HUNTSVILLE, Texas (AP) Eric Schmid threw for 428 yards and a pair of second-half touchdown passes to lead Sam Houston State to a 43-38 victory over Southeastern Louisiana on Saturday night in the season opener for both teams.

Schmid threw a 78-yard touchdown pass to Ife Adeyi with 4:15 left in the third quarter. The Bearkats used an off-balance formation to help Schmid connect on a 30-yard scoring throw to CJ Turner to stretch the Bearkats' lead to 40-31 early in the fourth.

Ramon Jefferson had 139 yards rushing, including a 59-yard touchdown, for Sam Houston State. Noah Smith had a 4-yard TD run, and Adeyi ran for a 6-yard score.

Schmid completed 25 of 40 passes and had 88 yards rushing. Chandler Harvin caught seven passes for 118 yards for Sam Houston State, which has won four straight against Southeastern Louisiana.

Cole Kelley was 36-of-53 passing for 462 yards and threw four touchdown passes for the Lions. CJ Turner had 11 receptions for 150 yards and two touchdowns. Austin Mitchell had 142 yards receiving on 10 catches that included a touchdown.

Kelley threw a 10-yard TD pass to Turner to pull the Lions to 40-38 with 8:21 to play. On their final series, Kelley led a six-play drive to the Bearkats 22, but they couldn't convert on fourth-and-2.

Sam Houston State had 672 total yards while Southeastern Louisiana had 536.

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