CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Southeast Missouri (4-3, 2-0) scored 18 fourth-quarter points to key a 40-30 win over Western Illinois (3-4, 1-1) Saturday afternoon at Houck Field.
In a game that included three ties and seven lead changes, SEMO pulled away for good with its big fourth-quarter surge.
Khyair Spain and Tyrell Reed, Jr. each ran for a season-high 111 yards and combined for three rushing touchdowns. Spain scored both of his TDs in the fourth quarter. Spain broke free for a 27-yard touchdown run to give the game its final tie at 30-30 with 13:36 left to play. He then hit paydirt on a 2-yard run to put SEMO ahead, 37-30, with a little under six minutes to go. That score was set up by a 37-yard catch by John Anthony, Jr.
After Timothy Maxson tackled Josh Robinson for no gain on a fourth-and-1, SEMO took over on downs at the WIU 45-yard line. The Redhawks then settled for a 23-yard field goal by Justin Keller to finish off the win.
SEMO, which had just 40 rushing yards at halftime, ran for 198 in the final two quarters and ended the game with a season-high 238 rushing yards. Keller kicked his first three field goals of the contest in the first half.
After SEMO stopped WIU on fourth down, Keller made a 47-yard field goal to give the Redhawks a 3-0 edge with 12:32 remaining in the first quarter. Tied, 3-3, following a 24-yard field goal by Ronan Culkin, SEMO pulled ahead again when tight end Clayton Leonard scored his first career touchdown. Leonard was on the receiving end of a 50-yard pass from Braylen Ragland to cap a 6-play, 75-yard drive giving the Redhawks a 10-3 advantage at the 6:49 mark.
WIU answered with an 8-play, 77-yard march that ended with a 2-yard touchdown run by Kennedy McGill bringing the score to 10-10 with 2:57 to go. DJ Delmore intercepted McGill and the takeaway resulted in a 28-yard field goal by Keller to put SEMO back on top, 13-10, with 11:13 left in the second quarter. A 1-yard run by McGill regained a 17-13 lead for the Leathernecks before Keller drilled a career-long 54-yard field goal as time expired to make it a 17-16 ballgame at the intermission. That field goal tied for third-longest in program history.
Keller scored 14 of SEMO's points on a perfect 4-of-4 field goals and 2-of-2 PATs.
The Redhawks had a season-best 533 yards of total offense and had two 100-yard rushers in a game for the first time since Geno Hess had 128 yards and Andrew Bunch had 115 yards at Southern Illinois on Oct. 30, 2020.
Reed, Jr. ran the ball 16 times and averaged nearly seven yards (6.9) per carry, while Spain gained an average of 4.4 yards on 25 attempts.
Ragland threw for 194 yards and one touchdown on 16-of-28 passes.
Defensively, Nehemiah Scott paved the way with a season-best 10 tackles, the first double-digit tackle game of his career. Cyler Christmas followed close behind with nine stops and Delmore added four tackles, two interceptions and two pass breakups.
SEMO moved to 9-3 in Homecoming games under Head Coach Tom Matukewicz.
UT MARTIN 17, GARDNER-WEBB 6
MARTIN, Tenn. - The University of Tennessee at Martin football team leaned on a suffocating defensive performance and a punishing ground attack to secure a 17-6 victory over Ohio Valley Conference foe Gardner-Webb.
The Skyhawks (3-4, 2-0 OVC) returned home for their first game in 42 days and leaned on its homefield advantage and energetic Family Weekend crowd to support a gritty conference matchup. UT Martin excelled on defense by limiting the visitors from Gardner-Webb to just 168 yards of total offense – including 20 rushing yards – while tallying three interceptions and zero offensive points.
Efficiency was the name of the game for the Skyhawks on defense, limiting the Runnin’ Bulldogs to 0-for-12 on third downs while surrendering just seven first downs in the contest. Offensively, UT Martin controlled the line of scrimmage with 218 rushing yards on 53 carries while dominating time of possession by a 41:01 to 18:59 margin. The Skyhawks finished with 310 yards of total offense and 16 first downs, including 12 on the ground.
Freshman running back Jaydon Peete paced the Skyhawk rushing attack with 73 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries while freshman quarterback Tate Surber added 61 rushing yards, highlighted by a 58-yard scamper. Surber also completed 10 passes for 92 yards and a touchdown.
Through the air, senior tight end Kaleb Costner led the Skyhawks with 33 receiving yards on two catches while Kaleb Washington hauled in a 20-yard reception. Senior wide receiver Makhia Sherrard added two receptions for 18 yards, including a 13-yard touchdown grab.
