Game Notes
Week 8 Highlights | Post Game Notes
10/19/2025 | 56m 45sVideo has Closed Captions
Game Notes is a weekly pre-and-post game program featuring 11 Louisiana collegiate teams.
Tulane got some to get back from Army in a dramatic way. LSU ran into trouble against the Vanderbilt Commodores. Grambling had to battle an opponent and Mother Nature to get the job done up at Arkansas Pine Bluff. The McNeese Cowboys had a very strong performance at home.
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Game Notes is a local public television program presented by LPB
Game Notes
Week 8 Highlights | Post Game Notes
10/19/2025 | 56m 45sVideo has Closed Captions
Tulane got some to get back from Army in a dramatic way. LSU ran into trouble against the Vanderbilt Commodores. Grambling had to battle an opponent and Mother Nature to get the job done up at Arkansas Pine Bluff. The McNeese Cowboys had a very strong performance at home.
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And we are back and off and running for post-game notes here on LPB.
Great to have you with us on this Sunday evening alongside Scott Shanley, my Super Bowl partner, and Victor Hall.
Scott, it's kind of the midway point in October.
You get a little bit of separation and we saw some teams important games, some able to step up to the challenge, others not so much.
And it puts you in a very interesting position now because now that pressure is starting to build just a little more.
Yeah.
And I think what you're seeing now is you're starting to find out the true contenders from the pretenders and the contenders finding different ways to win.
You know, I was going to win the football game the same way.
You got to find different ways to win, whether it's playing defense one week, making plays in special teams games.
So I think you're starting to see this.
Those teams separate themselves.
That's a great point about winning in different ways.
And we'll see how some teams did that.
Let's give you a rundown of what's coming up here over the next 60 minutes.
Lots to talk about.
A lot of games throughout our state, including Diego's big day up in Nashville as the LSU Tigers ran into trouble with the Commodores, who certainly anchored down the Grambling Tigers.
They were on the road, had to battle an opponent and Mother Nature for getting the job done.
Up at Arkansas Pine Bluff, we'll take a look at some of the wild plays in that ball game.
And the McNeese Cowboys coming off of a shutout loss a couple of weeks ago and then returning from the bye week, had a very strong performance at home.
We'll take it to Lake Charles and show you that action in just a moment.
But let's start down in New Orleans, where the last time Tulane and Army met was in the postseason.
It was the championship game for the American one year ago, and Army handled the green Wave very easily.
Yes, it was one of those efforts that you don't want to remember, but they didn't forget either.
As Tulane knew with Army coming to town Saturday morning, they wanted some to get back to the Black Knights with what took place back in the postseason for the championship game.
So without a human stadium breakfast there for the Tulane Green Wave and Scott, during the first possession of this game, I went out and built a patio deck, came back, started digging a pool, took a shower, and Army still had the ball.
This is no joke.
They went 11 minutes and 44 seconds to go 48 yards.
This is what they do.
They bore you.
They bore you until they hit that big play.
It's just I mean, it was just a gain of two.
A gain of six, a loss of one, a gain of four.
Run a three gain of zero.
Then there's a penalty 48 yards in 12 minutes.
And it all led to this, a field goal that he missed.
After all that, Johnson was like, wait a minute, we get the ball.
Woohoo!
We get to play some football now.
It was an unbelievable opening drive and we talked about that Saturday.
Scott talking about the discipline of Army and what they do when they got the ball they came out swinging.
Jake Retzlaff shows Preston 13 yards and on third and four.
Watch Retzlaff get hit.
Here goes airborne comes down awkwardly.
He would leave the game for a moment.
He would come back though.
Well when he leaves the game Brendan Sullivan comes in.
It's fourth down and two from the eight.
He needs it and he almost gets to the line.
But the Black Knights hold off from getting the first down so no points.
Tulane turns it over on downs.
Back half now of the second quarter.
Retzlaff is back in still throwing it.
Arms working just fine.
Bryce Bohannan for 23 yards.
Eventually they get to the Army 12 and this time they do bring in Patrick Durkin.
One of the best in the country.
Hasn't missed all year.
He makes it again.
It's three to nothing.
The closest army got to a first half touchdown.
Whoa, whoa Scott is wide open.
It had to be a defensive breakdown but he drops the ball.
So under 30s to go in the half.
Dawson Jones is good from 43 yards.
And we're tied at three.
Army's first possession of the third quarter.
Shocking.
It goes more than six minutes and they get it in on the quarterback sneak.
It's ten three Black Knights with the way respond with a four play drive.
Retzlaff sees the opening and takes off 37 yards for the touchdown run.
And we are tied at ten.
And John I'm saying look if I can only get the ball more maybe maybe we could do some more of that.
Well they do get the ball.
Fourth quarter Retzlaff in the pocket.
He'd like to have this one back.
Overthrows Amari Hayes.
And it's picked off by Casey Larkin.
To no one's surprise.
Army goes on a seven minute drive down the field.
They get it on the keeper at 1710.
But under two minutes to play.
Fourth and eight.
You got to have a first down.
Let's get the touchdown Bryce O'Hanlon back of the endzone.
We're tied at 17.
Tulane holds Army to.
It's only three and out of the game late in the fourth quarter.
And then how about this play.
Look at Retzlaff the risky throw the bounce the doing the catch.
He brings it in Chaz Preston with the touchdown.
And that is how this game ends.
Who in the last 21 American Conference regular season games Tulane is 20 and one.
Yo 2417.
They get the win over almond.
Look at that time of possession Scott.
It's what we talked about 39 minutes basically for Army.
But Tulane makes the plays late when they need it.
Retzlaff throws for 261 and a touchdown.
Rushes for 62 and another touchdown.
A big win for the Green Wave as they now get set to take on Texas San Antonio in two weeks.
We won the game.
How about that?
There's your stat line.
But man, we keep finding ways to win this.
This team's gritty, tough.
They fight.
I don't think anybody didn't believe.
Actually, I believe we could do it.
We move the guy.
I mean, I hate to be saying this.
I said the exact same thing standing in the spot last week.
We moved the ball really well again today.
We just didn't finish in the red zone.
And so, like, our offense has got all the confidence to move the ball on anybody.
We talked this week a three and out against an option team.
It's like a turnover.
It's like getting a forced fumble.
We didn't get one till the very end.
But you know when it counted it really it showed up.
We all knew we need to get a start and we all appreciate that to each other.
That's why I feel like we got to start giving like kudos to everybody who D-line, corners, safeties, everyone.
We all played a hard night tonight.
Jake's gutsy man.
He's got a lot of moxie about him.
He's a guy, dude.
You can tell he played backyard football growing up, you know?
I mean, like some guys, you watch him play and their instincts maybe are lacking.
You're like, are you played video games as a kid?
Not backyard football.
Jake Retzlaff played backyard football.
He just has a little bit of, awareness of how to extend things, keep things alive, a little bit of a gunslinger mentality.
He never backs down when I versus a straight man, you know, you gotta you have a good amount of people in your corner to lean on because you know, it been it'd been a long road for me, you know, leading up to this point in to prior to this point, you know, I mean, just having the first thing is God, right?
Without God.
