The Game

The Southeastern Louisiana Lions return home to Strawberry Stadium this Thursday night for another great Southland Conference matchup against the East Texas A&M Lions. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. in Hammond, America. This week also marks Military Night, where all military members with identification receive free admission as the university honors those who serve.

Southeastern enters the contest at 6-2 overall and 4-0 in Southland Conference play, ranked No. 16 in the AFCA FCS Coaches Poll and No. 21 in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25. The Lions are undefeated against FCS opponents this season and have outscored them by an average of 33.2 points per game, according to @LionUpFootball on X, tied with No. 1 North Dakota State for the best point differential in the FCS.

The Southeastern Lions are also 3-1 all time against East Texas A&M, winning the last two meetings. While Southeastern is in the middle of a title race with Lamar and Stephen F. Austin, this week’s opponent cannot be overlooked. The Lions of Commerce, Texas may have a 2-6 record, but their level of play has been far stronger than the numbers suggest.

The Season So Far

Southeastern is coming off a 38-14 win over Houston Christian, improving to 6-2 and extending its win streak to four. The Lions’ offense has remained balanced and consistent, averaging 393.8 total yards per game with 1725 passing yards and 15 passing touchdowns on the year. Quarterbacks Carson Camp and Kyle Lowe continue to split time effectively under center, keeping defenses off balance with a mix of tempo and play design.

In the receiving corps, Jaylon Domingeaux has been a steady and reliable presence, averaging 59.1 yards per game while leading the team in receptions and yardage. The backfield trio of Deantre Jackson, Calvin Smith Jr., and Jaedon Henry has powered the rushing attack to over 1,400 yards and 18 touchdowns, giving Southeastern one of the most well-rounded offenses in the Southland.

Defensively, Southeastern continues to set the tone across the conference, allowing just 288.9 yards per game. Linebacker KK Reno leads the team in total tackles and has been a key factor in run containment. Defensive back Khamron Ford continues to be a dependable playmaker on the back end, while Ian Conerly-Goodly and Kaleb Proctor have been disruptive forces as well. Proctor has garnered national attention as one of the Top 10 FCS Prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft, ranked No. 5 on that list.

Southeastern has recorded 24 sacks and 54 tackles for loss, while holding opponents to just 19 points per game. Their ability to wear teams down has been a key factor in sustaining success throughout the season.

Special Teams has remained a major weapon for Southeastern. Brandon Hayes, fresh off back-to-back weeks with kickoff return touchdowns, continues to give the Lions momentum-shifting plays on special teams and ranks among the most dangerous return men in the FCS. Dkhai Joseph is right there with him, at 237 punt return yards and a TD on the year. Cade Collier also recovered a fumbled punt, leading to a score in the game versus HCU.

The East Texas A&M Story

East Texas A&M enters this matchup at 2-6 overall and 2-2 in Southland play, but their record does not reflect how competitive they’ve been. The Lions from Commerce, Texas have played several of the Southland’s best down to the wire. They led Lamar for most of the game before losing a heartbreaker late in the fourth quarter, and they were tied with Stephen F. Austin until just over seven minutes remained before falling to the Lumberjacks. Each of their four FCS losses has come by fewer than ten points.

This is a team that knows how to compete, they just haven’t found the stamina to finish. Despite that, East Texas A&M has proven capable of hanging with top-tier programs, showing the same resilience that earned them the 2017 NCAA Division II National Championship before moving to the FCS.

ETAMU averages 379.6 yards per game on offense, with quarterbacks Ron Peace and Eric Rodriguez combining for 2,141 passing yards and 12 touchdowns this season. Wideouts Devin Matthews (535 yards, 5 TDs) and Christian Jourdain (486 yards, 2 TDs) headline a passing attack capable of striking quickly, while running back EJ Oakmon adds balance with 7 rushing touchdowns.

Defensively, East Texas A&M allows 423.6 yards per game but has shown flashes of disruption, led by linebacker Koby-Sebasyen King, who has recorded 68 tackles and 11 tackles for loss. ETAMU's defense has totaled 17 sacks on the season and will bring consistent pressure off the edges, something Southeastern’s offensive line, which has surrendered 16 sacks this year, will need to handle early.

