The first few weeks of college football in Louisiana continue have been historic in a wide range of ways both on and off the field.
For the second time already in just four weeks, a program has pulled off a first-ever upset of a higher-division opponent — although, unfortunately for fans in other areas of The Boot, both instances have come against in-state competition.
Southeastern Louisiana shook up the FBS-FCS hierarchy Saturday with a 38-35 defeat of ULM.
The opportunistic Lions built a three-score lead with a big second quarter and second-half return-game and defensive touchdowns by Louisiana natives — a 78-yard punt return by Dkhai Joseph (East St. John) and 11-yard pick-six by Richard McKneely (Liberty Magnet) and held off the Warhawks’ late rally.
Southeastern Louisiana had been 0-35 against FBS opponents since reinstating football in 2003 after an 18-year hiatus.
Senior quarterback Kyle Lowe completed 18 of his 25 passes (72%) for 155 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions to lead a balanced offense.
Former Ascension Catholic star Chad Elzy Jr. rushed eight times for 58 yards and caught two passes for another 26 yards.
Senior Deantre Jackson (Edna Karr) carried 10 times for 46 yards, and sophomore Kyree Paul (Istrouma) carried five times for 27 yards and a score.
Sophomore tight end Lonnie Shinn caught four passes for 49 yards and a touchdown, Joseph caught six passes for 47 yards and senior wide receiver Tristan Goodly (Westlake) had three receptions for 22 yards and a score.
Former Dutchtown star Carter Hanberry racked up a game-high 13 tackles, and the Lions snatched three takeaways: a fumble recovery by fifth-year defensive lineman Khalid Moore and interceptions by McKneely and senior defensive back C.J. Fraser.
SOUTHERN STARTS FAST, HOLDS OFF LOUISIANA CHRISTIAN
Louisiana natives Trey Holly (Union Parish) and Daejawn Smith (South Plaquemines, Edna Karr) helped Southern blow open a big first-half lead against Louisiana Christian, and the Jaguars kept rolling in explosive fashion to hold off the Wildcats, 50-31.
Coach Marshall Faulk’s squad racked up 539 yards, including 367 on the ground, and scored on eight of their 10 first completed possessions to handle business against their NAIA guest.
Holly finished with 200 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries, and Smith caught three passes for 34 yards and an early score.
Junior receiver Miles Dixon‘s three catches for 47 yards and a touchdown led the receiving corps, and junior tight end Emeka Iloh and freshman Wydell “Wydee” Clark Jr. (Ouachita Parish) found the end zone from 22 and 5 yards, respectively.
Junior quarterback Christian Johnson completed 16 of his 22 passes for 172 yards and four touchdowns and ran for another score.
Junior defensive back Tay James wrapped up eight tackles, including two for loss and a sack, and fifth-year star Ckelby Givens (Captain Shreve), redshirt junior safety Herman Brister III (Southern Lab) and redshirt freshman linebacker Christian Doyle (MLK Charter) each had seven tackles, including 2.5, two and one for loss, respectively, and sacks by Givens and Doyle.
Redshirt freshman safety Cody Morris (Edna Karr) intercepted a pass, and Doyle and redshirt junior defensive back Jairus Thurman each recovered fumbles.
CAJUNS SALVAGE SUN BELT SATURDAY
Louisiana (Lafayette) scored three first-half touchdowns, runs by sophomore back Steven Blanco (St. Martinville) and twice by junior quarterback D’Wanye’ “Lunch” Winfield (Lutcher), to top UAB, 21-14.
The Ragin’ Cajuns’ win was the lone Sun Belt bright spot for the state on a Saturday marked by ULM’s stumble and a road loss at Baylor by Louisiana Tech without starting quarterback Blake Baker.
Winfield finished 15-for-20 (75%) for 110 yards through the air and rushed 19 times for 91 yards.
Blanco carried 11 times for 55 yards and the touchdown to lead the deep rotation of running backs with junior Anthony Reagan Jr. also productive with 48 yards on eight carries.
Former St. Thomas More standout Landon Strother returned from injury to lead the receiving corps with 41 yards on five catches.
Redshirt sophomore linebacker Conor McPherson wrapped up 11 tackles, including two for loss and a sack, and in-state products Collin Jacob (Loreauville), Jake St. Andre (Haughton) and Maurion Eleam (Neville) combined for 16 tackles, including four for loss, and a Jacob interception.
SOUTHEASTERN LONE SOUTHLAND BRIGHT SPOT
Southeastern Louisiana’s conference mates weren’t so successful Saturday.
McNeese State (1-3, 0-2), Nicholls State (2-2) and Northwestern State (0-4) each hit the road and each returned home with a loss: 27-10 at UT Rio Grande Valley (2-2, 1-1), 59-0 at Sam Houston (1-2) and 49-20 at Weber State (2-2).
None of the state’s four Southland members boasts a winning record early in the season with only Nicholls State, with a 31-28 defeat of UT Rio Grande Valley last week, on the board with a conference win thus far.
TULANE CAN’T HOLD OFF K-STATE, AVERY JOHNSON
Tulane (1-2) didn’t have its same slow-start issue this week in Manhattan, Kan., but couldn’t keep up once Avery Johnson and the Kansas State offense got clicking.
The Wildcats (3-0) scored 17 straight points in the second quarter to take control and kept the Green Wave just out of reach the rest of the way, 31-20.
Kansas State quarterback Avery Johnson finished an efficient 21-for-28 (75%) for 227 yards through the air and particularly exploded on the ground with his game-highs of 12 carries, 152 yards and two scores to highlight the 428-yard performance overall by the home team.
Tulane quarterback Kadin Semonza finished 13-for-26 (50%) for 165 yards and a touchdown in his second start.
Senior running back Maurice Turner had his best performance of the season thus far with seven carries for 64 yards and two catches for 31 yards and the touchdown.
Senior Johnnie Daniels rushed 10 times for 59 yards, and sophomores Oliver Mitchell Jr. (Edna Karr) with a 41-yard catch and Bredell Richardson with three receptions for 40 yards led the receivers.
A pair of in-state products in safety Kevin Adams III (Destrehan) and linebacker Dickson Agu (Dutchtown) led the defense with eight and six tackles, respectively, including one behind the line for Adams.