And then they say it will happen.
I mean, I had a I got a good family, I got a good friend, family and friends and, and loved ones that love me and, you know, just care about me so much, you know, that.
Just keep me on high hopes.
I just so happy for the guy.
I mean, he works his tail off.
He's trying to lead all the time.
He's a guy who's kind of been around the block like I have, like you said.
And he's seen a good amount of football, and so he's ready to go.
Be the guy, be reliable.
He's super cool in moments where something goes wrong.
My pride, my one of my favorite attributes about him is he's probably the guy that hit the most on scramble opportunities, because if something goes wrong, he just keeps working.
He just keeps finding a way to make it happen.
And he did.
He did that a couple times today on that play, that diving catch you made, that they review, that was clearly a catch.
They reviewed.
He made the catch like he does that all the time.
I could go back Tulsa.
He made a play just like that.
I mean I could go on and on about he makes those plays where it doesn't matter.
The chaos that might be going on.
Chad's locked in, looking for work, looking to make something happen.
And he did a great job of that today.
And he's continue to do a great job with that all year, making him one of my most reliable targets on the field.
I told the locker room, nobody's going to question our toughness now.
We're not pretty yet.
Like if you were going to grade our pretty skill at eight real good looking, right now, but we're finding ways to win.
And I told him once we get pretty, we're already tough.
If you match up pretty and tough together, we're going to be even harder out.
Right now we're we're not maximizing our opportunities.
And we got to continue to grow.
That starts with me.
It's not the players to me.
I got to help the staff equip them to be ready to capitalize better in a lot of areas, but, a win is a win as a win.
You just said a top of the program finding a way to win.
When you got up this morning, it didn't have an asterisk.
By that said, you didn't have the ball too much.
It's a win for Tulane.
They found a way some on plays against a team that you mentioned for a minute.
They could just drain you.
Yeah I went 39 to 21 times and that's what Army wants to do.
They want to make you play the perfect game of football.
And that's eventually and has their well coached team.
They're getting better with the penalties.
The offense is coming alive.
And Jake Retzlaff 320.
Let's know how you can be accurate for the 20 yards of offense 400 yards of offense by Tulane's offense.
They're coming alive.
It's just they played an opponent.
What I like about this this team is they know every single week there's going to be a different way that you have to approach a game.
What do we have to do against that opponent?
We're playing that way to win that game.
So we'll talk about offense in just a moment.
But defensively, because that's your side of the ball.
They were on the field for 40 minutes.
So you have to give credit to that defensive side.
If nothing else they're staying focused because it's a death by a thousand cuts.
It's four yards to six yards.
Maybe you get a penalty.
Then they go eight yards.
They're not a threat over the air.
But to give them credit late fourth quarter one and only three and out when you had to have Army could have gone for it.
They got four yards and then two yards I believe it was like a fourth and three.
They roll the dice.
They said let's not give a field position.
Let's kick it.
Tulane came back down and got it.
But you got to give the defense credit.
After all of that you needed a stop.
You got to there's no doubt I mean you look at it is frustrating frustrating playing teams like Army because they it's hard to get in negative plays because they don't give you that advantage by the offense.
They run.
They're going to run for 2 or 3 yards on first down, 2 or 3 yards on second down.
And it doesn't take them.
You get four downs.
You get a first down and you're positive yardage every single play.
It gets frustrating defensively, but to your point, they stood up and made the play when it mattered most.
Got the ball back to their offense and the offense was run.
Like I said over 40 yards yesterday.
It's just how do you have to beat the opponent you're playing?
This team is a well-coached team.
They have great moxie about them.
They have great leadership and special things are in store for this team.
If they continue to play the way they've been playing.
No doubt the game was scheduled for an 11:00 kick.
After you do all the pomp and circumstance on TV kicked off at like what, ten after 11?
It was like 20 minutes to 12 before they finally touch the ball because Army had it for 12 minutes there of that first quarter.
But take a look at the first three quarters for Tulane in the Scott point finishing strong.
You had ten points for the first three quarters of 240 yards.
You did 162 just in the final 15 minutes.
When you finally had a chance to start breaking them down, you did it.
You see Rhett's last numbers to Scott's point, the way he played, not only throwing the ball, but running the ball.
But they got it done on third down and still 21 plays in one quarter after just 37 to 3 quarters, which goes back to your point of Army wanted to be successful and wear you down.
Yeah.
It goes back to they're going to take the air out of the ball.
And when they do that, when they have a 39 to 21 possession advantage, it magnifies everything you do.
You can't afford to make mistakes.
You can't afford to turn the football over.
And it puts a lot of pressure on teams.
It's a good thing Tulane has guys who play well under pressure.
Yeah, it was a big win for Tulane.
Now they have a bye week before they'll be back in action at the end of the month.
Let's turn our attention now to Swac action.
We'll go out to the bluff first and start in Baton Rouge.
It was homecoming for the Southern Jaguars.
They were hosting Prairie View as a top team right now in the Swac West.
It was a rainy day.
It got worse.
And not just the weather.
It also got worse for Southern's ball game.
Just over three minutes to go here in the first while the sun is out.
Bad exchange for the Jaguars.
The fumble.
Prairie view jumps on it and they get it.
At the 25 first play of the second quarter, Panthers punch it in.
Lamar McDowell.
He takes it in from 15 yards out.
Prairie view has the seven nothing lead.
Five minutes later they're going to score again Cameron Peters to Isaiah Rockwell 13 yards here on the touchdown.
And it's 14 nothing.
Prairie View the Jags night.
Well it's like this first down and no run for two yards and big pile okay well got it.
Something on second second down a second and seven.
We got pressure.
Don't know where to go I want to roll to the outside looking for a man and that.
No it didn't work.
That one I know.
All right.
Third down.
You got a chance at third and seven.
Now.
Gotta make something work in the pocket.
And he needed seven yards and they threw it to the offense.
It's just not running anywhere for the Jags.
And Terrence Graves know they've got to get something turned around here.
Third quarter.
Now Trey Holley yeah he did his part.
Look at him go up the middle.
Look at the scrum.
Still trying to move it nine yards for Holley on that run.
Very next play Holly up the middle seven more yards.
He just had one yard.
Less than 100 in the ballgame.
Started doing his part.
It would lead to a Nathan Zimmerman 36 yard field goal.
Jags are on the board at 17.
Three under four minutes to go now.
Fourth down.
If this doesn't typify the night per view on the punt you might have seen the Jags ran into the kicker.
It's going to get worse.
They're going to fumble.
It's raining the ball slippery Purvis is going to jump on it at the four.
They're going to take it in from the one yard line here.
The rain came back.
It was pouring at the end.
It was a dark and gloomy homecoming for the Southern Jags.
As Prairie View gets the win by the score of 24 to 3.
Worst start for the season for the Jaguars, who were picked to win the West in 54 years.
Ashton Strother as quarterback, 12 of 21 just 81 yards.
And the pick next up for southern don't get much easier.
They'll be back at home against Florida A&M.
Is Prairie View improves to four and zero in the West on the season.
Just north of the border, Grambling made the drive up to Arkansas Pine Bluff.
