CHARLESTON, S.C. - Chance Wilson threw for 202 yards and two touchdowns and Southeast Missouri (7-4, 5-1) forced four turnovers in a 43-17 win over Charleston Southern (4-7, 1-5) Saturday afternoon at Buccaneer Field.
SEMO earned its fourth-consecutive road win and finished its regular-season road slate with a 5-2 record. That matches the Redhawks best road record under Head Coach Tom Matukewicz.
The Redhawks also secured their seventh victory guaranteeing Matukewicz his fifth winning season with seven or more wins.
SEMO's season-high 43 points are the Redhawks most in an Ohio Valley Conference road game since beating Lindenwood, 49-28, on Oct. 1, 2022.
On the second play of the game, Hakeem Watters ripped off a 55-yard touchdown run to put CSU ahead, 7-0, just 40 seconds into the contest.
David Jones stripped the ball from Kindell Quay and Jalen Wheeler recovered for the Redhawks at the CSU 31-yard line.
Chance Wilson completed an 18-yard pass to John Anthony, Jr. to get SEMO to the Buccaneer 7-yard line before Khyair Spain punched it in on a 1-yard run four plays later to tie the game at 7-7 with 7:05 remaining in the first quarter.
After Justin Keller made a 45-yard field goal to give the Redhawks their first lead at 10-7, Jared Echols was sacked for a loss of 15 yards by Ayize Martin. Echols fumbled on the play and Robert Clark recovered in CSU's end zone for a safety with 13:54 to go in the second quarter.
Matt Rolader kicked a 43-yard field goal to narrow SEMO's lead to 12-10 at the 4:35 mark before Wilson hit Khylen Harris-Norman in stride on a 71-yard touchdown pass to put the Redhawks up, 19-10, at the half.
SEMO scored 17 third-quarter points to blow the game open.
A wide-open Anthony Westervelt caught a pass from Wilson and dashed 56 yards to the end zone completing a 6-play, 83-yard drive in 3:20.
Spain then scored his second touchdown on a 2-yard plunge to stretch SEMO's lead to 33-10 with 4:18 left.
The Redhawks tacked on three more points with a 33-yard field goal by Keller to make it a 36-10 game.
A pick six by Nehemiah Scott put the finishing touches on SEMO's win late in the fourth quarter. Scott returned his interception nine yards for a touchdown. For the Redhawks, it was their third pick six of the season.
Wilson completed 12-of-19 passes in his second career start at quarterback. He ran for 49 yards on 11 carries, as well.
Brandon Brigham gained a team-high 50 rushing yards on six attempts for an average of 8.3 per touch.
As a team, SEMO ran for 182 yards and had 384 yards of total offense.
Defensively, the Redhawks recovered three fumbles and had an interception.
Robert Dover paved the way with a career-high seven tackles, two forced fumbles, 2.5 tackles for loss and two sacks. SEMO had four sacks for the game.
WESTERN ILLINOIS 45, GARDNER-WEBB 7
MACOMB, Ill. - Western Illinois football put together a dominant performance Saturday afternoon, rolling past Gardner-Webb 45-7 at Hanson Field.
The Leathernecks scored 21 points in the opening quarter and carried that momentum throughout the afternoon, limiting the Runnin' Bulldogs to just seven points. Western Illinois finished with 445 yards of total offense while holding Gardner-Webb to 193 yards.
Kennedy McGill led the Leatherneck offense, accounting for 317 yards of total offense. McGill completed 12-of-17 passes for 215 yards and four touchdowns while adding 102 yards on the ground on 21 carries.
Christian Anaya led Western Illinois through the air with five receptions for 162 yards, including an 89-yard touchdown reception. Israel Hiraldo added four catches for 29 yards and two touchdowns, while Aric Johnson finished with two receptions for 79 yards and a touchdown.
Western Illinois opened the scoring with an eight-yard touchdown pass from McGill to Hiraldo. Ihson Jackson-Anderson added a four-yard rushing touchdown before McGill connected with Anaya for an 89-yard score to give the Leathernecks a 21-0 first-quarter lead.
