2021 Southeastern Louisiana Lions football team

2021 Southland Conference football standings
	$ – Conference champion; ^ – FCS playoff participant; * – Ineligible for FCS postseason play due to NCAA sanctions ; Rankings from STATS Poll

2021 Southeastern Louisiana Lions football
2021 Southeastern Louisiana Lions football
FCS Playoffs, L 20–59, vs. James Madison
Conference	Southland Conference
Ranking
STATS	No. 15
FCS Coaches	No. 15
Record	9–4 (6–2 Southland)
Head coach	Frank Scelfo (4th season);
Offensive coordinator	Greg Stevens (6th season)
Defensive coordinator	Raymond Monica (1st season)
Home stadium	Strawberry Stadium; (capacity: 7,408)
	Seasons ← 2020 2022 →

The 2021 Southeastern Louisiana Lions football team represented Southeastern Louisiana University as a member of the Southland Conference during the 2021 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Lions were led by fourth-year head coach Frank Scelfo and played their home games at Strawberry Stadium.

Previous season

The Lions finished the 2020–21 season with 4–3 overall record and 4–2 in conference record to finish in the second place in the SLC. Also they finished ranked No. 20 in STATS and No. 21 in Coaches rankings.

Preseason

Preseason poll

The Southland Conference released their preseason poll in July 2021. The Lions were picked to finish first in the conference.^[1] In addition, sixteen Lions were chosen to the Preseason All-Southland Team.^[2]

Predicted finish	Team	Votes (1st place)
1	Southeastern Louisiana	48 (8)
2	Nicholls	43 (4)
3	Incarnate Word	32
4	McNeese State	26
5	Northwestern State	21
6	Houston Baptist	10

Preseason All–Southland Teams

Offense

1st Team

Cole Kelley – Quarterback, SR
CJ Turner – Wide Receiver, RS-JR
Jalen Bell – Offensive Lineman, JR
Mateo Rengifo – Kicker, SO
Austin Dunlap – Punter, SO

2nd Team

Damien Dawson – Tight End/Halfback, RS-SR
Austin Mitchell – Wide Receiver, RS-SR
Ethan McMullan – Offensive Lineman, SR
Rendon Miles-Character – Offensive Lineman, SR
Drew Jones – Offensive Lineman, SR

Defense

1st Team

Darrius Harry – Defensive Lineman, RS-FR
Alexis Ramos – Linebacker, SR
Ferlando Jordan – Defensive Back, RS-JR
Donnell Ward-McGee – Defensive Back, JR

2nd Team

Herman Christophe – Linebacker, SO
Jack Henderson – Defensive Back, FR

Personnel

2021 Southeastern Louisiana Lions football team roster

Players

Coaches

Offense

Pos.	#	Name	Class
RB	`0`	Damien Dawson	Sr
WR	`1`	Brennon Dingle	Sr
WR	`3`	Anthony Spurlock	So
WR	`4`	Austin Mitchell	Sr
QB	`5`	Cephus Johnson III	Jr
WR	`6`	Nick Kovacs	Jr
WR	`7`	Terrell Carter	Jr
WR	`9`	Tim Wilson Jr	Jr
WR	`10`	Maurice Massey	Fr
QB	`12`	Bauer Sharp	Fr
TE	`13`	Jordan Loving	So
QB	`14`	Jacob Switzer	Fr
QB	`15`	Cole Kelley	Sr
WR	`16`	Justin Wendt	Jr
QB	`18`	Christian Westcott	Fr
QB	`19`	Eli Sawyer	Fr
RB	`20`	Jordan Griffin	So
RB	`22`	Taron Jones	Jr
WR	`23`	Jett Booker	Fr
WR	`24`	Calvin Jones	Fr
RB	`25`	Jessie Britt	Jr
WR	`27`	Corey Lorio	Fr
RB	`29`	Joseph Wilson	Fr
RB	`33`	Jahmon McClendon	Fr
TE	`38`	Ivan Drobocky	Fr
TE	`44`	Connor Briggs	Fr
OL	`52`	Javin Turner	Fr
OL	`53`	Holden Kareokowsky	Fr
OL	`54`	Tyree' Rhodes	Jr
OL	`55`	John Allen	So
OL	`56`	Brockhim Wicks	Fr
OL	`61`	Rendon Miles-Character	Sr
OL	`62`	William Granville	So
OL	`63`	Dom Serapiglia III	Fr
OL	`64`	Noah Devlin	Fr
OL	`68`	Cayden Guzzardo	Fr
OL	`70`	Ethan McMullan	Sr
OL	`71`	Gavin Burtchaell	Fr
OL	`72`	Brennan Lanclos	So
OL	`73`	Jhy Orgeron	Fr
OL	`74`	Jalen Bell	Jr
OL	`75`	Blakely Miller	Fr
OL	`79`	Drew Jones	Sr
WR	`80`	Da'Shun Hughley	Fr
WR	`81`	Malik Hillard	Fr
WR	`82`	Gage Larvadain	Fr
WR	`83`	CJ Turner	Jr
TE	`84`	Spencer Owens	Jr
TE	`85`	Tanner Olsen	So
WR	`86`	Ed Magee	So
WR	`87`	Reginald Patterson Jr.	Fr
TE	`88`	Nolan Givan	Sr
TE	`89`	Cade Collier	Fr