Who would get the start.
What do you think Xavier to set number one, took the field to get the start after being in a boot one week ago.
Opening drive.
He stays in the pocket, doesn't move a lot, hits Keith Jones.
That's good for 13 yards.
They go for it on fourth and four.
You see how it is that staying down on his heels?
Not really trying to run much while he winds up getting the completion.
Well they come up short so Pine Bluff gets it Christian Peters goes up top to Jordan Jackson 47 yards.
That would lead to an Arkansas Pine Bluff touchdown and they would take the lead.
Second quarter still seven nothing.
Trey Bradford then goes to work says give me the ball out of the backfield.
Nice move here.
Bounces it to the outside.
That's good for 13 yards.
Then Bradford again this time up the middle.
And he's going to bounce it right side avoids a tackle.
Gets it down inside the 15.
Down to the 12.
Why not give it to Bradford again.
This time straight up the middle.
Big run for Trey Bradford 12 yards here as he avoids tackles.
Gets in the end zone.
And we're tied at seven.
Still tied at seven in the third quarter.
It's fourth and one for Arkansas.
Pine Bluff little Shovel pass here to Montreal Martin.
But he gets stopped short by the Grambling defense.
That gets to set good field position.
Look here.
Gets out of trouble bounces back not really wanting to run but he stays alive and hits Jordan Bryant 13 yards here for the first down then is that quick.
ZIP to the end zone.
It's deflected and falls.
Hook it right there right off the deflection.
The defender can't believe it as he brings it in for the touchdown.
But then the rains came.
Everybody's got to go.
Here comes the lightning.
Here comes the rain.
And it's more than a 2.5 hour delay.
But they come back to play.
Now it's a slick fall.
It's a slick field.
It is that loses the ball early on as they get back on the field Arkansas Pine Bluff is pumped.
It's 1413 Grambling until this field goal makes it 1614.
The home team has the lead but under two minutes to play.
Bradford finds the end zone again, 2216.
Grambling under two minutes to go.
Arkansas at Pine Bluff has one last shot.
Take it to the end zone.
But what do you do, Scott?
What do they tell you?
You got to knock it down.
Knock it down.
Let's try to make the catch.
They just slam it to the ground.
And that's how Grambling locks up this win on the road.
The weather was not their friend, but they get the win 2216.
Trey Bradford 25 carries for a both 35 and two touchdowns as the game was delayed more than two hours because of rain, is the first Swac win of the season for Grambling.
Arkansas pine Bluff drops to one and two.
Next up for the Tigers.
This was out in Vegas.
The press conference is Monday in Vegas, and then Chelsea coach Joseph comes back to get the team ready.
They'll take on Jackson State out of the Vegas Classic on October 25th.
All right.
We heard Brian Vincent tell us on Saturday's game night.
It's going to be a playoff type atmosphere because they knew of the quality of the team that was coming in.
And Troy Tucker Gilcrease to Trey Taylor 29 yards is terrible.
Makes one move Troy gets it down to the 29 yard line.
And Tim Meadows up the middle.
And here's what's disturbing.
Untouched 20 yards for the touchdown.
Just like that.
It's seven nothing Troy after three and out by the Warhawks it's kill Chris again.
This time to Trey Schwartz.
May the force be with it 31 yards.
He gets it behind the defenders.
That leads to a Scott Renfro field goal.
And it's ten.
Nothing Troy midway through the first now Zach Palmer Smith.
That running back room is deep for you on Monroe.
And he takes off and goes 28 yards here on the scoop.
And it leads to this the first play of the second quarter.
Hunter Harry is in takes a little pitch and throws to Nick Trejo seven yards on the touchdown.
They go for two and get it.
It's 10 to 8 now.
Third and five for Troy Gilcrease to Trey Taylor.
He spins and he is fast.
And he's gone.
Got a nice little block right there and goes 60 yards for the touchdown.
It's 17 eight Troy third quarter now fourth and 11 Aiden Armenta to Brandon Buckhalter and he gets it there in the end zone for 12 yards and a touchdown.
Take another look as he spins around.
Great pass great placement great catch.
It's just a three point game.
Under a minute to go in the third it's 20 to 14 Troy our mentor gets hit from behind fumbles and the ball's at the ten Scott you always talk about how turnovers can be bad news and lead to quick points, but especially when you're giving up field position.
Yeah you give a field position giving them automatic points.
Those are tough to overcome in the hidden yardage game.
And that's because on the next play it's an 11 yard touchdown here.
After the ball was fumbled it's 2714 but oh no oh no.
After the kickoff two plays later or gets picked off.
He was looking for Jonathan Gibbs.
He finds Joe Lott and Joe Lott plays for Troy.
The wheels are coming off.
It's now 30 to 14 midway through the fourth.
Our mentor does something you should never do.
Runs one way and tries to throw it all the way back.
That was bad.
Not a good decision at all.
Joe Lott picks this one off.
Is it going to have enough gas to get in?
Oh he does.
53 yards on the interception return to make it 3714.
And the Warhawks still have some work to do.
Troy wins it by that score to go to five and two overall.
Two and zero in the Sun Belt.
The Warhawks fall to one and two.
Four turnovers, Scott four turnovers.
You're not surprised.
17 points leads 17 points in the span of turning the football over at least two points.
I think what you're seeing with this Warhawks team is teams are packing the box now because of that running back room they have and making them throw the football.
The passing game has to come alive for the world.
Gilcrease had an outstanding day for Troy.
Next up for the Warhawks, a very good Southern Miss team they'll face in Hattiesburg.
Here's Coach Vincent after the loss.
They got stitched up.
You know, he got stitched up, and that's who he is.
And that's why, you know, he's a warrior and he's a winner.
And obviously he's a big part right there.
And then you know we lose we lose bam after the first drive.
And then J. And then you know they just started mounting up.
So that's part of football.
You know it's part of the game is next man up next man's got to be ready.
And but again we played hard.
You know we never quit.
We've got to just continue to clean up the execution and find ways to get the ball in the end zone.
You said on Monday you thought this was going to be a championship tight game.
So how would you evaluate where this team ends up?
I think we're right there.
As crazy as that sounds, I think we're right there.
You take away, you know what, three turnovers and, you know missed opportunity to take the lead with the field goal that swings the whole momentum has opportunity to swing the momentum.
But then we come back and we battled back in the second half.
And it's 17 to 14.
And we're right there in.
And with the ball defense gets a big stop.
And we're right there in it.
And then you get back to back turnovers and you put them on a short field and they cash it in.
And that's the difference.
As we told you when we debuted game no.
Scott and I have worked together for the better part of the last ten years.
And on some previous shows and our working together, we used to joke about Vanderbilt.
We'd watch those Commodores if they got a win.
They're no joke.
Yeah.
This is not your grandmother's farm.
Yeah.
Everybody used to circle Vandy on the schedule, the SEC.
That's not happening anymore in the SEC.
When are we playing Vandy at home?
Homecoming.
Right.
Well that was Vanderbilt and LSU in Nashville.
Vanderbilt for the first time, which was the 40s favored in a game of ranked teams to get the win at home.
Hartleys Commodores looking to go six and one for the first time in 75 years.
