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CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Southeast Missouri (0-4, 0-1) shutout #23 UT Martin (3-1, 1-0) in the second half, but couldn't overcome a slow start in a 17-7 loss Saturday night at Missouri National Guard Field/Houck Stadium.

It was a tale of two halves for Southeast in its Ohio Valley Conference opener against UTM. Southeast trailed, 17-0, at halftime before holding the Skyhawks scoreless in the final 30 minutes.

"We gave up some points early in the game that put us in a hole," said Southeast head coach Tony Samuel. "We made some adjustments in the second half, but they were able to maintain the lead."

UTM got on the board first with a 35-yard touchdown pass from Dylan Favre to Corey Jordan with 12:41 left in the first quarter.

The Skyhawks then added 10 more points in the second quarter on a 9-yard run by Najee Ray and a 22-yard field goal by Jackson Redditt to take a 17-0 lead at the intermission.

Southeast, after picking up just four first downs and gaining less than 100 yards of total offense (92) in the first half, was a different team down the stretch. Additionally, the Redhawks punted on their first seven possessions of the game.

Scott Lathrop engineered a 15-play, 80-yard drive which led to Southeast's only points in the fourth quarter. He ran for 39 yards on five carries and threw two passes of 10 or more yards before Ron Coleman's 2-yard run narrowed UTM's lead to 17-7 with 6:17 left. The points were the Redhawks first in the fourth quarter this season.

Southeast had two more chances after that, but came up empty on those drives.

Lathrop ran for 64 yards on 10 carries and completed 8-of-16 passes for 71 yards to lead Southeast. Lathrop averaged 6.4 yards per carry, as well.

DeMichael Jackson followed with 47 yards on 10 attempts in his first career start at tailback.

Three receivers, including D.J. Foster, Peter Lloyd and Spencer Davis added at least three catches apiece. Foster paved the way with four receptions for 36 yards.

DJ McNeil led UTM with 148 yards on 27 carries, while Favre completed 11-of-16 passes for 118 yards and a touchdown.

Defensively, Ben Johnson recorded 12 tackles to lead the Skyhawks.

Meanwhile, Ron Davis led Southeast with 11 tackles.

Southeast finished with 306 yards of total offense, including 164 on the ground and 142 through the air.

The Redhawks fell to 2-6 in OVC openers under Samuel.

Southeast returns to action at Tennessee State on Oct. 5. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m., CT, at LP Field.