The race for the 2009 Southland Conference championship became significantly more wide open after last Saturday. With three weeks to play in the regular season, four teams are tied for first place and two others are lurking just one game back. McNeese State, Stephen F. Austin, Southeastern Louisiana and Texas State are each 3-1. This week none of those first-place teams meet on the gridiron.

This week's matchups are highlighted by Texas State at No. 19/20 Central Arkansas game, which is the Toyota Game of the Week on the Southland Conference Television Network. The Bobcats were the Southland Conference champion last season though it was the Bears who finished with the best overall and league records. Central Arkansas was ineligble for the championship and cannot be the Southland's automatic qualifier into the NCAA playoffs during its transition from Division II. That will change next year when Central Arkansas is expected to become a full Division I member. Last year, Central Arkansas finished 10-2 overall and 6-1 in conference play while Texas State was 8-5 overall and 5-2. This year, Texas State and Central Arkansas enter their meeting with identical 5-3 records though the Bobcats are 3-1 and tied for first in the standings. The Bears sits just one game back at 2-2 in league play.

Other games Saturday pit Southeastern Louisiana at Northwestern State at 2 p.m., Nicholls at No. 18/15 Stephen F. Austin at 6 p.m. and Sam Houston State at No. 11/12 McNeese State at 7 p.m.

Looking Back to Last Week
When the day began, four teams were chasing Stephen F. Austin which was the last unbeaten in conference play. Now at the end of another Saturday, four teams sit atop the conference with one loss, including those Lumberjacks, which stumbled at Texas State, the 2008 conference champion. The Bobcats are right there with their 28-7 victory as are McNeese State, which handled Nicholls 38-17, and Southeastern Louisiana, which upended Central Arkansas, 26-21. In the other league game, Sam Houston State beat Northwestern State, 34-30.

Toyota Game of the Week on Southland TV
The Texas State at Central Arkansas game will be the Toyota Game of the Week on the Southland Conference Television Network. The telecast begins at 6 p.m. with kickoff scheduled for 6:05 p.m. This will be the eighth broadcast this season on the network, which is in its second year. Southland TV will broadcast 11 games this season, two more than it did a season ago. Doug Anderson will provide play-by-play and LaDarrin McLane will be the color analyst for the telecast. Joe Gumm will be the sideline reporter this week. For more information about Southland TV, including a list of affiliates, please visit the conference Web site at Southland.org.

In the National Rankings
Despite losses by two Southland Conference teams in the top 25, the league still has three ranked teams. McNeese State is once again the conference top-ranked team in both polls. The Cowboys remained No. 11 in the coaches' poll and moved up one spot to 12th in the Sports Network poll after its 38-17 victory at Nicholls last Saturday. Stephen F. Austin, which lost its first conference game last Saturday at Texas State, dropped from 15th in the coaches' poll to 18th and from 11th in the Sports Network poll to 15th. Central Arkansas, which lost its second league game with a 25-21 setback at Southeastern Louisiana, fell from 12th in the coaches' poll to 19th and from 15th in the Sports Network poll to 20th.

With their upset victories last Saturday, Southeastern Louisiana and Texas State received votes in both polls this week.

A Look at This Weekend's Series...
Southeastern La. vs. Northwestern State: Northwestern leads 27-25, but dropped a 26-24 decision last year at Southeastern. The Demons lead 17-10 at home and have won seven consecutive victories in Natchitoches, La. The last Lion road victory in the series was in 1976, though Southeastern did not field a team between 1986 and 2002. 

Texas State vs. Central Arkansas: Central Arkansas leads 2-0. The Bears won 31-24 last year in San Marcos, Texas, after a 63-21 victory in Conway, Ark. in 2007.

Nicholls at Stephen F. Austin: Stephen F. Austin leads 18-7 after a 50-39 win last year in Thibodaux, La. Nicholls won its last visit to Nacogdoches, Texas, claiming a 17-16 decision in 2007. SFA won in both 2005 and 2006, needing overtime in 2005 for its last home win in the series.

Sam Houston State at McNeese State: The Cowboys lead the all-time series with Sam Houston State 22-7-1, including a record of 11-3 at home. McNeese State has won four in a row in the series, including a 28-17 win in Huntsville, Texas, last season. The Bearkats have a four-game losing streak in Lake Charles, La. with the last win coming in 1999.