Defense

Pos.	#	Name	Class
DB	`2`	Ferlando Jordan	Jr
DB	`6`	Coryell Pierce	Fr
DB	`8`	Donniel Ward-Magee	Jr
DB	`11`	Matt Wright	Sr
DB	`12`	Champ Craven	Fr
DB	`13`	Markell Linzer	Fr
DB	`14`	Zy Alexander	Fr
DB	`16`	Justin Dumas	Fr
LB	`17`	Chinedu Ogbonna	Sr
DB	`20`	Jack Henderson	Fr
DB	`21`	Brandon Barbee	Jr
DB	`23`	Blayne Delahoussaye	Fr
DB	`24`	Alphonso Taylor	So
DB	`25`	Taquan Thomas	Fr
DB	`26`	Mark Clement	Fr
DB	`27`	Justin Douglas	So
DB	`28`	Tyrone Legette	So
LB	`30`	Alexis Ramos	Sr
DB	`31`	Robert Buquoi	Fr
LB	`32`	Mike Mason	Sr
LB	`33`	Max Jubenville	Fr
LB	`34`	Arlen Williams	So
DB	`38`	Calvin Watson Jr.	Fr
LB	`39`	Gerald Henderson	Fr
LB	`40`	Gerald Nathan	So
LB	`41`	Kevin Bickham	Fr
DB	`41`	Taylor Martin	Fr
DB	`42`	Edward Wilson	Fr
LB	`43`	Donte' Daniels	Fr
DL	`45`	Garrett Crawford	So
LB	`46`	Herman Christophe	So
LB	`47`	David Ellis	Fr
LB	`48`	Dominic Lamm	So
DL	`49`	Sci Martin	Sr
LB	`50`	Tommy Lee	Fr
LB	`57`	Josh Cook	So
DL	`58`	Rodney Sopsher	So
DL	`65`	Kaleb Hogg	So
DL	`78`	Brendon Kelley	So
DL	`90`	Bryce Cage	Fr
LB	`91`	Darrius Harry	Fr
DL	`92`	Nelson Jenkins III	So
DL	`93`	Kam Johnson	Fr
DL	`94`	Cherif Seye	So
DL	`96`	Dalton Allen	Fr
DL	`97`	Tyrik Mitchell	Fr
DL	`98`	Cullan Scott	Fr
DL	`99`	John Graves III	So

Special teams

Pos.	#	Name	Class
P	`26`	Austin Dunlap	So
K, P	`33`	Nathan Holliday	So
K	`36`	Mateo Rengifo	So
P, K	`42`	Aubrey Bishop	Fr
LS	`51`	Korey Karbowsky	Fr
LS	`59`	Jake Rotenberry	Jr

Head coach

Frank Scelfo (Northeast Louisiana)

Coordinators/assistant coaches

Greg Stevens (Eastern Oregon)
Offensive Coordinator/QB
Raymond Monica (North Alabama)
Defensive Coordinator/LB
Ross Jenkins (Louisiana Tech)
Special Teams Coordinator
A. J. Hopp (Slippery Rock)
Run Game Coordinator/OL
Anthony Scelfo (Tulane)
Pass Game Coordinator/Recruiting Coordinator/TE
Giovanni Vizza (Texas A&M)
Wide Receivers
Albert Poree (Georgia Tech)
Running Backs
Bill D'Ottavio (Millersville)
Safeties
Del Lee-Collins (McNeese State)
Cornerbacks
Antonio Baker (Louisiana Tech)
Nickelbacks

