Four-way tie for SLC lead leaves little room for error

• Advocate staff report
• Published: Nov 7, 2009

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Four teams — McNeese State, Southeastern Louisiana, Stephen F. Austin and Texas State — are tied for first place in the Southland Conference football standings heading into today’s games.

Today, all four of the state’s SLC teams could have a hand in determining how the league race shakes out.

The fun starts in Natchitoches, where Northwestern State (0-8, 0-4) hosts Southeastern Louisiana (5-3, 3-1).

The Demons haven’t registered a win but they have shown signs of life lately after scoring 80 points in their first six games. Since former Tara High School standout Paul Harris took over as the Demons’ starter at quarterback two games ago, Northwestern State has lost to Texas State (20-17) and Sam Houston State (34-30).

And that’s one reason SLU coach Mike Lucas isn’t chalking up a win for the Lions.

“This is what, my 28th year or whatever, coaching,” Lucas said. “I’ve played 0-8 football teams, when you look at them on film, they’re an 0-8 football team. You look at Northwestern on film, they’re good.”

SLU, meanwhile, played without starting quarterback Brian Babin, starting receivers Merrick Lanaux and Simmie Yarborough and tight end Cole Wardell in last week’s 25-21 win over Central Arkansas.

Tyler Beatty stepped in for Babin to go 23 for 35 for 297 yards and three touchdowns last week.

“We’ve played a really good schedule already, and the teams that are leading the conference, this might be the best football team we’ve played yet, and that’s a credit to Mike Lucas,” Demons coach Bradley Dale Peveto said.

“We just want to go play good, play well, you know, get a win.”

Earlier this week, Lucas said Babin, Yarborough, Lanaux and Wardell are “day-to-day” heading into today’s game.

In Lake Charles, McNeese State (6-2, 3-1) hosts Sam Houston State (4-4, 2-2).

The Bearkats snapped a two-game losing streak with last week’s win, while McNeese won its third straight with a 38-17 victory over Nicholls State.