MARTIN, Tenn. – Kristian Wilkerson caught eight passes for a single game record 263 yards and three touchdowns to lead Southeast Missouri (6-2, 4-1) to a commanding 56-33 win over UT Martin (1-7, 1-4) Saturday afternoon at Graham Stadium.
 
A native of Memphis, Tennessee, Wilkerson became the third SEMO receiver to get over 200 receiving yards in a game surpassing the previous school record of 211 yards by Art Miller at Evansville in 1969. Wilkerson's 263 yards also marked an Ohio Valley Conference single game high and rank third in the Football Championship Subdivision this season.
 
The red-hot Redhawks picked up their fourth-straight win and are now on their longest winning streak in five seasons with Tom Matukewicz as their head coach. SEMO improved to 6-1 against FCS teams this year and claimed its first winning season since 2010. This year marks the Redhawks fourth winning season in their NCAA Division I era, all of which have come eight years apart (1994, 2002, 2010, 2018).
 
"I loved how we started and it was a sign that we were ready," said Matukewicz. "We didn't have any turnovers and turned them over. It was another great team win."
 
SEMO scored 13 points in the first 2:15 of the contest.
 
On the third play of the game, Daniel Santacaterina threw a 58-yard touchdown pass to  Wilkerson to cap a 71-yard drive.
 
UTM fumbled on the ensuing kickoff and Aaron Alston recovered at the UTM 17-yard line. Mark Robinson capitalized on the turnover scoring on a 1-yard run to extend the Redhawks lead to 13-0 with 12:45 remaining in the first quarter.
 
SEMO tacked on three more first quarter points when Kendrick Tiller made a 36-yard field goal to make it 16-0 at the 6:49 mark. Prior to today, Tiller had not kicked a field goal.
 
The Skyhawks managed to pull to within two points after quarterback Joe Hudson hit paydirt on a 4-yard run and tossed a 49-yard touchdown pass to Jaylon Moore. Moore's touchdown cut SEMO's lead to 16-14 just 11 seconds into the second quarter.
 
Santacaterina completed a pass to Wilkerson off the edge, who broke a tackle and sprinted 39 yards down the far sideline to the UTM 1-yard line. Marquis Terry, in the wildcat formation, took the snap and dove over the goal line to give SEMO a 23-14 advantage with 8:34 to go.
 
After Santacaterina ran for nine yards to pick up a big first down on a fourth-and-8, Wilkerson hauled in a 15-yard touchdown pass immediately following a SEMO timeout to grab the Redhawks a 30-17 halftime lead.
 
SEMO continued to pound away at the Skyhawks in the second half putting up 26 more points, including 19 in the fourth quarter.
 
Terry broke free for a 17-yard run to polish off a 4-play, 68-yard march with 7:24 left in the third quarter.
 
Tiller made two more field goals from 41 and 38 yards, respectively, in the first five minutes of the final period. Wilkerson hauled in his third touchdown reception on a 34-yard pass from Santacaterina and backup. quarterback Anthony Cooper completed SEMO's scoring with a 33-yard run at the 2:15 mark.
 
SEMO finished with 587 total yards and averaged nearly eight yards (7.5) per play. 
 
Wilkerson paved the way with the fourth game of 100 or more receiving yards in his career.
 
"Kristian has always been able to catch the deep ball. What was so impressive today was how he broke tackles on out routes," commented Matukewicz. "He had a great game."
 
Terry ran for 123 yards and two touchdowns earning his OVC-high fourth 100-yard rushing game this season.
 
Santacaterina completed 21-of-34 passes for 386 yards and three touchdowns. It was the third time in four starts where Santacaterina threw for 340 or more yards.
 
Defensively, the league-leader in turnover margin finished with a +4 in that category against the Skyhawks. SEMO had three interceptions and recovered a fumble. 
 
Zach Hall, who went over 100 tackles (107) this year, led the way with 15. Hall also had an interception and forced a fumble. Omardrick Douglas followed with 14 tackles, including 1.5 for loss. DJ Freeman and Demarcus Rogers each added a sack.
 
SEMO returns to Cape Girardeau for two of its final three regular season games. The Redhawks host Tennessee State on Nov. 3.