Ronan Culkin added a 36-yard field goal in the second quarter, sending Western Illinois into halftime with a 24-0 advantage. Hiraldo caught his second touchdown of the afternoon late in the third quarter, and McGill connected with Johnson for a 20-yard score early in the fourth. Josh Robinson capped the scoring with a one-yard touchdown run.
The Leatherneck defense played a major role in the victory, forcing five turnovers, including three interceptions and two fumble recoveries. Western Illinois turned those takeaways into 24 points.
DonPaul Keith and Jouvenson Romulus each contributed to the defensive effort, with Keith recording an interception and Romulus adding two. Justin Buckner finished with 11 tackles, two sacks, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery, while Nick Reinicke led the team with 13 tackles.
The win moves Western Illinois to 7-4 overall and 5-1 in conference play.
UT MARTIN 38, LINDENWOOD 31
MARTIN, Tenn. - The University of Tennessee at Martin football team capped off its 2026 home schedule in dramatic fashion on Saturday afternoon, rallying from a 14-point deficit before scoring the game-winning touchdown in the final minutes to defeat Lindenwood, 38-31, at Hardy M. Graham Stadium.
The victory highlighted a memorable Senior Day and Military Appreciation Game while marking another historic milestone for longtime head coach Jason Simpson. With the victory, Simpson earned his 103rd career Ohio Valley Conference victory, moving into sole possession of second place on the league's all-time conference wins list.
The Skyhawks (5-6, 4-2 OVC) overcame an early 14-0 deficit and trailed by as much as two touchdowns on two occasions before outscoring the Lions 21-10 in the second half. The comeback marked the largest for the Skyhawks since overcoming an 18-point deficit back in 2024. UT Martin's offense produced 474 total yards – marking the highest total putout since Week 1 against Chicago State – including 261 yards on the ground and controlling possession for more than 38 minutes.
With the victory, UT Martin still remains in the hunt for the OVC regular season championship and playoff berth. With a win in the regular season finale against Southeast Missouri and a Lindenwood win over Western Illinois, the Skyhawks will claim a share of the OVC championship and earn the league's automatic bid to the playoffs.
UT Martin received a balanced offensive performance as two Skyhawk running backs eclipsed the century mark for the first time this season. Junior Chris Franklin rushed for 104 yards on 18 carries while freshman Jaydon Peete matched that total with 104 yards and a touchdown on 14 attempts. Senior wide receiver Makhia Sherrard also celebrated Senior Day with a big afternoon, totaling 120 all-purpose offensive yards with six receptions for 82 yards and three carries for 38 yards, including the game-winning touchdown.
Freshman quarterback Tate Surber completed 19-of-28 passes for 213 yards and a touchdown while adding a rushing score. Senior wide receiver Phaizon Wilson hauled in a touchdown reception, while tight end Connie Hewitt II had timely catches – including a critical third-down reception and a two-point conversion off a tip-play.
Defensively, hometown safety Quincy Hamilton paced the Skyhawks with a game-high 12 tackles, including nine solo stops. Joel Castleberry and Brylan Jordan added five tackles apiece, while Tyson Hornbuckle forced a fumble that Castleberry recovered to seal the victory. Meanwhile in the secondary, Wendell Smith contributed three pass breakups in a stingy defensive second half.
On special teams, reining OVC Special Teams Player of the Week Brandon Sims had a big day for the second straight contest. With the Skyhawks trailing by two touchdowns, Sims capped off three of the next four scoring drives for the Skyhawks with a field goal. He matched his previous career-long with a 43-yard field goal in the second quarter before adding a pair of field goal attempts in the third quarter. He split the uprights with a 33-yard field goal with 10:21 to play in the third quarter before setting a new career-long nearly seven minutes later by booting a 44-yard field goal to give the Skyhawk their first lead of the game at 23-20.
