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HAMMOND, La. - Oregon transfer quarterback Bryan Bennett threw for 169 yards and ran for 106 yards and three touchdowns to lead Southeastern Louisiana (1-0) to a 45-7 win over Southeast Missouri (0-1) Thursday night in the season-opener for both teams.

Bennett completed 9-of-15 passes and averaged nearly nine yards per carry (8.8) on 12 rushes in his first career start. Nine different receivers caught a pass for a Southeastern offense that put up 494 total yards.

"I thought we were a little too tentative. You can't play not to make mistakes," said Southeast head coach Tony Samuel. "It was a tough night."

Xavier Roberson immediately gave Southeastern a short field to work with when he returned the opening kickoff 65 yards to the Southeast 32-yardline.
 
The Lions used a 10-yard run by Rasheed Harrell and an 18-yard pass from Bennett to Devante Scott to move to the Redhawks-3. Bennett then scored his first touchdown of the season on a 3-yard run to give Southeastern an early 7-0 lead just 1:30 in.
 
Southeast went three-and-out on its first drive and Southeastern began its next possession at its own 32.
 
Bennett hooked up with Chris Malott for a 23-yard gain, putting the Lions in Redhawk territory at the 33. Bennett completed a 14-yard pass to Tony McCrae on a 3^rd-and-7 to keep the drive alive.
 
Two plays later, Roberson crossed the goal line on a 2-yard run, extending Southeastern's lead to 14-0 with 7:45 remaining.
 
Like Bennett, Ohio University transfer Kyle Snyder made his first career start at quarterback and first appearance since playing in a backup role at Akron on Oct. 22, 2011.
 
Snyder calmed down the Southeast offense by throwing a perfect 3-of-3 passes for 50 yards to orchestrate a nice 10-play, 75-yard season-opening score.
 
Snyder's third completion, a 15-yard pass to Paul McRoberts, moved Southeast to the 8-yardline. Lennies McFerren closed things out with a 6-yard run to narrow Southeastern's lead to 14-7 with 2:27 left. It was the second touchdown of McFerren's career.
 
Two more big returns helped set up another 10 points for Southeastern in the second quarter.
 
Harlan Miller ran back a Joe Vucic punt 21 yards to Southeast's 42-yardline. Bennett, after being sacked by Austin Black for a loss of 5 yards, completed a 14-yard pass to Jeff Smiley and picked up a first down on a 3-yard carry.
 
Kody Sutton took over from there rushing for 17 yards on three-straight carries. Sutton's 4-yard touchdown gave Southeastern a 21-7 advantage with 13:03 on the clock.
 
Southeast ran three plays before lining up in punt formation again. This time, Miller ripped off a 44-yard return. An illegal formation by the Redhawks tacked on an additional five yards to the run, giving Southeastern a 1^st-and-10 at the Southeast-31. The Lions, however, settled for a 45-yard field goal by Seth Sebastian at the 9:31 mark.
 
Scott Lathrop entered the game and moved the ball swiftly. Lathrop ran for 19 yards and threw a 13-yard pass to McRoberts on his first four touches. The Redhawks managed to get to Southeastern's 24-yardline before a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty pushed them back. As a result, Ryan McCrum attempted his first career field goal which missed from 47 yards out.
 
Southeast regained possession when George Neuhaus hit Harrell behind the line of scrimmage. Harrell fumbled on the play and Travis Sanders recovered at the 50-yardline.
 
Snyder sprinted for nine yards on the first play after the fumble and limped off the field after he was tackled by Josh Dakin.
 
Lathrop then picked up where he left off and picked up a big first down with a 19-yard run on a 4^th-and-11 to get the Redhawks to Southeastern's 17-yardline. A 2-yard rush, two incompletions and a false start penalty led to a 37-yard field goal by McCrum which was blocked, ending the first half.
 
Snyder returned in the third quarter and Southeast came away empty on its first two drives of the second half.
 
The Redhawks were forced to punt before facing a 4^th-and-1 at the Southeastern 14-yardline the next time it had the ball. Snyder was dropped for a loss of two yards by Justin Church.
 
On the ensuing play, Bennett completed a pass to tight end Jeremy Myers, who broke free for 56 yards to the Southeast-28. Bennett's 30-yard touchdown run widened the Lions lead to 31-7 with 7:27 remaining.
 
Two more touchdowns, including a 7-yard run by Bennett and a 1-yard run by Jordan Barnett put the game away.

Special teams and penalties hampered Southeast, which suffered its fourth-straight season-opening loss. Southeastern registered 95 yards on two kickoff returns and ran back four punts for an additional 60 yards. The Redhawks also had nine penalties for 83 yards.

Snyder threw for 75 yards on 6-of-13 passes and ran for six yards in his debut. DeMichael Jackson led the Redhawks with 61 yards on eight carries and had a 37-yard run, Southeast's longest of the night.

Lathrop chipped in 41 rushing yards on 12 attempts.

McRoberts and Spencer Davis added a game-high three catches apiece, as well.

Defensively, Ben Kargbo and Cantrell Andrews led Southeast with a game-high nine tackles each.

Southeast finished with 206 yards rushing, marking the eighth time in the last nine games where the Redhawks have surpassed 200 rushing yards as a team.

The Redhawks were also outscored 21-0 in the second half. It was the first time Southeast was shutout in the second half since Nov. 11, 2011 (13-0, vs. Jacksonville State).

Additionally, 11 different players made their first career starts for Southeast tonight. Ron Davis (SS), Sanders (DE), Jon Slania (NT), Selwyn Carrol (DE), Matt Starks (LB) and Black (DT) started on defense. Offensively, Kyle Finney (LG), Garret Baker (RT), McRoberts (WR), Snyder (QB) and McFerren (RB) were the starters.

Southeast returns to action when it travels to Football Bowl Subdivision and Southeastern Conference member Ole Miss on Sept. 7.