Defensively, sophomore Zamaryion Farmer-McCray paced the Skyhawks with six tackles while junior linebacker Jamarcus Smith and junior defensive lineman Duston Chavis each registered five stops. Junior linebacker Malik Brown made his presence felt with four tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, a sack and three quarterback hurries.
The Skyhawk secondary also delivered several game-changing plays as Reginald Allen Jr., Jamal Mayers and Ant Fisher each recorded an interception. Allen returned his takeaway 19 yards while Mayers added two pass breakups.
Special teams also played a significant role in the contest as sophomore punter Max Zuluaga averaged 47.0 yards on seven punts, including a booming 75-yard effort. The punt ranked tied for the second-longest punt in program history – trying a 75-yard booming punt by Tyler Larco against Kennesaw State back in 2022. Sims accounted for five points with his 37-yard field goal and a pair of successful extra-point attempts.
Gardner-Webb was led offensively by quarterbacks Jared Doolittle and Lan Farmer, who combined to complete 12-of-37 passes for 148 yards and three interceptions. Kory Jones paced the receiving corps with three catches for 49 yards while linebacker Cahari Haynes registered a game-high 13 tackles.
After a scoreless opening quarter, UT Martin broke through late in the second period. Starting with favorable field position at the Gardner-Webb 43-yard line following a punt, the Skyhawks marched 43 yards on nine plays while consuming 3:25 off the clock. Surber capped the possession with a 13-yard touchdown pass to Sherrard, giving the home squad a 7-0 advantage with 1:51 remaining before halftime.
UT Martin extended its advantage midway through the third quarter following another strong defensive stand. After Gardner-Webb missed a field goal attempt, the Skyhawks put together a seven-play, 44-yard drive that culminated in a 37-yard field goal by sophomore kicker Brandon Sims with 6:50 remaining in the period.
Gardner-Webb answered immediately on the ensuing kickoff when Joshua George returned the ball 86 yards for a touchdown. The missed extra-point attempt preserved UT Martin's 10-6 lead with 6:34 remaining in the third quarter.
With the game still hanging in the balance during the fourth quarter, the Skyhawk defense rose to the occasion once again. Following a UT Martin interception that gave Gardner-Webb possession in Skyhawk territory, the defense forced a turnover on downs at the UT Martin 36-yard line with 7:18 remaining.
The Skyhawks wasted little time capitalizing on the momentum swing. Surber broke free for a 58-yard run to set up first-and-goal before Peete punched in a two-yard touchdown run to cap a three-play, 64-yard scoring drive. Sims converted the extra point to stretch the advantage to 17-6 with 5:55 left to play.
Gardner-Webb mounted one final threat, advancing deep into Skyhawk territory during a nine-play, 76-yard drive. However, Fisher intercepted a pass in the endzone with 2:51 remaining to extinguish the scoring opportunity and effectively seal the victory.
LINDENWOOD 20, EASTERN ILLINOIS 13
CHARLESTON, Ill. - The Lindenwood football team (2-4, 2-1 OVC) picked up a 20-13 win over Eastern Illinois (2-5, 1-2 OVC) on Saturday afternoon in Charleston, Ill.
The Lions opened the game with a defensive stop and went on a 12-play 76-yard drive on its first possession. Drew Krobath found the end zone, but it was called back on a penalty, and the Lions had to settle for three off the foot of Will Graham to take an early lead. Lindenwood outgained the Panthers 120-21 in the first and led 3-0 after one.
Eastern took the lead with an early score in the second. After a Lindenwood three-and-out, the Lions defense came up with a big play on the next possession. Caleb Jacobmeier forced a fumble on a sack that the Black and Gold recovered. However, they couldn't convert it into points and still trailed 7-3. The Lions got the ball back just before the two-minute mark and went on a 12-play 76-yard drive, capped off by a 10-yard score by Steve Hall to give Lindenwood a 10-7 lead at the break.
Lindenwood put a strong drive together to begin the third quarter but had to settle for another field goal from Graham to go up 13-7. The Lindenwood defense made another play midway through the quarter as Jacobmeier picked off a pass setting up the Lions in EIU territory. The Panthers defense held firm, however, and kept the Lions off the board. On the ensuing possession, Eastern found the end zone, but the extra point was blocked to keep the game tied headed to the fourth.
The Lions regained the lead early in the fourth as Pops Battle found the end zone for his fifth rushing touchdown of the season to put Lindenwood up 20-13 with 11 minutes to play. Each defense held firm from there, but EIU had one more opportunity to tie the game, getting the ball back with 3:12 to play. The Panthers made their way into Lindenwood territory, but the Lions didn't break. Brayon Crawford broke up a pass on furth down in the red zone and the Lions earned a tough 20-13 win in Charleston.