Entering the game tied for first place in the OVC standings, Lindenwood (5-5, 4-2 OVC) jumped out an early 14-0 advantage behind quarterback Pops Battle who was responsible for all four touchdowns for the visiting Lions. Battle finished the day by completing 20-of-37 pass attempts for 288 yards and three passing touchdowns while adding another rushing touchdown to his stat line. Wide receiver Jalen Smith was his primary target, finishing with seven receptions for 106 yards and three scores.
Defensively, the Lions were led by Jacob Waller who tallied a team-high nine tackles while recording a pair of tackles for loss. Caleb Jacobmeier added eight tackles while both Zach Lewis and Andrew Baumgart recorded TFLs in the loss. Place kicker Will Graham also jumped in the scoring column with a 31-yard field goal.
TENNESSEE STATE 13, EASTERN ILLINOIS 12
NASHVILLE - — Daylin Lee connected with Brenton Paul for an 8-yard touchdown with 2:21 remaining, completing a nine-play, 75-yard drive, and Tennessee State held on for a 13-12 victory over Eastern Illinois on Saturday afternoon at Nissan Stadium.
The Tigers improved to 3-8 overall and 1-5 in conference play, while the Panthers fell to 3-8 and 2-4.
Lee completed 20 of 34 passes for 211 yards and one touchdown without an interception. He also rushed for 27 yards and scored Tennessee State's first touchdown on a 3-yard run.
Paul led the Tigers with 41 rushing yards on eight carries. He added three receptions for 26 yards, including the winning touchdown, and finished with 67 yards from scrimmage.
Jerimiah Treadaway added 35 rushing yards and 26 receiving yards. Brock Montgomery led the receiving corps with five catches for 61 yards, while Cam Bulluck caught four passes for 47 yards.
Tennessee State's defense limited Eastern Illinois to 190 total yards, including 101 passing and 89 rushing. The Tigers recorded six sacks, 10 tackles for loss and two takeaways.
Brendan Hale led Tennessee State with eight tackles and one tackle for loss. DeShawn Carter recorded three tackles, two tackles for loss, two sacks and a forced fumble.
Bryce Gray finished with four tackles, one sack, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. Sammy Taylor, Jaylon Price and Xavier Byars also recorded sacks.
Rymen Mosley intercepted Eastern Illinois quarterback Cole LaCrue with 1:46 remaining to stop the Panthers' final possession.
Eastern Illinois opened the scoring with 11:54 remaining in the second quarter when LaCrue connected with Jeremy Reeves for a 40-yard touchdown, completing a five-play, 75-yard drive.
Tennessee State moved inside the Eastern Illinois 10 later in the quarter, but a 24-yard field-goal attempt was unsuccessful. The Panthers carried a 7-0 lead into halftime.
The Tigers' defense created the first scoring opportunity of the second half. Carter sacked LaCrue for a 10-yard loss and forced a fumble, which Gray recovered at the Eastern Illinois 20.
Tennessee State converted the takeaway into seven points. Lee completed a fourth-and-1 conversion before scoring on a 3-yard run with 6:36 remaining in the third quarter. Britton Watts added the extra point to tie the game at 7.
Eastern Illinois regained the lead on a 37-yard field goal by Drew Schiller with 7:42 left in the fourth quarter.
Tennessee State answered with the decisive drive. After consecutive sacks left the Tigers facing third-and-22 from their 34, Lee completed an 11-yard pass to Anthony Taylor. On fourth-and-11, Lee found Dylan Rodd for 21 yards and a first down at the Eastern Illinois 34.
Paul followed with a 17-yard run, and a face-mask penalty moved the ball to the 9. Two plays later, Lee connected with Paul for the 8-yard touchdown that gave Tennessee State a 13-10 lead.
Eastern Illinois blocked the extra-point attempt, and Jerry Addo-Boateng returned it 63 yards for two points, cutting Tennessee State's lead to 13-12.
The Panthers began their final possession at their 10-yard line. Gray opened the series with a sack before Mosley intercepted LaCrue on the fourth play of the drive.
Paul gained 14 yards on Tennessee State's next play, allowing the Tigers to close out the victory.