With the start of football season around the corner, here is the second of a 12-part series of previews on Louisiana Tech’s opponents for the upcoming season. Tech will host the Lions in its home opener on Saturday, Sept. 11 at 6 p.m. at Joe Aillet Stadium in a game that will be on ESPN3.
Spring 2021 Record: 4-3 (4-2 in Southland Conference)
Postseason: None
Head Coach: Frank Scelfo (4th season)
All-time Series: LA Tech leads 28-7-2
Last Meeting: LA Tech 41, Southeastern LA 26 (2008)
Tech Connections:
Coach Frank Scelfo (Head Coach) – The current Southeastern Louisiana head coach has Louisiana Tech ties, serving as the Bulldogs OC and Quarterbacks coach from 2007 through 2009 during Derek Dooley’s tenure in Ruston. Scelfo was named interim head coach for Tech following Dooley’s departure to Tennessee before the University named Sonny Dykes as its next head coach prior to the 2010 season.
Coach Ross Jenkins (Special Teams Coordinator) – Ross Jenkins lettered for the Bulldogs from 2007 through 2010 as served as the Bulldogs starting quarterback during his final three seasons. Jenkins helped lead Tech to the 2008 Independence Bowl win over Northern Illinois. He still ranks No. 9 in career passing TDs with 36 and No. 10 in career yardage with 5,036.
Coach Antonio Baker (Safeties) – Another former Bulldog coaches the Lions safeties as hard-hitting Antonio Baker now makes Hammond home. Like Jenkins, Baker played for Tech from 2006 through 2009 where he started 40 games in the defensive backfield and recorded 352 tackles (9th most in Tech history), including back-to-back seasons of 100-plus.
SLU Outlook: The Lions averaged almost 40 points a game during their seven-game 2020 schedule and should boast one of the most potent offenses in the FCS in 2021 with the return of quarterback Cole Kelley. Voted the Walter Payton Trophy as the top FCS player in the country this spring, the Southland Conference and Louisiana Sports Writers Association State Offensive Player of the Year averaged 380 yards through the air for the Lions while also earning first team All-American honors. The former Arkansas Razorback will lead a Southeastern Louisiana team that has already been picked in a number of Top 25 preseason polls. Defensively, Southeastern Louisiana allowed almost as many points as it scored as opponents averaged almost 37 points a game. In its three losses to Sam Houston, Incarnate Word and Southern Illinois, Southeastern Louisiana surrendered over 51 points a game. Senior LB Alexis Ramos does return this year, after leading the team with 80 tackles in seven games. The Lions shouldn’t be taken lightly as the roster is full of FBS transfers (20 players began their career on the highest level in college football).
Season Tickets: LA Tech fans can purchase season tickets for the 2021 year by calling 318-257-3631 or going to LATechSports.com/tickets. The Bulldogs host six home games this year, including a marquee non-conference match-up against SMU.
Up Next: SMU
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