Legend

(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible

Injured
Redshirt

Roster
Last update: 8 August 2021

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 4	6:00 p.m.	at North Alabama*	No. 15	Braly Municipal Stadium Florence, AL^[a]	ESPN3	W 49–28	3,433
September 11	6:00 p.m.	at Louisiana Tech*	No. 13	Joe Aillet Stadium Ruston, LA	ESPN3	L 42–45	15,328
September 18	11:00 a.m.	at Central Connecticut*	No. 15	Arute Field New Britain, CT		W 56–10	3,117
October 2	12:00 p.m.	at McNeese State	No. 14	Cowboy Stadium Lake Charles, LA	ESPN+	W 38–35	6,044
October 9	12:00 p.m.	at No. 25 Nicholls	No. 14	John L. Guidry Stadium Thibodaux, LA (River Bell Classic)	ESPN+	W 58–48	7,402
October 16	4:00 p.m.	Houston Baptist	No. 11	Strawberry Stadium Hammond, LA	ESPN+	W 61–24	7,389
October 23	3:00 p.m.	at Northwestern State	No. 9	Harry Turpin Stadium Natchitoches, LA (rivalry)	ESPN+	W 51–14	6,523
October 30	6:00 p.m.	McNeese State	No. 8	Strawberry Stadium Hammond, LA	ESPN+	W 23–20	4,185
November 6	2:00 p.m.	at No. 22 Incarnate Word	No. 6	Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium San Antonio, TX	ESPN+	L 52–55	3,220
November 13	6:00 p.m.	Northwestern State	No. 14	Strawberry Stadium Hammond, LA (rivalry)	ESPN+	W 56–28	4,137
November 18	6:00 p.m.	Nicholls	No. 15	Strawberry Stadium Hammond, LA (River Bell Classic)	ESPN+	L 42–45	6,057
November 27	7:00 p.m.	No. 22 Florida A&M*	No. 18	Strawberry Stadium Hammond, LA (FCS Playoffs First Round)	ESPN+	W 38–14	4,125
December 4	1:00 p.m.	at No. 2 James Madison*	No. 18	Bridgeforth Stadium Harrisonburg, VA (FCS Playoffs Second Round)	ESPN+	L 20–59	11,743
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from STATS Poll released prior to the game All times are in Central time

^[4]^[5]

^ Southeastern Louisiana's game against North Alabama was originally scheduled to be played as a home game, in Hammond, but the game was moved to Florence, Alabama on August 31, 2021, due to safety concerns related to Hurricane Ida.^[3]

Game summaries

North Alabama

Pregame line	Over/under

Statistics	North Alabama	Southeastern Louisiana
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
North Alabama	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Southeastern Louisiana	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Louisiana Tech

Southeastern Louisiana at Louisiana Tech

	1	2	Total
No. 13 Lions			0
Bulldogs			0

Date: September 11, 2021
Location: Joe Aillet Stadium
Ruston, LA
Game start: 6:00 p.m. CDT
Elapsed time:
Game attendance:
Game weather: • Weather: TBD • Wind: TBD
Referee:
TV announcers (ESPN3):

Pregame line	Over/under

Statistics	Southeastern Louisiana	Louisiana Tech
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Southeastern Louisiana	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Louisiana Tech	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Central Connecticut

Southeastern Louisiana at Central Connecticut State

	1	2	Total
No. 15 Lions			0
Blue Devils			0

Date: September 18, 2021
Location: Arute Field
New Britain, CT
Game start: 11:00 a.m. CDT
Elapsed time:
Game attendance:
Game weather: • Weather: TBD • Wind: TBD
Referee:
TV announcers ( ):

Pregame line	Over/under

Statistics	Southeastern Louisiana	Central Connecticut
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Southeastern Louisiana	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Central Connecticut	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Northwestern State

Northwestern State at Southeastern Louisiana

	1	2	Total
Demons			0
No. 16 Lions			0

Date: September 25, 2021
Location: Strawberry Stadium
Hammond, LA
Game start: 6:00 p.m. CDT
Elapsed time:
Game attendance:
Game weather: • Weather: TBD • Wind: TBD
Referee:
TV announcers (ESPN+):

Pregame line	Over/under

Statistics	Northwestern State	Southeastern Louisiana
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Northwestern State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Southeastern Louisiana	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at McNeese State

Southeastern Louisiana at McNeese State

	1	2	Total
No. 14 Lions			0
Cowboys			0

Date: October 2, 2021
Location: Cowboy Stadium
Lake Charles, LA
Game start: 12:00 p.m. CDT
Elapsed time:
Game attendance:
Game weather: • Weather: TBD • Wind: TBD
Referee:
TV announcers (ESPN+):

Pregame line	Over/under

Statistics	Southeastern Louisiana	McNeese State
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Southeastern Louisiana	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
McNeese State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at No. 25 Nicholls

Southeastern Louisiana at Nicholls

	1	2	Total
No. 14 Lions			0
No. 25 Colonels			0

Date: October 9, 2021
Location: Manning Field at John L. Guidry Stadium
Thibodaux, LA
Game start: 12:00 p.m. CDT
Elapsed time:
Game attendance:
Game weather: • Weather: TBD • Wind: TBD
Referee:
TV announcers (ESPN+):

