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CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. –  Eastern Illinois climbed to within six points in the fourth quarter only to see Zion Curtis rip off a 97-yard touchdown return to give the No. 23 ranked Southeast Missouri Redhawks some breathing room in a 38-32 win over the Panthers.

EIU ends the season at 3-8 overall, 3-5 in the OVC.  SEMO improved to 8-3 overall, 6-2 in the OVC as they will await word on a potential at-large berth into the 2018 FCS playoffs on Sunday.

Trailing 30-17 with 10:14 to play in the game after a third Kendrick Tiller field goal of the game, Eastern Illinois would cut the lead down to six points with 6:52 to play.  Alexander Hollins caught his second touchdown pass of the game and 16th of the season to make it 30-24 with 6:52 to play.

On the next kickoff, Zion Curtis found the seam and raced 97-yards for what proved to be the insurance touchdown.  SEMO would convert the two-point conversion to make it 38-24.  Curtis was an all-purpose performer on the day finishing with 180 kick return yards and 77 yards rushing.

EIU had two more drives in the red zone after the Curtis touchdown with SEMO stopping the Panthers on one drive inside five minutes.  Aaron Gooch then caught a short touchdown pass with 34 seconds remaining with Hollins catching the two-point conversion to make it a six point game.  SEMO recovered the onside kick attempt to end the game.

Eastern Illinois opened the game with a long touchdown pass from Johnathan Brantley to Hollins covering 72 yards.  Hollins would finish his final EIU game with five catches for 99 yards.  Brantley was 18-of-28 for 179 yards passing.  Harry Woodbery was 15-of-27 for 130 yards and two touchdown passes. 

After EIU's touchdown, SEMO responded with a big kickoff return. The Panthers defense was able to hold the Redhawks to a 34-yard field goal by Tiller giving the Panthers a 7-3 lead with 9:43 to play.

On the next EIU drive, Shabari Davis picked off a Brantley pass at midfield.  SEMO would eventually convert that turnover into an 11-yard touchdown run by Marquis Terry putting the Redhawks up 10-7 with 7:08 to play in the first quarter.  SEMO which entered the game as the FCS leader in turnovers gained finished with two turnovers gained in the contest.  Omardrick Douglas had the other interception for the SEMO defense.

The Redhawks extended the lead to 17-7 with five seconds left in the first half as Mark Robinson scored on a fourth and goal from the 1-yard line. 

SEMO pushed its lead to 20-7 to open the second half with a Tiller 28-yard field goal.   The Panthers countered with a 35-field goal by Nick Bruno with 4:23 to play in the third quarter.   Camden Meade would recover an onside kick that EIU eventually turned into an 8-yard Brantley touchdown to make it 20-17 with 1:40 left in the third.

SEMO scored the next ten points to provide the Redhawks a cushion in the game.  Daniel Santacaterina hit Kristian Wilkerson for a 4-yard pass as Santacaterina was 30-of-38 for 211 yards in the game. 

Dytarious Johnson led EIU with ten tackles.   Zach Hall was the SEMO leader with 16 tackles.

EIU had 14 seniors playing their final collegiate game on Saturday.  Gooch finished with 11 for 105 yards catches as he moved into the EIU career top ten for receptions in his final Panthers game.    Isaiah Johnson rushed for 105 yards in his final game.