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CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Matt Scheible rushed for a career-high 161 yards while accounting for five touchdowns to lead the Southeast Missouri State (1-3, 1-1 Ohio Valley) football team to a 37-30 win over Eastern Illinois (1-4, 0-3 OVC) at Houck Stadium on Saturday night.

The Redhawks' senior also completed 14-of-18 passes for 130 yards to finish with 291 yards of total offense, moving into second on Southeast's career list in the process.

Scheible connected with D.J. Foster from 19 yards out with 6:02 left in the first quarter to give the Redhawks their first lead of the season at 7-0. The scoring strike capped a 13 play, 70-yard drive that ran 5:58 off the clock.

The Panthers came right back on the following drive as Jake Walker rushed in from nine yards out to finish off a seven play, 76 yard scoring drive to tie the contest up at seven apiece.

A Cameron Berra 23-yard field goal put the Panthers ahead, 10-7, midway through the second quarter. It appeared that lead would last into halftime, but Renard Celestin burst through a hole for a 67 yard rush to the two yard line with under 30 seconds remaining, and Scheible found Marq Goodlitt in the end zone to put the Redhawks ahead 14-10 with 23 seconds remaining in the first half.

That lead lasted only one snap as Eddie Kocwa returned the ensuing kickoff 83 yards for a touchdown with only 10 seconds on the clock, giving EIU a 17-14 lead at the break.

After getting a defensive stop to open the second half, Scheible put the Redhawks ahead for good with a 71 yard touchdown run, making it 21-17 early in the third quarter. After an interception on the following drive, Drew Geldbach nailed a 20 yard field goal to make it 24-17.

The Panthers edged closer on an Eric Wright touchdown reception, but the extra point was blocked to keep the Redhawks up 24-23 midway through the third.

After getting pinned deep in its own territory, Southeast imposed its will with a 12 play, 93 yard touchdown drive that was capped by Scheible's 31 yard pass to Foster, making it a 30-23 contest entering the fourth quarter.

The Redhawks made it a two-score game with 1:55 left when Scheible scampered 18 yards to pay dirt to put the game away at 37-23.

EIU drove the field quickly to claw back within a touchdown with 1:04 left after Jimmy Garoppolo found Adam Drake from 22 yards out to cap the scoring. The Redhawks recovered the ensuing onside kick and ran out the rest of the clock.

Southeast outgained Eastern Illinois, 541-278, including a dominant 411-86 edge in rushing yards. The Redhawk defense recorded their first two sacks and first interception of the year. Southeast went 9-of-15 on third down conversions and held EIU to only 4-of-10 on the money down. The Redhawks also possessed the ball for 36:05, including 11:26 in the fourth quarter.

Levi Terrell joined Scheible by crossing the 100-yard plateau (106 rushing yards) on the ground. Foster finished led the Redhawks' receivers with three catches for 56 yards and two touchdowns.

Southeast returns to action next Saturday when it travels to Tennessee State.