Players of the Week
Texas State quarterback Bradley George and linebacker Joe Bell were named the Southland Conference offensive and defensive players of the week, respectively, after guiding the Bobcats to a 28-7 victory over first-place Stephen F. Austin, the league office announced Monday. Central Arkansas kicker Eddie Carmona was named the conference's special teams player of the week after kicking four field goals at Southeastern Louisiana.

Other Notable Players...

• Nicholls fullback Marlin Meeks turned in career highs in carries (25) and yards (143) and scored a touchdown in the loss at McNeese State last Saturday. His longest run was 36 yards and he suffered only one negative-yardage play.
• Sam Houston State quarterback Blake Joseph produced 403 total yards in the victory over Northwestern State on Saturday. He had a 65-yard touchdown run in the second quarter and threw touchdown passes of 13 and 39 yards. His 39-yard connection with wide receiver Jason Madkins with 5:37 to play was the game winner.
• Southeastern Louisiana reserve quarterback Tyler Beatty made his first collegiate start in place of an injured Brian Babin and led the Lions to an upset of Central Arkansas. He completed 23-of-35 passes for 297 yards and three touchdowns without an interception.
• McNeese State linebacker Matt Kreamer finished the game with 10 tackles and forced a fumble which led to the Cowboys' second touchdown in a 38-17 victory at Nicholls.
• Sam Houston State linebacker Will Henry led the Bearkats with 12 tackles and helped spark a defense that came up with two big fourth-quarter turnovers in the 34-30 victory over Northwestern State.
• Southeastern Louisiana defensive back Re'Keem Wilson picked off two fourth-quarter passes including one in the end zone with 54 second left to preserve the Lions' 25-21 victory over Central Arkansas.
• McNeese State punter Beau Lasseigne averaged 40.0 yards on four punts and landed two inside the 10-yard line against Nicholls.
• Sam Houston State punter Michael Capparelli averaged 46.2 yards per punt, including a long of 54 yards in the win over Northwestern State.
• Texas State punter Ben Follis averaged 42.0 yards on five punts against Stephen F. Austin. Booted a long of 49 yards and added punts of 48 and 44 yards.

Harris, Meeks Join 100-Yard Rushing List
There have been a total of 15 players rush for 100 yards or more 22 times this season. McNeese State's Toddrick Pendland has four this season and 11 in his career. Texas State's Karrington Bush has 12 career 100-yard games, including two this season. Last Saturday, there were two 100-yard rushers, including Northwestern State quarterback Paul Harris who totaled 144 yards at Sam Houston State and Nicholls fullback Marlin Meeks, who totaled 143 yards against McNeese State.

Three Receivers Topped 100-Yards Last Week
There have been 13 players total 100 or more receiving yards a total of 21 times this season. Texas State's Da'Marcus Griggs and Southeastern Louisiana's Simmie Yarborough each have three 100-yard games. No current Southland player has more than four 100-yard games in his career. Stephen F. Austin's Duane Brooks and Nicholls' Antonio Robinson each have four career 100-yard receiving games. Southeastern Louisiana's Chris Wilson totaled 163 receiving yards last Saturday against Central Arkansas while Jason Madkins totaled 147 receiving yards last Saturday against Sam Houston State. Central Arkansas' Preston Echols also posted 121 yards at Southeastern Louisiana.

Joseph, George Throw for 300 Yards
A total of seven quarterbacks have topped 300 yards passing 14 times this season. Texas State's Bradley George and Stephen F. Austin's Jeremy Moses each have four 300-yard games this season though it's Sam Houston State signal caller Blake Joseph who has turned in the top passing game this season. He threw for 482 yards against North Dakota State on Sept. 12. Joseph threw for 332 yards last week against Northwestern and George topped 300 yards last week against Stephen F. Austin.

SFA Leads League in Eight Team Stats
Stephen F. Austin leads the league in eight of the 17 team statistical categories kept by the NCAA. The Lumberjacks lead the nation in two statistics - scoring (39.75) and passing offense (348.4). They also lead the Southland in total offense (480.6), passing efficiency (156.56), pass efficiency defense (110.44), rushing defense (91.13), total defense (304.5) and sacks (3.38).

Other Team Stat Leaders
Central Arkansas leads the Southland in four statistical categories, including scoring defense (15.4), kickoff returns (24.8), tackles for loss (8.0) and fewest sacks allowed (.62). McNeese State leads in rushing offense (203.2), turnover margin (0.75) and pass defense (172.0). Sam Houston State leads the conference in punt returns (11.95), while Nicholls is the Southland leader in net punting (38.02).