Not a shock to see a lot of purple and gold making the trip to go hang out off of Broadway and check out this ballgame.
It's three nothing LSU and Diego Poly, those 20 yards.
It's ruled a touchdown.
But when you take a closer look he's down at the one.
That's all right.
Everybody comes back on the field and he just goes right back in and scores.
It punches it in there.
So it's seven three Commodores late in the first third and ten Garrett Nelson Meyer finds Berrian Thomas 25 yards and gets the first down.
First play of the second quarter.
Here's where the drive ends.
And thus Meyer is in trouble.
But he finds Trey Green and green takes it to the house.
20 yards for the touchdown.
And LSU is up ten seven.
Five minutes into the second quarter Pavia waits looks.
Remember Scott talked about the pocket.
What do you need to do with this quarterback.
We'll talk more about him in a moment.
But he makes a completion there Cole Spence takes it down to the four.
And then fourth and goal from the one.
Cedric Alexander torpedoes his way across the line.
Gets the touchdown.
It's 1410 Vanderbilt under two minutes to go in the half on fourth and one is that Pavia.
But this time he gets sacked.
Great pressure by West Wheat gets the sack for the Tigers.
But LSU can't do anything with it.
So Damien Ramos comes in from 42 yards out even though they have good field position.
It's 1413.
It's 1713 at the half.
And now we're in the third quarter.
Vanderbilt's up top and it's a wide open pass to Cole.
Spent way too easy.
Gets a touchdown.
It's 2413.
What you thought might have been the play of the game midway through the third.
And thus far in all sorts of trouble finds Xavien Thomas, who turns it into a miracle, spins on a two tackles and he's gone 62 yards.
It's 2421.
Vandy up by three.
Same score under four to play in the third.
On fourth and one here's Pavia being Pavia.
Look at him run around.
Scramble finds some space then gets the pass and the first down on a gain of 12 to keep the drive alive for the Commodores.
Same drive under a minute to go.
Pavia sees pressure and there he goes.
Runs away from it.
Runs straight into the end zone for the touchdown.
It's 3121.
Fourth quarter after a first and goal comes up short.
It's second and goal.
Great move.
Touchdown for the Tigers.
But a false start on LSU brings the ball back to the six.
They can't punch it in for a touchdown.
Settle for another field goal Garrett Nuss might Meyer being consoled on the bench because Vanderbilt holds on to get the win 31 to 24.
The rushing game once again a problem for LSU.
They do hit the C-Note but fan about runs for 239 and time of possession.
We talked about with Army and Tulane.
How about Vanderbilt with 36.5 minutes of time of possession, they took advantage of possessions.
LSU struggled.
Next up for LSU doesn't get much easier.
Prime time next week in Tiger Stadium against number four Texas A&M.
But first reaction from head coach Brian Kelly after the loss.
You know we had opportunities.
We didn't cash in on them.
From an offensive standpoint, we had three opportunities to score that were field goals.
And look, our guys know we were playing a team that was going to make it very difficult for us to possess the football.
We had three possessions in the first half.
So it's it's like playing a triple option.
And we did not play well enough on either side of the ball to be the better team today.
And Vanderbilt was the better team today because they executed at a higher level.
So when you look at it in its totality, defensively, not enough stops.
And offensively, when we had an opportunity to score touchdowns, we had to kick field goals.
And that was the difference in the game.
The offense had mustard.
You know, some things offensively that we had been lacking.
But when our defense made a couple of stops, we couldn't turn those into positive possessions.
And you know, obviously cashing in on first and goal from the one, I mean, you got to score a touchdown there and then that to me is, you know, we jump offside and you know it is what it is, right?
I mean, we just didn't execute it.
The highest level necessary against a team that played really well today that other than their fourth down, turnover on downs, they played for us.
And when you play a team like that, that's going to take care of the football is going to clock and limit your possessions.
You equally have to play to that level.
And we just did not.
They were the better team today.
Is it a confidence level.
Lack thereof is on offense.
Yeah I think there's a lot of what is our identity.
You're at this point in the season and you don't know can we run the ball?
Can we not run the ball?
Is our quarterback healthy?
Is he not healthy?
There's a lot of questions on the offense and the football.
So it's hard to establish an identity when there's still so many questions.
Might take you back to the Louisiana Tech game when LSU won.
If you remember in that bowl game afterwards, Sonny Cumbie said, hey, late in the ballgame, they settle for a field goal.
We stopped and we felt like that's a win as a salute to us the way we play.
Remember their points?
They scored in the 50s against southeastern.
Other than that, they scored 24 in this loss.
That's their most points this season against an FBS team.
And you know what it's not it's not a sin to have a bad offense.
There's a lot of teams that don't have good offenses throughout the country, but they find ways to win.
I think the biggest thing that I'm noticing when I watch this LSU team is the offense is not coming along the way you want it to.
They certainly have great playmakers.
They lost a lot of really good offensive linemen to the NFL.
I still think you're seeing that hang over my frustration when I watch this.
LSU team is the defense.
I think the defense is way too talented to allow a Vandy team to go up and down and to run for that many yards, to rush for 239 yards against an LSU defensive front who probably not one of those guys was was recruited by Vandy or would have went to Vandy.
So I think you have the talent, you have the skill level.
That was should have overpowered Vandy.
When I watch LSU's defense, there's times we used to great loss effort to the football.
In our meeting room in the Saints meeting room, it said up on the wall, loaf equals traitor.
Go play for the other team.
That's how we approached every single game.
If you weren't going to play hard every play you got to love.
I just don't see LSU playing hard on defense and there's way too too many talented players over there.
How you don't spy this quarterback.
Every single play is beyond me.
There was just a lot of questions I had after this game was over.
Well, speaking of that, because Pavia, Diego Pavia was outstanding once again and we knew going in, we heard from Brian Kelly and the Tigers on Saturday's game that was talking about what did they say?
They want to try to make them uncomfortable.
I even ask Scott, this is a guy who likes to scramble.
So how do you make him uncomfortable?
Remember, Scott said, it's the reverse.
You want to try to keep him in the pocket.
Well, there the pocket falls apart.
Scott.
He runs 20 yards.
He thought he had 21.
He comes in on the next play and why he's up scoring a touchdown.
But even when they had him in the middle of the field.
To your point about spine do you try to keep him content.
You know, how tough is it to try to keep contain.
Because look here he feels trouble.
Well this is exactly what he wants.
It's 11 yards on a first down.
And you know he's a talented player I'm going to give him that.
There's sometimes you watch guys on film and you say okay we're going to take this away from them.
But yet they're still talented enough to do it going into this game just you know, rushing career rushing for you.
You have to have a spy on this guy.
Every single block going to this game, you circle him and say we're going to put two guys on him if we need to.
Somebody else is going to beat us and it's a shame that he was the reason you also gain.
Yeah, he made so many big plays here.
You get one on one and he's trying to get him off the edge.
Now he's going to throw the fake once again.
He goes down.
There's just so many opportunities unless you try.
And it seemed like every time they tried something Vanderbilt figured out a way to find a way to get out of it.
Here's another one where he feels that pressure from behind.
