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CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Southeast Missouri (3-6, 2-4) was held scoreless for three quarters in a 31-7 loss to No. 23 Eastern Kentucky (7-3, 5-2) Saturday afternoon at Missouri National Guard Field/Houck Stadium.

Southeast had just 262 yards of total offense, its second-fewest in a game this season. The Redhawks also turned the ball over three times in the first half.

“We didn't get off to a good start and had too many turnovers,” said Southeast head coach Tony Samuel.

Southeast punted and turned the ball over twice during its first three possessions.

The Redhawks moved into EKU territory on the game's opening drive, but Brooklyn Fox intercepted a Scott Lathrop pass and ran 59 yards to the Redhawks 16-yardline. EKU was in business with a 1^st-and-Goal at the Redhawks-8 following a Southeast personal foul.

Matt Denham took four-straight handoffs and crossed the goal line on a 1-yard fourth-down rush to give EKU a 7-0 advantage with 9:37 left to play in the first quarter.

Southeast punted on its next possession and EKU went 64 yards on 16 plays, but came up empty when Blake Peiffer and Branden Spann dropped Denham for a loss of one on a 4^th-and-Goal at the Southeast-1.

On the fourth play of the Redhawks ensuing drive, Levi Terrell mis-handled a Lathrop pitch and Fox recovered for the Colonels at the Southeast-29.

EKU later added a 45-yard field goal by Zack Burgy-VanHoose to push its lead to 10-0 with 12:10 left in the second quarter.

Southeast went for it on 4^th-and-4 at the EKU-37 the next time it had the ball, however, an incomplete pass halted that drive.

Jared McClain then completed a 39-yard pass to Tyrone Goard to set up the Colonels second touchdown. DeShaun Sands' 20-yard run pushed EKU's lead to 17-0 at half.

Southeast was held scoreless in the first half for the second time this season and first time at home since Nov. 21, 2009 (vs. Southern Illinois).

EKU held the Redhawks to only 21 total yards in the third quarter and added to its lead when Jared McClain scored on a pair of 3-yard touchdown runs.

McClain's second touchdown came three plays after McClain hooked up with Cameron Bailey on a 30-yard pass to give the Colonels a 1^st-and-Goal at the Southeast-7.

Southeast managed to avoid the shutout when true freshman quarterback Blake Jackson ripped off a 14-yard run to cap an 11-play, 91-yard march with 4:03 remaining the fourth quarter. It was the first rushing touchdown of Jackson's career.

Jackson led the Redhawks with 68 yards and averaged 6.8 per carry on 10 rushing attempts.

Terrell (1,038), who became the third player in the Ohio Valley Conference to go over 1,000 rushing yards this season, followed with 57 on 16 carries.

Denham led EKU with 99 yards and one touchdown on a game-high 24 carries.

McClain completed 8-of-11 passes for 138 yards and scored two rushing touchdowns, as well.

EKU finished with 364 total yards and did not have a turnover.

Southeast honored 23 seniors prior to today's home finale. After the game, Terrell proposed to Sundancer Raediance Koonce on the field.

The Redhawks return to action when they visit Eastern Illinois on Nov. 10. That game will be televised live by Fox College Sports.