Southland Has Four of Nation's Top 12 Scoring Teams
The Southland Conference has four of the nation's top-12 scoring teams this week. Stephen F. Austin leads all Division I teams (including FCS and FBS), averaging 39.8 points per game through eight games. McNeese State is fourth, averaging 36.6 points per game, while Southeastern Louisiana is eighth with its 34.6 it is averaging. Texas State is 12th, scoring 33.4 points per game.

Southland Also Features Three Top-10 Passing Offenses in FCS
Stephen F. Austin paces the Football Championship Subdivision in passing offense, throwing for an average of 348.4 yards each game. Two other schools are in the top 10. Southeastern Louisiana is ninth with its 288.1 passing yards per game and Texas State is 10th, averaging 283.3 yards through the air. McNeese State is ranked 26th, averaging 235.3 passing yards per game and Sam Houston State is 28th, averaging 231.8 yards per game.

SFA Third Nationally in Total Offense
Despite being held to a season-low seven points in the loss at Texas State last Saturday, Stephen F. Austin is still one of the top teams in the Football Championship Subdivision in total offense. The Lumberjacks are averaging 480.6 to rank third behind Appalachian State (513.0) and Fordham (483.4).

Pendland Third in Individual Scoring
McNeese State tailback Toddrick Pendland is averaging 10.0 points per game to rank third in the Football Championship Subdivision. He trails Montana's Chase Reynolds (10.5) and Appalachian State's Armanti Edwards (10.3).

Three Southland Conference players rank in the top 11. Southeastern Louisiana receiver Simmie Yarborough ranks seventh with his 9.7 points per game, while Stephen F. Austin kicker Evan Engwall is tied for 11th with his 9.0 points per game. A total of eight Southland players are ranked among the top 50 scorers in the FCS.

Knicky is Second in Nation in Sacks
Stephen F. Austin linebacker Tim Knicky, a candidate for the Buck Buchanan Award, ranks second nationally in sacks, averaging 1.29 sacks per game. He has nine sacks in seven games, though did not register a sack in either of his first two games this season. The Lumberjacks are tied for fourth nationally in sacks as a team. They are averaging 3.38 sacks per game having recorded 27 sacks in eight games.

SFA also is tied for 12th in tackles for loss (7.79 per game), having 62 stops behind the line of scrimmage totaling 261 yards. Central Arkansas is the conference leader in tackles for loss and is averaging 8.0 per game, which would rank eighth nationally if the Bears were included in the national rankings.

Nicholls is Eighth in Net Punting
Nicholls is eighth in the nation in net punting, averaging 38.02 net yards per punt. Colonels' punter Patrick Dolan is seventh in the nation, averaging 43.05 yards per punt. In eight games, the junior had 42 punts totaling 1,808 yards. He has landed 13 inside the 20 and has 10 of more than 50 yards.

Moses Ranks Fourth in Total Offense
Stephen F. Austin quarterback Jeremy Moses ranks fourth nationally in total offense, averaging 315.1 yards per game. A total of five Southland signal callers are ranked in the top 17 nationally. Sam Houston State quarterback Blake Joseph is ranked 11th in the nation with an average of 282.7, while Texas State's Bradley George is 12th with an average of 281.0. McNeese State QB Derrick Fourroux and Southeastern Louisiana signal caller Brian Babin are ranked 14th and 17th, respectively. Fourroux is averaging 273.0 yards, while Babin is averaging 264.9.

Five QBs Among Efficiency Leaders
Five Southland quarterbacks are among the national leaders in passing efficiency. McNeese State's Derrick Fourroux is the Southland leader. The senior has a rating of 153.20 to rank 12th in the nation. Stephen F. Austin junior Jeremy Moses is 15th with his 149.80 rating and Southeastern Louisiana's Brian Babin is 17th with a rating of 148.61. Two other Southland QBs are ranked among the top 35 in the FCS. Texas State's Bradley George is 30th with a rating of 140.43 while Blake Joseph is 34th with a 138.34 rating.

SLC NOW to Stream Games for Free
All 11 football games that will be televised by the Southland Conference Television Network this season will be streamed for free on SLC NOW, the conference's live and on-demand streaming video and audio offering on its Web site, Southland.org. Fans will need to register for the site, but all content will be available for free throughout the 2009-10 academic year.