There's the pocket.
Now look at this first 15 yards wide open.
Yeah.
And we talked about that in pregame show.
Just having rush and having rush integrity.
You can't blitz 5 or 6 guys every play to contain a quarterback.
But when you rush 3 or 4 you have to know how you're rushing down the middle of a man and having eyes on the quarterback.
Well, like we mentioned, it doesn't get any easier.
Here comes Texas A&M and Tigers.
And then you get a bye week.
And then you still have to go to Tuscaloosa after that.
And oh by the way, don't forget Oklahoma at the end of the season.
So the challenges are still there for LSU closing out the season.
Let's take you over to Lafayette now where the raging Cajuns from Louisiana trying to get things going up against a very good Southern Miss team, much improved Southern Miss team.
Of course, I got the coaching staff from Marshall.
Half of their players that came over here.
It was quite the challenge for the Cajuns on Saturday afternoon, a gorgeous afternoon there at Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium.
And here we go.
Cajuns getting the game going early on the ground on Perry for ten yards.
And then Bill Davis.
He is so explosive when he finds this opening up the middle.
There goes Davis for 13 yards.
Once Winfield once again gets the start.
Now he's going to do it through the air.
He finds Cade Jensen.
This is good for 18 yards.
And Jensen gets it inside the 25 yard line I'll take you down to this fourth and one.
You got to punch it and be aggressive.
And why not.
It's Winfield who gets the score.
And it's seven nothing.
Cajuns second quarter Winfield with a deep drop.
But something happened here because this pass is way off by like 5 or 6 yards off.
And it's picked off with that interception Corey Myrick gets it done and he gets a great return for Southern Miss.
Next play watch Braylon Braxton I mean he puts that baby on a rope.
But he gets it down to the two yard line.
Two plays later Matt Jones with the score.
And we're tied at seven.
Now it's ten seven Scott that's not much we feel that's Walker Howard the same Walker we haven't seen since the beginning of the season.
He came back into here second quarter with under 30 to go.
But but he gets picked off.
And watch this.
Look at the clock three seconds left.
It's a good enough return on the Walker Howard interception by Ameer Foster to set up a 52 yard field goal.
And Southern Miss makes it True's 13 seven.
Here's your backbreaker.
1310.
Southern miss under four to go in the third.
You've got them backed up on their own two line two yard line Scott had to be a defensive bust.
Yeah definitely something was wrong.
Especially in that situation you're not expecting I got to get behind two guys.
Behind two guys.
That's exactly right Micah Davis sprinted 98 yards for the touchdown.
It's 20 to 10.
Then Winfield here gets in the end zone.
Except he doesn't.
He's fumbles it on the half yard line.
We're going to talk about that play here in just a moment.
And then later in the fourth in his own NCA end zone Winfield coughs it up.
The ball comes past the goal line.
It gets picked up by yeah listen to the rule.
It's not the player who formerly who picked it up.
So then the ball goes back to where it was fumble which is the end zone.
That means it's a safety.
When it's all said and done it's 22 to 10.
Southern miss gets a win.
Braylen Braxton for Southern Miss.
Outstanding.
Just 12 of 17 but 230 yards and a touchdown.
Ten points off of three Cajun turnovers.
And you lost by 12.
You see one of the big reasons they're next up at Troy for Louisiana next week.
Afterwards his head coach, Michael that's moment.
The deal with Walker at the end of the half.
It had nothing to do with launch.
It was just it's kind of the world he lives in, you know, drop back to minute type stuff.
So, you know, put him in there and let him get a taste of it again.
You know, and, you know, and that obviously, you know, ended up not the way we wanted to at the end of the drive.
But, you know, that's, it was nothing more than that, you know, I mean, lunch, lunch is doing a lot of good things for us.
And he's he's way less than 100%.
And I'm not going to get into what it is, but he's way less than 100%.
But he's a tough, gritty dude.
And, yeah, that's, you know, that's he's a guy that's that's moving the ball for us and we run, you know, keep going, keep rolling.
I don't think anybody asked about that.
But now that you're offering and volunteering, the fact he's less than 100%, I can promise you what's going to get asked at the Monday press conference?
What's wrong with lunch, Winfield?
We'll talk about the quarterbacks in just a second.
But for 30s, let me ask you this, this play of everybody reaching the ball or trying to score a touchdown.
It's got to be the defense's best friend because we just see it week after week after week.
Yeah.
The first thing you're taught in, that's when you get into those situations down near the goal line, or whether it's fourth and short, you're swiping at the ball because as soon as they extend that ball, you have an opportunity to create some take away offense.
It got to try to hold that ball and we've seen it too many times.
All right, so Walker Howard we haven't seen him.
He gets the torso injury three and a half quarters in his first game.
Then they're trying to figure out all the quarterbacks.
It was interesting to bring him in I know he throws a different ball.
It was late in the quarter.
So maybe they wanted to try to, as head coach say to kind of get a feel for.
But even so to try to get a feel for the game when you're under a minute and it's a close ballgame.
Interesting move, to say the least.
Yeah, it is especially I understand what coach is saying here.
This is his world.
He he lives in the drop back world.
And you're going to drop back because you're in the situation you're trying to get in before halftime.
Get some points in the two minute drill.
But it's still a tough, tough position to be in to get thrown in the fire like that.
Listen, Southern Miss, a lot of people haven't watched a lot of southern most.
They might be one of the most improved teams.
They're playing really good football.
So that's a tough spot for Walker to jump back into it.
Yeah, especially when you haven't taken snaps since the beginning of the season to come back in trying to throw it around and then you want of getting picked off and so the miss takes advantage of it.
We'll see what happens or what develops for you until the quarterback position doesn't get any easier.
Now as you saw, they'll be taking on Troy.
All right.
Let's head over to the state of Texas now.
Some action in the Southland Conference.
The Kernels and Nichols still trying to get back into the win column after that season opening win over Ewing.
Since then, it has been a struggle for the kernels.
And they were at Stephen Foster where Jarrod Wimbley breaks this one here for SFA and goes 30 yards here on the run.
It leads to a 54 yard field goal.
What a cannon here because there is room to spare.
Watch where this ball goes.
Bounces off the tent.
But it's good for 54 yards.
And Stephen if Austin has the early three nothing lead.
Deuce Hogan then to Scrappy Osby might be my new favorite name in football.
I like this scrappy for 13 yards on third and seven.
Now it's second down from the six and Hogan fumbles the exchange.
Stephen that force is going to pick it up.
Oh no.
It bounces right to Jaden Souther.
And he's off to the races.
But watch right there.
Did you see the push on the 45.
It was unnecessary.
He scores the touchdown.
But that push is a block in the back.
So bring back the touchdown.
But Stephen at Boston still gets the ball around midfield.
When the Colonels were on the doorstep of scoring end of the first quarter Gavin row the first on the keep.
It's now nine nothing Stephen F awesome first play second quarter Sam back to Derek Boler.
That's good for 25 yards.
And he takes it down inside the 30.
And leads to another Gerald Wimbley five yard touchdown run here.
And now it's 16.
Nothing Stephen F Austin trouble for the Colonels offense protecting Deuce Hogan here under pressure.
