Box ScoreÂ
A series of big plays for Southeast Missouri carried the Redhawks to a 42-13 win over Eastern Illinois on Saturday in Cape Girardeau, Mo.
Eastern Illinois defense forced a turnover on the opening Southeast Missouri drive of the game but the Panthers could not capitalize on the turnover driving inside the SEMO 25 yard line. The drive ended with DJ Delmore picking off a pass at the 5-yard line and racing 95 yards for a Redhawks score.
EIU would drive inside the SEMO 25-yard four times in the opening half settling for two
Drew Schiller field goals of 38 and 32 yards. Schiller's third attempt missed to the right.
SEMO used big plays on its offensive chances to build a 35-6 halftime lead. Donnie Cheers caught long touchdown passes of 54 and 67 yards from Johnny Weber.
Weber connected with Kalvin Gilbert for two additional first half touchdowns of 44 and four yards.  Weber passed for 211 of his 283 yards in the opening half.
EIU's offense was held to 121 yards in the first half with Cooper Williman catching a 55-yard pass on the Panthers offensive play of the game.Â
Moses Alexander had an interception in the end zone to account for the third turnover gained by the Panthers to stop a SEMO drive midway through the third quarter.
Following the Panthers opening drive of the third quarter the Panthers turned over the offense to true freshman quarterback
Brady Ford for two drives.Â
Cole LaCrue scored his seventh rushing touchdown of the season with 11:20 left in the fourth quarter as the Panthers converted on their fifth trip inside the SEMO 25-yard line for the day.  LaCrue finished the day with 99 yards rushing.
SEMO had its final score with 7:34 left in the game as Brandon Epton Jr scored on a 7-yard run following the Panthers fifth turnover of the game.Â
EIU's defense was led by
Ja'Wuan Nickson with 12 tackles including 2.5 tackles for loss.
On special teams punter
Mason Miller was a standout with four punts for an average of 53.8 yards per punt. One punt was downed at the 1-yard line and another had a fumble on the return giving the ball inside the 25-yard line.
EIU falls to 3-4 on the season, 2-2 in the OVC-Big South.  SEMO improved to 3-4 overall, 2-1 in the OVC-Big South.
