Football 9/7/2014 4:42:00 AM SUU Strategic Communication

No. 3 Southeastern Louisiana Pulls Away from SUU

Box Score HAMMOND, La., Sept. 6 – SUU was unable to catch No. 3 Southeastern Louisiana who pulled away for a 41-14 win over the Thunderbirds Saturday night. The Lions took the lead on the first play from scrimmage and held off Southern Utah's attempt at a comeback to improve to 2-0 on the year while sending the visiting T-Birds away at 0-2.

The Thunderbirds first offensive play resulted in a Southeastern touchdown when linebacker Drew Misita picked off an Aaron Cantu pass and took the ball 10 yards to the end zone to give the home team an early 7-0 advantage.

The SUU defense got off to a better start, driving the Lions back to their own goal line before forcing a punt on a three-and-out on their first possession. The Thunderbirds got the ball back in good field position, but were unable to capitalize as Trevor McGirr's 41-yard field goal attempt went wide left.

Southeastern Louisiana drove back down the field for a try of its own as kicker Ryan Adams put the ball through the uprights from 29 yards out to make the score 10-0 at the end of the first quarter.

SUU got on the board early in the second with a three-yard touchdown reception by Mitch Jessop. Cantu went 3-for-5 for 60 yards through the air on the drive including the scoring strike that brought the Thunderbirds back within three at 10-7.

Cantu was picked off for a second time in the closing minutes of the half, setting up SLU deep in Southern Utah territory. The Jordan Baptiste interception led to another Lions field goal as the Thunderbird defense came up with the stop.

The Southeastern offense would reach the end zone for the first time in the final minute of the half when quarterback Bryan Bennett connected with Devante Scott on a 38-yard catch-and-run. That score set the margin at 20-7 heading into the break.

The Thunderbirds made the most of a turnover late in the third quarter and generated some points. Freshman defensive lineman Chance Bearnson picked the ball out of the air and returned it 20 yards to the SLU 39. Three completions to Mitch Jessop, Mike Sharp and Chris Robinson moved the ball down to the one before Raysean Pringle carried it across the goal line to bring SUU back within a single score at 20-14.

The ensuing Southeastern drive saw two fourth-down conversions inside the red zone, including a one-yard touchdown run by Bennett that pushed the lead to 27-14.

SUU took the ball down to the two-yard line but an incomplete pass on fourth down gave possession back on a turnover on downs. The Lions completed two long passes of their own with Bennett finding Chris Malott for a 33-yard completion in the end zone to extend the margin to 34-14. SLU tacked on another score in the closing moments to make it a 41-14 final.

Southern Utah will be back in action next week when the Thunderbirds host South Dakota State in the home opener on Sept. 13. The game will coincide with Homecoming festivities with kickoff set for 6:05 p.m. (MT).

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