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.

Preseason

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

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

Schedule

Game summaries

at North Alabama

Statistics Southeastern LouisianaNorth Alabama First downs 30 23 Total yards 495 404 Rushing yards 232 54 Passing yards 263 350 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 36:49 23:11

Team Category Player StatisticsSoutheastern Louisiana Passing Cole Kelley 30/41, 263 yards, 3 TD Rushing Taron Jones 11 carries, 85 yards, 1 TD Receiving CJ Turner 3 receptions, 52 yardsNorth Alabama Passing Jaylen Gipson 23/46, 350 yards, 4 TD, 1 INT Rushing Jaylen Gipson 7 carries, 22 yards Receiving Takairee Kennebrew 7 receptions, 132 yards, 3 TD

At Louisiana Tech

Statistics Southeastern LouisianaLouisiana Tech First downs 32 23 Total yards 598 448 Rushing yards 103 198 Passing yards 495 250 Turnovers 3 1 Time of possession 32:48 27:12

Team Category Player StatisticsSoutheastern Louisiana Passing Cole Kelley 44/59, 495 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT Rushing Cole Kelley 14 carries, 42 yards, 2 TD Receiving C. J. Turner 8 receptions, 131 yards, TDLouisiana Tech Passing Austin Kendall 19/27, 217 yards, TD, INT Rushing Marcus Williams Jr. 18 carries, 99 yards Receiving Tre Harris 4 receptions, 72 yards, TD

At Central Connecticut

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

Team Category Player StatisticsSoutheastern Louisiana Passing     Rushing     Receiving    Central Connecticut Passing     Rushing     Receiving    

At McNeese State

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

Team Category Player StatisticsSoutheastern Louisiana Passing     Rushing     Receiving    McNeese State Passing     Rushing     Receiving    

At No. 25 Nicholls

Statistics Southeastern LouisianaNicholls First downs  32  26 Total yards  573  507 Rushing yards  167  209 Passing yards  406  298 Turnovers  1  0 Time of possession  37:51  22:09

Team Category Player StatisticsSoutheastern Louisiana Passing     Rushing     Receiving    Nicholls Passing     Rushing     Receiving    

Houston Baptist

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

Team Category Player StatisticsHouston Baptist Passing     Rushing     Receiving    Southeastern Louisiana Passing     Rushing     Receiving    

At Northwestern State

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

Team Category Player StatisticsSoutheastern Louisiana Passing     Rushing     Receiving    Northwestern State Passing     Rushing     Receiving    

McNeese State

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

Team Category Player StatisticsMcNeese State Passing     Rushing     Receiving    Southeastern Louisiana Passing     Rushing     Receiving    

At No. 22 Incarnate Word

Statistics Southeastern LouisianaIncarnate Word First downs 44 29 Total yards 774 711 Rushing yards 127 95 Passing yards 647 616 Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 42:22 17:38

Team Category Player StatisticsSoutheastern Louisiana Passing Cole Kelley 50/68, 647 yards, 3 TD Rushing Taron Jones 10 carries, 56 yards, 1 TD Receiving Austin Mitchell 9 receptions, 169 yards, 1 TDIncarnate Word Passing Cam Ward 34/52, 610 yards, 7 TD, 1 INT Rushing Kevin Brown 6 carries, 65 yards Receiving Taylor Grimes 12 receptions, 193 yards, 2 TD

Northwestern State

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

Team Category Player StatisticsNorthwestern State Passing     Rushing     Receiving    Southeastern Louisiana Passing     Rushing     Receiving    

Nicholls

Statistics NichollsSoutheastern Louisiana First downs  28  26 Total yards  556  496 Rushing yards  292  111 Passing yards  264  385 Turnovers  2  1 Time of possession  33:29  26:31

Team Category Player StatisticsNicholls Passing     Rushing     Receiving    Southeastern Louisiana Passing     Rushing     Receiving    

FCS Playoffs

Vs. No. 22 Florida A&M – first round

At No. 3 Dukes – second round

References