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