SEGUIN, Texas -- The Texas Lutheran Bulldogs, ranked 25th in the AFCA Coaches' Poll, moved to 7-0 overall in 2013 and extended their win streak to eight games with a 37-27 home victory Saturday over Louisiana College.

In Seguin's Matador Stadium, the Bulldogs (7-0) intercepted LC quarterback Easton Melancon three times and turned two of the interceptions into touchdown drives.

The victory keeps TLU's hopes for an NCAA Division III playoff berth alive. The Bulldogs, champions of the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference, do not have an automatic berth to the DIII playoffs. TLU must keep winning to make the best possible case for an at-large bid.

In addition to the three interceptions, the Bulldogs' defense stopped LC three times (twice in the second half) on fourth down.

TLU held LC senior running back Ryan Montague, the second-leading rusher in the American Southwest Conference, to 79 yards on 16 carries. Montague entered the game averaging 105.6 on the ground.

LC, an NCAA Division III playoff team a year ago, dropped to 5-3 with the non-conference loss.

"Louisiana College certainly is talented," said TLU Head Coach Danny Padron. "They're good on defense, good on offense. It was scary, but I think our guys just played well. They really played well in all phases of the game, and that's how you're going to beat a good team like this. It was scary at the end, and my stomach was doing flip-flops, but our guys made some plays and turnovers to win."

LC's final drive of the game, with TLU leading by 10 with just under two minutes to play, ended in a Ty Johnson (Orange/Orangefield) interception of Melancon. LC scored on back-to-back possessions in the fourth to climb within 10 after trailing 34-13 with 7:39 to play in the game.

"Gang tackling was the key," said Padron. "Our defensive line is playing well. Our linebackers are playing well, and we're getting support in the secondary by making plays. We tried to make them throw the ball and get to their freshman quarterback."

TLU kept its double-digit lead intact in the fourth with a 13-point quarter that included a seven-yard TD pass from Trenton White (Sachse/Sachse) to Cameron Peavy (Houston/St. Pius X) and a pair of Tyler Brandenburg field goals (of 29 and 25 yards).

Brandenburg made a career-high three field goals, all in the second half. He added a 26-yard field goal in the third quarter.

TLU led 21-7 at the half.

TLU received a first quarter TD run from quarterback Brent Peavy (Houston/St. Pius) and a second quarter TD pass from Peavy to Lewis Williams II (Houston/Klein Forest). Peavy's run went for four yards, and his pass to Williams covered 10 yards.  Williams caught nine passes for 66 yards.

Peavy left the game in the second quarter due to injury; and for the second straight week, back-up quarterback Trenton White took control of the Bulldog offense, produced points and did not commit a turnover.

With White at QB, TLU scored late in the first half after a 36-yard interception return by Chantz Singletary (Houston/Westfield) took TLU down to the LC 6-yard line. Singletary, a freshman cornerback, broke up seven passes, had the interception and recorded five tackles (all solo).

The TLU defense set a season-high with 12 pass break-ups.

"We just wanted to stay over the top of their routes," said Singletary. "They had a lot of switches, screens and tunnels, so we just had to be patient and make a play on the ball in the air. In the ground game, we just tried to make sure to wrap up and tackle."

The Singletary interception and return gave TLU the ball on the six with 18 seconds to play in the first half. But one play and four seconds after the turnover, White found Cameron Peavy (Houston/St. Pius X) for a 6-yard score.

White completed 16-of-25 passes for 138 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. He also rushed three times for 20 yards.

"Trent doesn't realize what goes on out there," said Padron. "People are flying by him, and he's 'Mr. Cool.' He's like a riverboat gambler. You put the ball in his hands, and things are going to happen."

White's second TD pass to Cameron Peavy, covering seven yards, capped a six-play, 75-yard drive for the Bulldogs in the fourth quarter. The score gave TLU the 34-13 lead. Peavy caught 10 passes for 106 yards and two touchdowns.

The Bulldogs also received a big boost from senior running back Dominique Hardaway (Lockhart/Lockhart), who collected season-highs for carries (16) and rushing yards (108).

As a team, TLU rushed 46 times for 208 yards and threw for 232 yards on 44 attempts. The Bulldogs were 10-of-20 on third-down conversions.

TLU intercepted Melancon twice in the first half and held him to nine completions in 21 attempts. The Bulldogs also held Montague to 19 first-half yards on seven carries.

The Bulldogs held the ball for just over 35 minutes against the Wildcats.

TLU hits the road next week for Saturday's 1 p.m. kickoff against Hardin-Simmons. The Bulldogs meet the Cowboys at 1 p.m. at Shelton Stadium, located on the HSU campus. TLU will have live video and live stats from tlubulldogs.com. Seguin radio station KWED 1580 AM will have the audio call on the air and an audio-only webcast on seguintoday.com.

Hardin-Simmons gave TLU its last loss. The Cowboys defeated TLU 65-58 in double-overtime last season in Seguin. HSU is 3-5 entering the non-conference contest after Saturday's 42-38 road loss to Sul Ross State. The loss snapped HSU's 21-year run of consecutive winning seasons.

Since the rivalry with Hardin-Simmons began in 1998, TLU has never won in Abilene against the Cowboys.