Predictions

This game has all the makings of a classic “don’t overlook them” matchup. East Texas A&M has proven time and again that they can compete with the top teams in the Southland, and their record doesn’t reflect how close they’ve been to major wins. Still, Southeastern comes into this one with momentum, depth, and confidence as well as a defense that wears opponents down over four quarters.

Expect Southeastern to return with a chip on their shoulder after last week’s three-turnover outing and play with renewed focus. The Lions’ defense should outlast ETAMU’s offense in stamina, while the special teams unit could once again make a major impact in front of the Home Crowd.

Final Prediction:

Southeastern 38, East Texas A&M 17.

The Lions of Hammond extend their winning streak to five, remain unbeaten in Southland play, and continue their march toward an FCS playoff berth.

Where to find me?

X: @LionUpLeBlanc

You can also see me on the weekly Louisiana Gameday show, previewing all the College Football in Louisiana!

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Texas A&M Hands LSU Second Consecutive Sweep

By David Billiot Jr • April 20, 2026

Sunday Afternoon Recap For the first time since 2021, LSU has been swept in back-to-back series. It was the third uncompetitive game from the Tigers, falling behind early and failing to ever punch back. It’s a shame, because we actually saw one of the best pitching performances of the season by Deven Sheerin. He was phenomenal, but by the time he entered the game, the damage was already done. Zac Cowan made the start, which was what a lot of folks hoped for, but Texas A&M’s offense was just too good, even for him. The wind was blowing hard and straight in, making it a tough offensive day in Alex Box. That did not matter, though, as the Aggies blasted two homeruns. Jay Johnson told me after the game that the wind conditions actually plated a factor in the decision to start Cowan, so it was a tough blow watching that gameplan go down the drain. Offensively, the LSU lineup continued to be anemic. Aggie starter Weston Moss entered with an ERA of 6.69, yet the Tigers couldn’t touch him. They struck out another 11 times, drawing only 4 walks. For the weekend, that’s 29 strikeouts while only drawing 7 walks. On Sunday, they were 2-16 with runners on base and went 0-7 with runners in scoring position. That formula isn’t good enough to beat anyone in the SEC, much less a top team like Texas A&M. Pitching Even Zac Cowan wasn’t immune to this dangerous Aggie lineup. After a leadoff groundout, Caden Sorrell hit a line drive homerun that just got high enough to get in to the Diamond Deck. That swing put Texas A&M on the scoreboard first for the third time in the series. Despite following with a walk, the senior was able to get a strikeout and another ground out to limit the early damage to 1-0. Cowan allowed a leadoff walk to start the 2nd. A groundout moved the runner to 2nd, then yet another wild pitch moved him to 3rd, setting up a sacrifice fly to make it 2-0 before a flyout ended the inning. Back for the 3rd, the Aggies got their leadoff man on base, again. After a flyout, Chris Hacopian ripped a 2-run homerun and LSU was down 4-0. Following a groundout and a walk, Cowan’s day was done. Final line: 2.2 IP / 3 hits / 4 runs / 1 K / 3 BB / 60 pitches (37 strikes, 62%) Likely way earlier than he hoped, Jay Johnson had to call upon Deven Sheerin to record the final out of the 3rd. He came in and struck out Terrence Kiel II looking. In the 4th, he found himself in a good bit of trouble after a leadoff strikeout. Three consecutive singles extended the lead to 5-0 and had two runners still on base. Sheerin then struck out both Sorrell and Hacopian to stop the bleeding. It wasn’t until the 5th inning that the Aggies were kept off of the scoreboard, going 3-up, 3-down with a couple of strikeouts. He did the same in the 6th, striking out another two. His 7th inning was his final inning and it was another 1-2-3 frame, extending his streak of 11-straight Aggies retired to finish his outing. Final line: 4.1 IP / 3 hits / 1 run / 9 K / 0 BB / 61 pitches (47 strikes, 77%) Santiago Garcia took over for the 8th and walked the leadoff hitter. He locked in after that, going strikeout, flyout, strikeout. That was his only inning of work. Final line: 1.0 IP / 0 hits / 0 runs / 2 K / 1 BB / 16 pitches (11 strikes, 69%) After the Tigers finally found the scoreboard to make it a 5-2 game, Gavin Guidry took the mound for the 9th. After starting 2-0 to Bear Harrison, he battled back to start with a strikeout and then followed with another. An error on Tanner Reaves was the first of the weekend for LSU and after Grahovac stole 2nd, Jay chose to intentionally walk Sorrell. Guidry was able to record a flyout to center to keep the deficit at 5-2 heading to their final 3 outs. Final line: 1.0 IP / 0 hits / 0 runs / 2 K / 1 int BB / 20 pitches (13 strikes, 65%) Hitting Cade Arrambide blasted his 10th homerun of the season, the second Tiger to reach double digits in 2026. It came in the 8th inning to break the Aggies shutout. He finished 1-5, but had a good weekend and now hold the second highest batting average on the team at .311. Derek Curiel finished 1-3 with a walk. His base hit came directly after Arrambide’s homerun and he eventually came around to score on a wild pitch for the Tigers second and final run of the game. Steven Milam, Jake Brown, Omar Serna, John Pearson, and Eddie Yamin each finished with one hit. Up Next LSU will stay at home for a midweek battle with UNO on Tuesday night. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30. The Privateers sit with a 17-25 record and are also struggling in their conference play with a record of 7-14. With the Tigers season entering dire moments, Tuesday is not only a must-win, but it feels like a must that they play well and find some momentum to take to Starkville next weekend for a 3-game series with the Bulldogs. A loss on Friday would mark only the second time in LSU baseball history that they lose 7 consecutive games. Follow me on X for much more @DCBilliotJr