Deep drop can't find a receiver.
And he winds up getting sacked on third and six.
Next possession.
Third and eight.
Same song.
Different first three Stephen at Boston defenders collide on Duce Hogan for the sack 19.
Nothing with the punt here.
Farrell.
Harewood with the punt.
Did I say I have a new favorite name?
I do, it's Bugs Mortimer.
That's bugs more you see here that you see here.
Bugs are looking at the ball.
You see them going to take it one side.
See them I mean bugs doesn't know the other side.
See.
And there he goes.
66 yards on the return for bugs Mortimer gets it into the end zone and it's 26.
Nothing.
And then Mother Nature told everybody get out of here.
A 2.5 hour rain delay after an hour and a half rain delay earlier.
But they do come back to play and Nichols does get into the end zone.
Ian Rodriguez hits Everett Hunter for the touchdown when it's all said and done Stephen.
If Boston gets the win 34 to 17, Nichols drops to one and six.
Now one and two in conference play.
Just 56 rushing yards for the Colonels again just struggling on the offense while the game was delayed more than four hours because of weather.
Next up, the Colonels host McNeese.
They finally play at home.
It's been about six weeks since they played at Thibodaux.
They'll host the Cowboys next weekend.
What do you know?
Speaking of the Cowboys, it's homecoming in Lake Charles and they were back in action in Navarre Stadium, taking on Houston Christian Jake Strong with a quick flip here to Cameron Senegal.
He goes 13 yards and gets the first down for the Cowboys.
Later strong drops back.
Takes a look at everything.
Keeps it right up the middle eight yards now inside the ten for the Cowboys and Strong.
Wait wait and I'm out of here.
Gets it into the end zone for the touchdown seven nothing McNeese Zae Shaun Edwards.
If you're going to show Houston Christian you got to show one of the best in the conference.
And there he goes.
Contractually you have to show as I Sean Edwards highlight.
And we do.
But guess what.
They don't take advantage of it because it sets up a field goal.
And that is what that looks like.
I kicked it way wide to the right.
No points for Houston Christian Strong.
Then on the keeper.
First down gets popped here.
Holds on to it.
Goes down that one to see if it's a loose ball but an hope he still holds on to it.
Everything looks good.
Then to Josh Jackson across the middle.
That's good for 17 yards.
And then on second and five strong does it again.
Right side makes one little move.
Gets it into the end zone McNeese is up 17.
Nothing.
Watch on this play.
Everybody goes left.
And the guy who has the ball does not at once again is strong.
Great read on the offense.
Great job by everybody to push them to the other way.
Strong takes it into the end zone and the Cowboys are in good position.
Defense gets the job done on the day for the Cowboys here late.
This is fourth quarter Houston Christian on first down to nothing.
Second down I got nothing.
Third down.
It's deflected.
Why are we showing you these plays.
Because Houston Christian got zero yards of offense in the fourth quarter.
As in one less than one the defense got the job done for McNeese.
And after getting shut out at home, they now get a shutout victory 27 to nothing strong 133 passing yards, 108 yards rushing and three touchdowns on the ground, 67 yards of total offense in the second half for Houston Christian and as I mentioned, zero in the fourth quarter.
Next up for the Cowboys, as we told you, they go to two zero to face the Colonels.
Here's Matt Vittoria after the game.
You know you caught 113 kids loose for three days.
And you know you have a meeting and everybody sitting in there five minutes before the meeting starts.
You know, that's a great sign.
I mean, it's a great that, you know, that, you know, that they've bought in.
But I think the, you know, look, I'm well, I'm right or wrong, but I tried to emphasize to the players and the coaches, you know, we have an open week to get ready to try to win the last six games, not to relive the first six.
And when I was alluding to it on Monday, I don't know if we've been five and one six and oh before and guys need a break, you know, because you play so many plays and just because you're 1 in 5.
I mean, we have a lot of guys, especially at positions like linebacker line that have a lot of bank reps and, you know, so I wanted to make sure our players understood that we were going to use the open week to try to prepare us to for the Houston Christian game.
And for the last six, because yo And Scott, to his point, you can't get back the big loss you had to southeastern is we're going to find out a moment.
Southeastern is a really good football team right now.
But you talked about the Cowboys logo.
You think of toughness.
You think of grit.
No give them credit.
You got blown out at home.
You had a bye week.
But to his point they're ready for their first meeting back.
Everybody's five minutes early.
And it showed on the pitch Jake Strong had an outstanding ball.
Jake Strong has been outstanding.
Three rushing touchdowns over 30 yards rushing.
He's been that consistent bell cow for them in the running game all year.
But I like coach's philosophy there.
We have a bye week.
It's almost like a reset button.
We're going to get away from it physically.
Mentally a lot of guys have bumps and bruises, especially like he talked about the linebacker position and then the O-line in the trenches where you're hitting every play.
So you hit that reset button and you play the second half of the season almost like a new season.
Yeah, we'll see what the Cowboys can do next week when they head down to two.
But we mentioned the Lions from southeastern.
It was a big day over in Hammond for a rivalry for the Lions is one of the biggest ones.
Taking on the demons from Northwestern State was play McCorkle trying to get things turned around for his demons.
But the Lions a little too much on this one.
As we take it to the action, here is homecoming at Hammond.
The demons were punting.
That's Brant modest there.
He gets the block for the Lions.
A great field position for southeastern early.
It takes just one play.
Carson Kemp to Deondre Jackson.
The little flick right there at 27 yards later, he's into the end zone.
Touchdown Lions and it's seven.
Nothing early Kyle Lowe now comes in the ballgame.
And as we've talked about the Lions switch those quarterbacks.
It's either series maybe every other play.
It's just the flow of the game.
But low finds Jalen DiMaggio 18 yards here on the completion.
Lowe stays in the game.
So does DiMaggio.
And this time it's a 13 yard touchdown.
The Mojo takes it cuts it up side.
It's now 14 nothing.
Lions second quarter.
Now how about some demon defense.
As Lowe is still in the game at quarterback.
He's going to find Collier where Collier gets popped right there loses the ball.
It's loose okay Sean Reed winds up recovering it after it looked like the Lions were going to get it.
The demons recover and it's a big defensive play for Northwestern State.
But they can't do anything offensively.
That's where they're struggling as well.
The Lions get the ball back.
Deon Jackson 23 yards.
His second touchdown makes it 21 to nothing.
Homecoming later in the second it's Jackson again.
Here's a hat trick in the first half.
Five yards here it's 28 to nothing.
Southeastern.
They have all the homecoming festivities.
You enjoy halftime.
You come out to the third quarter.
It's the opening kick Cooper Evans kicks it to the 17 and Brandon Hayes takes it on the door.
DoorDash.
He's gone.
Take it for 683 yards on the return.
It's 35 to nothing as the Lions are on cruise control later Jayden Henry give me five.
That's what you get when you get those expensive seats.
You get to get the players.
Five after a big touchdown Jayden Henry takes it in.
It's 42 to nothing.
That was spreading the wealth.
Calvin Smith then has his opportunity in the fourth quarter.
He's going to take it in from 12 yards out.
