Pineville, LA – Using a fourth quarter surge and a shutdown defense that limited Louisiana College to only one touchdown on the night, SAGU opened the 2021 football season with a thrilling 20-13 victory over the Wildcats Saturday night at Wildcat Field in Pineville, Louisiana.
 
The SAGU defense held the Wildcats to 105 passing yards - just eight completions on the night - and forced a trio of fumbles, one interception, and 47 yards lost while holding Louisiana College out of the end zone for three quarters.
 
Jalean Brown led a stout SAGU defense with a big night that included eight total tackles, four of which were solo, three stops for losses, and one and half sacks. Damaris Herron and Zach Nelson each added seven tackles, while Josiah Johnson recorded a forced fumble, and Isaac Gowdy recorded an interception.
 
SAGU relied on a balanced offensive attack and its smothering defense to come out with the 20-13 victory. The Lions racked up 205 yards in the air led by Jordan Barlow, the Sooner Athletic Conference Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, who threw three touchdowns on the night including a 44-yard touchdown in the second quarter to Jamal Long. Long ended the night with two receptions, 67 yards, and two touchdowns, while Zackariah Johnson added five receptions for 81 yards. Keaton Dudik led the Lions on the ground recording 97 yards in just twenty attempts. Dudik averaged 4.9 yards per attempt establishing a strong front with only three yards lost.
 
The fourth quarter saw a thrilling ending as the Wildcats took the lead with 11:32 left to play, but the Lions immediately answered as Barlow found Long in the endzone for their second touchdown connection of the night. Following three fourth quarter stops and only 00:45 seconds left to play, the Lions put the game away with a three play, 24-yard drive resulting in a touchdown from Jordan Barlow who found Zachary Johnson in the endzone with only 00:05 seconds remaining on the clock. The Lions third touchdown of the night would prove to be enough as they took the 20-13 victory on the road over Louisiana College to open the 2021 season.
 
Highlights:

• Jordan Barlow went 14 for 29 with 205 yards and 3 touchdowns
• Keaton Dudik ran for 97 yards on 20 carries
• Jamal Long had 2 receptions, 2 touchdowns, and 67 yards
• Zackariah Johnson added 5 receptions and 81 yards
• Jalean Brown recorded 8 total tackles and 1.5 sacks
• Damaris Herron and Zach Nelson both recorded 7 total tackles
• Isaac Gowdy had 1 interception
• Josiah Johnson had 1 forced fumble

 
Up Next:
SAGU hosts its 2021 home opener next Saturday (Sept. 11) with an 11:00 a.m. kickoff against Ottawa University Arizona at Lumpkins Stadium in Waxahachie.
 

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