Tigers Remain Uncompetitive as Aggies Clinch Series

By David Billiot Jr • April 19, 2026

Saturday Evening Recap Despite the uncompetitive loss in game 1. Despite Jay Johnson’s post-game comments about the roster. Despite his comments about the competitiveness. Despite the fact that this team in running out of runway to finally take off, they came out flat, yet again, and got dominated by Texas A&M to clinch the series. LSU fell to 6-11 in SEC play, having lost 5 consecutive conference games. Three of those losses are by 5+ runs, meaning it was smooth sailing for their opponents. Weekend pitching had been the Tigers “best” aspect for the first 5 weeks of the SEC schedule, but it has failed them through two games so far. William Schmidt had his worst outing of the season, getting pummeled by the potent Aggies lineup for 7 runs through 5.1 innings pitched and getting credited with the loss to drop his record to 4-4 in 2026. The bullpen was solid, holding Texas A&M scoreless for the final 3.2 innings of the game, but with the lack of offensive support, it was too little, too late. As bad as the offense seemed at times in game 1, they found a way to get worse in game 2. Mustering only 5 hits, LSU only reached base 7 times, including the 2 walks. They’ve now struck out 18 times this weekend, while only drawing 3 walks. That’s just another example of how the lineup is so far away from looking like a Jay Johnson lineup, they’ve become unrecognizable. They hit .161 as a team on Saturday night, including a .111 average with runners on base. Mason Braun was the only Tiger to reach 2nd base safely the entire night. It’s just not good enough. Pitching William Schmidt got off to a great start, quickly disposing of one of the best 1-2-3s in the country with Grahovac, Sorrell, and Hacopian. It only took 12 pitches to record a strikeout and two flyouts. That quickly went down the drain in the 2nd, as Texas A&M picked up right where they left off last night with scoring 2-out runs. The inning went flyout, infield single, flyout to start, when Jorian Wilson followed his two homerun game last night with an RBI single to start the scoring. Bear Harrison followed with a 2-run homerun and just like that, the Aggies were up 3-0. A lineout would end the inning. Things didn’t get a whole lot better in the 3rd, as Schmidt allowed a leadoff homerun to Grahovac, followed by a single, double, and sacrifice fly and it was a 5-1 game. The sophomore was able to pitch around traffic to prevent any further damage. He finally got back on track in the 4th with a 3-up, 3-down inning, but the Aggies weren’t held scoreless for much longer. A leadoff double in the 5th, followed by a wild pitch, set up a sacrifice fly that extended their lead to 6-1. Back-to-back strikeouts would get the Tigers off of the field, but the whole was getting deeper and deeper with their struggling offense. Schmidt’s day would end in the 6th. After recording a flyout to start the inning, the then walked the bases loaded and with his 105 pitches, Jay Johnson came out to get him. Final line: 5.1 IP / 7 hits / 7 runs / 4 K / 4 BB / 105 pitches (60 strikes, 57%) Connor Benge came out for his normal task of trying to put out a fire, but a weak ground ball through the open side of the infield with the Tigers shifted led to an RBI single to make it a 7-2 game and that would be the only batter he faced. Final line: 0.0 IP / 1 hit / 0 runs / 0 K / 0 BB / 3 pitches (2 strikes, 67%) Cooper Williams entered for a lefty-lefty matchup against Sorrell and struck