WEEK 9 SCHEDULE
Saturday, October 26
RV/RV Lamar at Northwestern State 2 p.m.
Texas A&M-Commerce at Prairie View A&M 2 p.m.
McNeese at Nicholls 3 p.m. HCU at SFA 6 p.m.
#10/11 UIW at RV/RV Southeastern 6 p.m.
All Times Centra
THE OPENING DRIVE
Battle of Unbeatens
in Hammond, America It is a massive match-up in Hammond, America this weekend in what could be a determining factor in the Southland title race as Southeastern welcomes in UIW in what is sure to be a game with a lot of fireworks. Both teams come in with unbeaten conference records as The Word has rattled off four straight wins, while the Lions are on a three game winning streak. The last time these two teams met in Hammond, CJ Turner caught a 59-yard touchdown pass from current Lions quarterback Eli Sawyer on the final play of the game to defeat No. 4/7 UIW, 41-35. The two teams split the Southland title and both played in the FCS playoffs that season.
UIW Jumps Into Nation’s Top 10
UIW has steadily risen in the national polls after two early losses to, at the time, Top 10 teams on the road. The Word has now won four games in a row by an average margin of 27.5 points. The Word checks in at No. 10 in the latest Stats Perform Poll and No. 11 in the AFCA. All five of UIW’s wins have come at home this season and the Cardinals will seek their first road win at Southeastern this weekend. The Lions along with Lamar are both receiving votes in both polls this week.
Lions at the Buzzer
In what was surely the wildest game of this past weekend, Darius Lewis hauled in a three-yard touchdown pass from Eli Sawyer with two seconds remaining to give SLU a thrilling 24-23 Homecoming victory over SFA at Strawberry Stadium. It capped a 13-play, 75-yard drive and kept the Lions undefeated heading into their epic showdown with UIW. Lewis earned Offensive Player of the Week one week after earning Special Teams Player of the Week
Kicking Crazy
In a game that saw everything, Luke Jackson of A&M-Commerce appeared to send their game against Lamar into overtime after booting a 52-yard game-tying field goal with 1:55 to play. That is, until Ben Woodard returned the favor with a 51-yard field goal to grab the lead back and give Lamar the lead with 11 seconds remaining. A fumble in the endzone on the game’s final play gave Big Red a thriller 29-20 win.
2024 SOUTHLAND PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
DARIUS LEWIS, SOUTHEASTERN • WR • SR • NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA
• Darius Lewis caught the game-winning touchdown from Eli Sawyer with two seconds remaining in a 24-23 victory over Stephen F. Austin that improved SLU to 3-0 in Southland Conference play. The score capped a big day for the New Orleans native, who hauled in a career-high 11 passes for 96 yards. Lewis has been the Lions’ top target in the passing game and ranks seventh in FCS in receptions.
Other nominees:
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
JAKE DALMADO, NICHOLLS • LB • JR • MANDEVILLE, LOUISIANA
• Linebacker Jake Dalmado had a career day in the shutout win over NSU, totaling 10 tackles which included 5.0 TFLs, three sacks, three hurries and a fumble recovery. In his first season on defense, the former running back tallied all three sacks in the opening half and his fumble recovery came in the second quarter. Nicholls held the Demons to 46 yards of total offense which included 21 yards on a fake punt.
Other nominees:
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
BEN WOODARD, LAMAR • K • JR • PLANO, TEXAS
• In his first game serving as the Cardinals’ kicker, Woodard booted a 51-yard game-winning goal with the game tied at 11 seconds remaining, leading Lamar to what would be a 29-20 win after recovering a fumble in the endzone on the final play. Woodard went 3-for-3 on kicks, converting from 46, 37, and 51 yards to help Lamar secure its first conference win of the season.
