-7 victory put an end to the Lion’s two-game losing streak and opened Southeastern’s conference play with a win. Leading the way for the high-scoring Lion offense is senior quarterback Bryan Bennett. The former Oregon Duck and Walter Payton Award candidate has thrown for over 1100 yards and eight touchdowns while also completing over 50 percent of his passes.
Under center for NSU is senior Zach Adkins. The winner of the 2013 Southland Conference Newcomer of the Year Award Adkins did his fair share in the Demon’s upset over Louisiana Tech several weeks ago. Adkins also set an NSU school record by completing 19 consecutive passes earlier this season, a feat that earned him College Sporting News FCS All-Star honors.
On the opposite end of Bennett’s passes has been a plethora of receivers. On top of that list is senior Devante Scott. The Ferriday native has amassed 392 yards off of the 19 catches he has hauled in, both of which are team-highs. Next up on the list of receivers is Jeff Smiley. The sophomore out of Texas is only a few yards short of reaching the 200 mark and also has two touchdowns to pad his stat sheet.
Bennett has not only been a threat with his arm but has also caused opponents trouble with his feet. The quarterback has gained 338 yards on the ground so far and has scored six touchdowns to go along with those yards. Junior Kody Sutton is second on the team in rushing yards. The former Wyoming Cowboy has averaged 4.7 yards per carry this season and recently ran the best game of his career when he put up 104 rushing yards against UIW.
Defense has been just as potent for Southeastern’s success this season as the offense has. The Lions currently lead the conference in least amount of points allowed per game, a category in which the Demons are placed eighth. Southeastern is second in passing defense, allowing on average less than a hundred yards through the air per game. The Demons find themselves in ninth, averaging 158.8 yards against them in passing per game. Quarterbacks from both teams should be cautious since both teams are tied for most interceptions in the Southland Conference with seven a piece.
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