TENNESSEE STATE 25, #24 MORGAN STATE 16
NASHVILLE - Tennessee State held Morgan State scoreless in the fourth quarter and secured a 25-16 victory Saturday night at Nissan Stadium.
The Tigers improved to 2-5, while the Bears fell to 5-2.
Daylin Lee completed 17 of 34 passes for 220 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. He also led Tennessee State on the ground with 63 yards on 14 carries.
Jaden Jones completed his only pass for a 50-yard touchdown to Cam Bulluck on Tennessee State's opening possession. The play helped the Tigers finish with 270 passing yards and three touchdowns through the air.
Bulluck caught six passes for 105 yards and a touchdown. Brock Montgomery added two receptions for 53 yards and a score, while Francisco Pratts III caught the go-ahead touchdown late in the third quarter.
Rymen Mosley intercepted two passes in the first quarter and returned them for 28 yards. The Tigers turned the first takeaway into a field goal and finished with a 2-0 advantage in turnovers.
Brendan Hale led Tennessee State with eight tackles. Epoki Fakaosi recorded five tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss, while Jaylon Price and Brandon Collins each registered a sack. Joshua Green and DeShawn Carter combined for Tennessee State's third sack.
The Tigers limited Morgan State to 301 total yards, 14 first downs and two conversions on 11 third-down attempts. Tennessee State finished with 360 yards and controlled the ball for 33:28.
Tennessee State scored on its opening possession when Jones connected with Bulluck for a 50-yard touchdown, completing a four-play, 81-yard drive.
Mosley intercepted Morgan State quarterback Cameron Edge on the Bears' ensuing possession. The Tigers followed with a 13-play, 60-yard drive that ended with a 25-yard field goal by Preston Hurless, extending the lead to 9-0.
Mosley collected his second interception at the Tennessee State 6-yard line late in the first quarter, stopping another Morgan State scoring threat.
The Bears answered with 10 consecutive points in the second quarter, taking a 10-9 lead on a 28-yard touchdown run by Keith Jenkins Jr. and a 22-yard field goal by Gavin Fetty.
Tennessee State regained the lead before halftime. Lee directed a six-play, 84-yard drive and found Montgomery for a 19-yard touchdown with 22 seconds remaining, sending the Tigers into halftime with a 15-10 advantage.
Morgan State moved back in front, 16-15, on Edge's 30-yard touchdown pass to Joseph Towler with 11:18 remaining in the third quarter.
The Tigers responded with an 18-play, 65-yard drive that consumed 7:31. Hurless completed the possession with a 27-yard field goal to give Tennessee State an 18-16 lead.
Tennessee State added to its advantage on its next possession. After a Morgan State penalty extended the drive, Lee connected with Pratts for an 11-yard touchdown on fourth-and-2. Hurless added the extra point to make it 25-16 with 13 seconds left in the third quarter.
The Tennessee State defense protected the lead by forcing turnovers on downs on Morgan State's final two possessions. The Tigers held the Bears to 51 yards and no points in the fourth quarter.
The victory also marked the 100th regular-season win of Reggie Barlow's head coaching career. Barlow has earned 87 victories at the college level, including 49 at Alabama State, 34 at Virginia State and four at Tennessee State. He also recorded 13 regular-season victories during two seasons with the DC Defenders in the XFL and UFL.
CLEMSON 37, CHARLESTON SOUTHERN 0
CLEMSON, S.C. - Clemson defended their home field coming off a bye week with a 37-0 victory over Charleston Southern on Saturday afternoon. The game marked the end of the nonconference schedule for the Buccaneers as they will end the regular season with five consecutive conference contests.
The Tigers were able to score on each of their first five possessions of the game using two field goals, three offensive touchdowns and a special teams touchdown to jump out to a 34-0 lead heading into halftime.
Charleston Southern's offense was able to have two of their first three drives go into Clemson territory and set up field goal attempts. The Bucs missed on a 50 yard attempt and dropped a hold later in the first half on an attempt that was from 35 yards out.
In the second half, the Bucs limited the Tigers to just three points. Additionally, the Charleston Southern defense came up with a pair of interceptions to stall drives from the hosts.
Jared Echols finished the day 7-12 for 50 yards through the air. Hakeem Watters added 46 yards on the ground including a long of 18. Maxwell Warren led the team in receiving with five catches for 38 yards.
Taivon Snipe led the team in tackles with 10 for a career-high. Steve Zayachkowsky and Avery Dixon each had seven while Champ Brantley added six on the day. Mylan Bowen and Kason Hooks each had an interception during the afternoon with Bowen catching his with one hand and returning it for 45 yards while Hooks' came in the endzone for a touchback. Shaun Hamilton had a forced fumble in the game as well.