The demons do get a big play in the fourth quarter Eli Anderson swings to the outside Jeremiah James he's going to take it 34 yards.
Great gain for the demons inside the 20 inside the 15.
Still showing that fight.
But under four minutes to go.
Anderson to the end zone.
And Mike Mitchell says no sir.
We are going to preserve this shutout.
It's the first time in 60 years the Lions have back to back shutout victories.
And the first time to have multiple shutouts in one season since 1978.
Yeah, southeastern is ranked.
They're going to be climbing the polls in the FCS 49 to nothing.
They've outscored the last two opponents, Northwestern State and McNeese 87 to nothing.
Next up for the Lions.
They're on the road at Houston Christian.
Meanwhile for the demons from Northwestern State, they will be taking on a very good Lamar team after the ball game.
Here's what head coach Blaine McCorkle had to say about his demons fight.
I have no doubt that that's probably a team that's going to represent the Southland Conference really well in the playoffs and make a deep run that's you know, I've been in this level football a long time.
That's a good football team.
So I give them their due.
So but as far as us now we know what that feels like.
We know what a championship level football team, in the Southland feels like.
And hopefully we learn from that.
One thing that I don't think I've, been able to complain about all year is their effort.
You know, they these kids, they they got a lot of shortcomings, a lot of things we got to get better at.
We all know that.
We all know what they are.
What?
They play hard.
They really do.
You know, we said that a couple of weeks ago against commerce, too.
You know, the the game looked ugly, but you go back and look at the tape.
I think we'll do the same thing here.
We'll see some good efforts on there.
And you know, Keyshawn is is one of them.
And he Keyshawn loves this team.
And he gives us everything he's got and he's passionate.
And I like the way he plays.
And, he's going to be around here for a long time, too.
He's one of those young players, as well.
So, that was good to see how the team is to get a turnaround because their effort is there.
I like the way blam!
Of course, doing that.
Yeah, he's doing a good job, coach.
I mean, I agree with him.
You watch his game.
You know the score isn't what they want.
But there is definitely effort.
That says a lot about the culture you have inside your locker room.
Two more road game for the demons November Sauced at McNeese and then at Nicholls.
But it's sandwiched around three home games starting with number 18 Lamar.
And that will be next weekend.
Up there in Natchitoches, we talked about the two quarterback system for the Lions of Southeastern.
During the bye week.
I had a chance to visit the campus and talk to the two headed monsters, both of them talking about getting that fight for being a starter.
But really, that doesn't mean much anymore.
Carson, let me ask you, when football fans know when camp starts talking about even spring practice, right?
And then you get into camp, the number one question, who's will be my starting quarterback?
I need to have starting quarterback.
I was here at practice.
Everybody's battling.
Seems like the word starter doesn't have that much of a meaning here.
Coach self likes that two quarterback system.
What has it been like knowing that you don't have to be the guy taking every snap, yet you look at your record and success is there.
Yeah, it feels really good I think like you look all across America and a lot of guys are just playing one, one guy, you know, and I think it really helps with us playing both of us because, if I make a mistake, you know, I can come off the field and, you know, get a different lens when he's in, and I can learn from him.
I think you made a good point.
I think we are learning from each other.
And so I do believe in it.
I think, you know, the quarterback position is a kind of an ego driven, you know, mentality.
But I think when you take it away from that and I think, you know, us too, we're not really selfish guys.
I think it just helps out a lot.
So me personally, I'm all for I love it.
And I think like you said, it's working and we're winning games.
And at the end of the day we just want to win games.
You know we're not here for stats.
You know we're not here for accolades.
We're just here for wins.
I think we can both agree on that.
Coach also talks about the quality of the quarterback room to his point is that what it feels like with the mentality, not worrying about who's going to be better, but more how do we do this together?
100%?
I think we came in with that approach at the start the season, and it's worked for us at a high level.
I mean, defenses have a really hard time stopping us, you know what I mean?
Coming in and coming out, playing in the game together, you know what I mean?
So I think it's been a it's been a really advantageous thing for us offensively.
And we're going to keep keep dominating moving forward.
So really hit our strike.
I wanted to ask about learning because he has what about a year and a half on in terms of experience.
So coming in and when he's been on the field, I was going to ask you and then I'll ask you the reverse question.
What have you learned most so far through six games of the season with him?
Yeah, just the natural poise, you know what I mean?
He plays for them within the pocket command of the offense execution.
I mean I think it's easy for me not having as much experience coming into play and just being able to sit back like he's kind of watch, you know what I mean?
Because maybe in camp I will make a mistake or on the field make a mistake, and then I get a chance to just sit back, talk to coach, analyze whatever he's doing and just move forward from there.
I think there's been a lot of growth in that aspect of my game.
Carson, what about when you watch Kyle?
Because as we're sitting here right now, you're the leading passer.
He's actually the team's leading rusher.
And he throws a lot you know along with you.
So when you see him on the field even though he has a year and a half maybe less experience, what have you learned maybe the most so far from watching him?
Yeah.
Well first of all he can run and he can score touchdowns for us.
I think that's the biggest thing, something that, you know, again, that's not my skill set.
But I think it's fun just watching him make plays with his feet.
And again something that when I'm watching him play and I'm analyzing, you know, when he's out of the pocket and scrambling, I want to see how that defense is playing.
Are they going to sync back or are they going to, you know, attack the quarterback.
So I look at that from a pass game standpoint.
But I think he you know Kyle does a good job bringing a lot of ball knowledge to you know coming from two different universities.
But you know and then his you know, his family tree too and who his brother is and his father, I think, again, he just has a lot of ball knowledge.
And I've learned a lot of stuff from him in the run game.
And I mean, especially in the pass game too, and pass protection and stuff like that.
So I think again, he just brings a different knowledge that, maybe I didn't see, you know, in the my four years of playing football so far.
So, you know, I think he just has done a great job.
And again, it's just been fun evaluating him.
The record certainly shows you haven't had a problem.
But I should ask you, a lot of players, a lot of teams will get used to just that one guy.
How has it been with the rest of the position players?
Whether it's your offensive linemen?
DiMaggio and wide receiver has been outstanding for you, you know, as of late, but but what's it been like with those guys knowing you might be in.
But then you're coming in.
You might be in for a series and a half.
You're coming back in, has there been any adjustment issues with that or how have they accept?
Oh no, I don't think there's been any adjustment at all.
Like we we do the same thing in practice.
We both execute the offense.
The offense doesn't necessarily completely change some of the skill sets kind of change a little bit, but the same ball that I throw to JD is the same order he throws JT.
You know, I mean the same offensive call that I make to the line.
Same exact call that he makes.
So there's there's no scheme or anything that necessarily changes.
But no it's there's there's complete congruency throughout the whole throughout the whole deal.
Is it fun prepping for teams?
Because I can tell you, listening to the press conferences every week when you listen to opposing teams and their coaches, the first thing they talk about is, well, to to quarterback system.
You got to try to get used to it, and they're trying to pick what you do best and what you do best.
But you guys know coming in, they don't know when you're going to switch as an example.
They don't know of you come in.
All you're doing is running the ball and you're only going to pass the ball on your side, flip it for.