Pregame line	Over/under

Statistics	Southeastern Louisiana	Nicholls
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Southeastern Louisiana	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Nicholls	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Houston Baptist

Houston Baptist at Southeastern Louisiana

	1	2	Total
Huskies			0
No. 11 Lions			0

Date: October 16, 2021
Location: Strawberry Stadium
Hammond, LA
Game start: 4:00 p.m. CDT
Elapsed time:
Game attendance:
Game weather: • Weather: TBD • Wind: TBD
Referee:
TV announcers (ESPN+):

Pregame line	Over/under

Statistics	Houston Baptist	Southeastern Louisiana
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Houston Baptist	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Southeastern Louisiana	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Northwestern State

Southeastern Louisiana at Northwestern State

	1	2	Total
No. 9 Lions			0
Demons			0

Date: October 23, 2021
Location: Harry Turpin Stadium
Natchitoches, LA
Game start: 3:00 p.m. CDT
Elapsed time:
Game attendance:
Game weather: • Weather: TBD • Wind: TBD
Referee:
TV announcers (ESPN+):

Pregame line	Over/under

Statistics	Southeastern Louisiana	Northwestern State
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Southeastern Louisiana	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Northwestern State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

McNeese State

McNeese State at Southeastern Louisiana

	1	2	Total
Cowboys			0
No. 8 Lions			0

Date: October 30, 2021
Location: Strawberry Stadium
Hammond, LA
Game start: 6:00 p.m. CDT
Elapsed time:
Game attendance:
Game weather: • Weather: TBD • Wind: TBD
Referee:
TV announcers (ESPN+):

Pregame line	Over/under

Statistics	McNeese State	Southeastern Louisiana
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
McNeese State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Southeastern Louisiana	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at No. 22 Incarnate Word

Southeastern Louisiana at Incarnate Word

	1	2	Total
No. 6 Lions			0
No. 22 Cardinals			0

Date: November 6, 2021
Location: Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium
San Antonio, TX
Game start: 2:00 p.m. CDT
Elapsed time:
Game attendance:
Game weather: • Weather: TBD • Wind: TBD
Referee:
TV announcers (ESPN+):

Pregame line	Over/under

Statistics	Southeastern Louisiana	Incarnate Word
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Southeastern Louisiana	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Incarnate Word	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Nicholls

Nicholls at Southeastern Louisiana

	1	2	Total
Colonels			0
No. 15 Lions			0

Date: November 18, 2021
Location: Strawberry Stadium
Hammond, LA
Game start: 6:00 p.m. CST
Elapsed time:
Game attendance:
Game weather: • Weather: TBD • Wind: TBD
Referee:
TV announcers (ESPN+):

Pregame line	Over/under

Statistics	Nicholls	Southeastern Louisiana
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Nicholls	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Southeastern Louisiana	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

References

^ "Southeastern Voted to Top Spot in 2021 Football Preseason Poll". www.southland.org. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
^ "Southland Announces 2021 Preseason All-Conference Football Teams". www.southland.org. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
^ Kelley, Kevin (31 August 2021). "North Alabama-SLU football game moved to Florence due to Hurricane Ida". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
^ "2021 Southeastern Louisiana Lions Football Schedule".
^ "2021 Southeastern Louisiana Lions Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com.

[4] Southeastern Louisiana's game against North Alabama was originally scheduled to be played as a home game, in Hammond, but the game was moved to Florence, Alabama on August 31, 2021, due to safety concerns related to Hurricane Ida.^[3]

[1] "Southeastern Voted to Top Spot in 2021 Football Preseason Poll". www.southland.org. Retrieved 8 August 2021.

[2] "Southland Announces 2021 Preseason All-Conference Football Teams". www.southland.org. Retrieved 8 August 2021.

[3] Kelley, Kevin (31 August 2021). "North Alabama-SLU football game moved to Florence due to Hurricane Ida". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved August 31, 2021.

[5] "2021 Southeastern Louisiana Lions Football Schedule".

[6] "2021 Southeastern Louisiana Lions Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com.

[1]

[2]

[a]

[4]

[5]

[3]

v t e Southeastern Louisiana Lions football
Venues	Strawberry Stadium (1936–present)
Bowls & rivalries	Nicholls (River Bell Classic) Northwestern State Louisiana (Cypress Mug)
Culture & lore	The Spirit of the Southland Roomie the Lion
People	Head coaches NFL draftees Hollis "Roomie" Wilson
Seasons	1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943–1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986–2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022