Final Statistics | Photo Gallery

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – After missing three-straight field goals, Ryan McCrum kicked a game-winning 42-yarder with five seconds left to send Southeast Missouri (1-1) to a 27-24 win over Southern Illinois (0-2) Saturday night in a slugfest at Missouri National Guard Field/Houck Stadium.
 
The 83^rd meeting between these regional-rivals went wire-to-wire and Southeast came from behind to pull off its first win over SIU since 2010.
 
"I'm exhausted. That game had as many swings as I'd ever been a part of," said an elated Southeast head coach Tom Matukewicz. "I was proud of the way our kids handled everything. Our guys did something no one in our locker room had done and that's beat SIU."
 
McCrum's rare three missed field goals came from 42, 38 and 39 yards out, but he delivered when it mattered most.
 
"It definitely wasn't my best night," said McCrum. "I believe God had a plan for me and he wanted me to make that last kick. I just had to move on and block out what had previously happened. I finally got one to go through the uprights."
 
McCrum made a 39-yard field goal and Michael Ford returned the first of his game-high two interceptions 21 yards for a touchdown to grab Southeast an early 10-0 lead.
 
Mark Iannotti's 18-yard touchdown pass to Daquan Isom put SIU on the board with 5:17 left in the first quarter, completing a 10-play, 86-yard march.
 
After an Alex Knight punt, SIU took over on downs at its own 42-yardline.
 
On the next play, Kendall Donnerson jarred the ball loose from Connor Iwema. Eriq Moore recovered and ran 42 yards to the end zone, pushing Southeast's lead to 17-7 at the 2:50 mark.
 
SIU answered with two touchdowns to take a 21-17 lead at the half.
 
Iannotti had a hand in both of those of long drives. He first scored on a 3-yard run to cap a drive that covered 75 yards in 10 plays and later threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Darrell James at the end of a 5-play, 79-yard march in a quick 31 seconds.
 
Austin Johnson's 46-yard field goal widened SIU's lead to 24-17 with 12:45 remaining in the third quarter and that would be the last of the Salukis scoring.
 
After Iannotti's incomplete pass on a 4^th-and-9, Southeast began its ensuing possession on its 36.
 
Tay Bender completed a 20-yard pass on a 3^rd-and-7 to move the Redhawks into SIU territory. Three plays later, Bender threw a 15-yard pass to Lewis Washington for another first down, this time on a 3^rd-and-5.
 
DeMichael Jackson's 8-yard run then moved Southeast to the SIU-13 before Bender threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Paul McRoberts, bringing the game to a 24-24 deadlock with 2:27 left.
 
SIU, after starting its final drive of the game at its own 6-yardline, went three-and-out. Derek Mathewson's 42-yard punt was fair caught by Tyler Manne at the SIU-49. A roughing the kicker penalty by Southeast was declined and the Redhawks remained in good field position at the same spot.
 
With 42 seconds on the clock, Bender quickly threw a 6-yard pass to Adrian Davis. Bender was sacked for a loss of three yards on the next play.
 
Moments after Southeast called timeout with 31 seconds remaining, Bender completed a 14-yard pass to Jackson and a 7-yard pass to McRoberts to set up McCrum's game-winner.
 
Jackson ran for a career-high 186 yards and averaged 6.2 yards per carry on 30 attempts, and Bender completed 16-of-29 passes for 159 yards and a touchdown to lead Southeast.
 
McRoberts added four catches for 51 yards, moving to 10^th all-time with 1,586 career receiving yards at Southeast.
 
Defensively, the Redhawks were outstanding again.
 
Southeast forced seven turnovers (four fumbles, three interceptions) on the night. Its seven takeaways were the most in a game since the Redhawks had six against Mars Hill College on Sept. 8, 2012. As a result of its stout defensive effort, Southeast won the turnover battle by a stifling +7 margin.
 
Ford paved the way with two interceptions, a touchdown and eight tackles. He was fully extended and managed to stay in-bounds along the near sideline on a leaping catch for his other pick late in the third quarter.
 
Donnerson also had eight tackles, a sack and two forced fumbles, while Roper Garrett turned in a team-high 13 tackles. Garrett, Eriq Moore and David Coley had one fumble recovery apiece, as well.
 
Iannotti threw for 294 yards and two touchdowns, and ran for another score to lead SIU. Billy Reed also had a big night for the Salukis, making a game-high six catches for 112 yards.
Chase Allen (19), Kenny James (15) and Withney Simon (10) all had double-digit tackles for SIU.
 
SIU outgained Southeast 469-385.
 
Southeast returns to action when it travels to No. 21 Indiana State on Sept. 19.