So on the other side, how fun is that?
When you're preparing, knowing that they're worried about this that's ahead in it is really fun I think like it definitely keeps the defensive coordinator and the defense on their toes.
And I think it's the quarterback position is never easy, but it is kind of easy for us to know, okay, their game plan on both of us.
So they're not able to just game plan one guy they got a game plan.
Both of us.
And again that waste a lot of time throughout the week.
And that, you know, you're basically focusing so much time on two quarterbacks.
So I think you know him and I are able to take advantage of that.
And again they're maybe they're prepping for something that he's going to do.
And then I can slither through and do something different that can, you know, change the game or vice versa.
So I do think that it's an advantage and it really is.
And I never really looked at it like that until, you know, as we've gone week by week and we're winning these games, you can tell these defenses are kind of it's tough to figure out, you know, what this guy's going to do with this other guy's going to do.
So again, I think we're just taking advantage of it.
Thank you.
You're both new to Hammond, both new to southeastern.
What's the adjustment been like?
How much fun has it been so far?
You have a couple of games under your belt.
Obviously in the Southland Conference, you're getting ready to get into the meat of the schedule.
But just the overall adjustments, the quality of ball being here in Hammond, what's it been like?
I mean, the adjustment has been pretty similar.
I mean, ball is ball everywhere.
There are a lot of elite players, especially here in the Southland Conference and Louisiana in general.
We have a really good team all together.
So planning as our defense is one of the best defense in the nation.
I mean, you see some of the guys we have I mean, it's it's been a pretty similar adjustment and being able to play in the Southland where it's good football, it's been really good.
It's been really good.
And feeding off of that.
You do have a unique thing on this team.
I talked about your experience, but in general this team has a lot of experience coming back.
Six guys, I think they're in their sixth year, 18.
That might be in their fourth year.
You don't see that a lot of places anywhere in the country at any level.
So what's that been like coming in, knowing there's that experience to even blend with your experience?
Yeah, I think it's a big help.
I think coach Frank said in the beginning of the year, we got 25 seniors or 26, and you don't hear that a lot of a lot of universities, like you said, it's usually 4 or 5 guys.
And so it's definitely we're taking advantage of it.
But it's a it's a big thing.
I mean, when you got a lot of experience on the field, the mistakes are very minimal and you can see that when we're playing these games.
Not a lot of penalties, not a lot of, you know, false starts, offsides or whatever the case may be.
So it's been good to just kind of blend in with that.
And when I am talking to the guys on the sideline, it's not like I'm talking to, you know, a first year freshman that maybe hasn't been out there and I'm talking to a six year guy that's been out there.
So he's seeing what I'm seeing.
So the communication has been great.
It's just been awesome to just kind of blend in with that.
And like I said, the experience has been good.
Let's wrap up with looking back and looking forward.
I'll go to you first, Kyle, to talk about looking back two games against bigger points at Louisiana Tech and LSU.
You certainly found early success in the Southland Conference through this part of the season.
Up to now, what's been the biggest thing you've learned about yourself or the team in general with the success you've had?
Yeah, I think with the team it's it's a deal where whenever we hit adversity, like where we hit adversity, Louisiana Tech, LSU, we bounce back.
I mean, if you look at the next opponents that we played after those week, we always bounce back and we're hitting our stride at the right time for sure.
So getting into conference play and we're heading in the right direction, I think we're finding our momentum offensively, defensively and we all feed off each other.
Coach Scheffler said the other day it was a big fourth and one stop on the goal line when we were at McNeese and the two ran on defense, and the biggest thing that he took away from that was the excitement that everybody had on the sideline.
So we know we got a special group here and we're excited.
Just keep pushing forward.
You're coming off that big win and Southland Conference.
You come off the bye week.
You've got homecoming.
But really the biggest games in the conference are still ahead.
A lot of them are on the road.
So Carson look ahead now I know it's always that next game mentality.
But go a little big picture for me in terms of momentum.
Your carry over and what you see closing out to try to hit your stride.
Yeah I mean like you said, I mean we definitely want to live one game at a time, but trying to give you the bigger picture, I mean, we we definitely have those dreams and those hopes to win the conference.
And I think we can do that.
You know, I laugh about it, but we got some Lamborghinis on this team that can roll.
So I think that, I think a lot of teams are going to start seeing that.
And like, Kyle said, like, we're going to hit our stride and we have been hitting our stride.
So, yeah, I think it's going to be a good stretch coming down to the season.
We play, three really good opponents these next three weeks.
And then on the back end we play still another three good opponent.
So I mean it's going to be six straight good opponents that we're going to play here soon.
So like I said we're just going to catch our stride.
Keep you know continue to keep our stride.
And like I said I think this is going to be a good year for us.
It's been fun watching you both so far.
We look forward for the rest of the way.
Carson camp Kyle oh, two headed monster as a quarterback for the Lions of Southeastern Gas.
Thanks for your time and good luck down the stretch.
Preciate you.
Thank you so much.
You bet.
Scott, it was really a joy to talk to both of them.
As you take a look at the Lions schedule, you can tell they get along and I compliment them and coach self over the system.
You can see how they are having so much success with the way they get along playing that same position.
It's a credit to them because especially at that position, a lot of times you only see one guy and they're in a battle to see who can take over that position, but they obviously they love sharing the position.
They find the advantages of sharing that position.
And it sounds like they have a great locker room, a great coaching staff who understand how to utilize their talents.
And next up for the Lions, be on the road at Houston Christian.
Well, we've missed the Bulldogs from Louisiana Tech.
That's because they played Thursday a week ago, and it was a devastating loss at Kennesaw State after the Bulldogs been playing so well.
They were humbled over there in Georgia.
And now they had an extra week off.
Almost like another little mini bye because next up for the Bulldogs.
It's Tuesday night action against Western Kentucky.
While everybody is getting ready for the next game, they'll be playing on Tuesday night up there in Ruston.
Let's hear from head coach Sonny Cumbie.
Yeah, that's what we want to defend the Joe.
I mean, we we want to be undefeated at home.
We feel like that.
You know, our guys have played with a lot of confidence, a lot of speed here.
And, you know, it'd be it would be big.
You know, the biggest thing too is you get another conference win.
And this is a game where both teams are, you know, fighting for, you know, to stay at the top of the conference.
And so when you have a game, a conference game at home, you know, it's really important to be able to defend your home turf.
And, you know, and to play an exciting brand of football and to play winning football in front of your home crowd, in your home fans is a big deal.
Well, Scott, if you're going to get bounced back from a loss, do it at home, which is what they want to do in this quirky schedule.
Tuesday night action up there in Ruston.
Yeah, they need to find a way to get that energy back into the defense.
After losing Colby Fields for the no.
Takeaways and four yards for the first time against Kennesaw State, see if that defense can bounce back.
And it's the number two offense in the conference against the number one defense.
So it should be a great matchup Tuesday night.
And of course we'll recap for when we see you next weekend.
For more game news get ready for another great weekend of action, but have some fun wrapping up this one for Scott Shanahan.
Victor Howell, thanks so much for joining us here on Game Notes on LPB.
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