him out for his only batter faced. Final line: 0.1 IP / 0 hits / 0 runs / 1 K / 0 BB / 6 pitches (4 strikes, 67%) With 2 outs and the bases loaded, Zion Theophilus entered and recorded a groundout to end the inning. He returned for the 7th and despite allowing a leadoff single, he was able to record a strikeout and a flyout before his day came to an end. Final line: 1.0 IP / 1 hit / 0 runs / 1 K / 0 BB / 11 pitches (7 strikes, 64%) After a fantastic outing last night, Jay called upon Danny Lachenmayer took over with 2 outs and recorded a groundout to end the inning. He did not return for the 8th. Final line: 0.1 IP / 0 hits / 0 runs / 0 K / 0 BB / 5 pitches (3 strikes, 60%) It was Marcos Paz taking over in the 8th and as he has in his first inning of work many times this year, he cruised. He went 1-2-3 with a flyout, a strikeout, and a weak groundball. His troubles have come in his second innings back out on the mound and that somewhat held true, but he was able to pitch through it. He struck out Sorrell to start the inning, then allowed a walk and a single. That’s where he locked in and got his third strikeout and a groundout to escape with no damage. The freshman continues to boast tremendous promise as he matures throughout his first season. So much so that Jay Johnson gushed about him in his post-game presser, saying that he believes Paz “will eventually be the best pitcher in the program.” Final line: 2.0 IP / 1 hit / 0 runs / 3 K / 1 BB / 42 pitches (25 strikes, 60%) Hitting Steven Milam recorded his second game in a row with multiple hits, including another homerun. This one was from the left side off of Aiden Sims, a bomb that landed under the auxiliary scoreboard in right-center. The star shortstop has quietly raised his average up to .284, 4th among regular starters. He finished the night 2-4. Omar Serna, Chris Stanfield, and Derek Curiel each had a single. Serna finished 1-2 with a walk, Stanfield went 1-3 with an RBI, and Curiel was 1-4. Up Next LSU and Texas A&M will wrap up the series tomorrow afternoon with game 3. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 pm central and presents a pitching matchup of TBA from each team. Despite how bad this series has gone for the Tigers, they are set up well with their top arms for tomorrow. Zac Cowan, Deven Sheerin, Gavin Guidry, and Santiago Garcia have each yet to throw this weekend. The availability of Cooper Moore may also play a large factor. If Moore does pitch, I expect him to start the game in a very limited capacity. Despite potentially being unavailable to record more than 3-6 outs, it would be beneficial for him to get back in to a starter’s routine before, hopefully, fully returning next weekend. If Moore doesn’t pitch, my best estimation would be Cowan to start the game. As for the Aggies, RHP Weston Moss could be a potential candidate. He has started 8 games on the weekend this season, so it would make sense. His record is 3-2 with a 6.69 ERA through 36.1 innings pitched. He has struck out 35 and walked 13 and holds a WHIP of 1.58. Tomorrow is a must-win for LSU. Semantics say that it’s never a must-win until the season is on the line, but the season gets more and more on the line with every loss. A second consecutive sweep would be catastrophic for this team, especially considering their remaining schedule. It’s been a waiting game for this team to finally click, so time will tell if that ever actually happens. Follow me on X for much more @DCBilliotJr

Battle of the Lions: No. 16 Southeastern Hosts East Texas A&M