CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Senior Marquis Terry ran for 107 yards and surpassed 1,000 yards this season to lead #24 Southeast Missouri (7-2, 5-1) to a 38-21 victory over Tennessee State (3-4, 2-3) Saturday afternoon at Houck Field.
 
Terry averaged 5.1 yards per carry on 21 attempts and went over 100 yards for an Ohio Valley Conference high fifth time this year. He finished with over 100 yards in each of his last three games and passed both 1,000 yards this season and 2,000 in his two-year SEMO career.
 
"Congratulations to Marquis on reaching those milestones," said SEMO head coach Tom Matukewicz. "Marquis is one of the best running backs in the Football Championship Subdivision and he has had an outstanding career. What's even better is the great person he is."
 
The Redhawks used a 21-point second quarter to fuel their fifth-consecutive win as they remain the hottest team in the OVC. SEMO never trailed in the game en route to its seventh victory.
 
Kendrick Tiller connected on a 40-yard field goal for the game's first points with 5:36 left to play in the first quarter. Tiller, this week's OVC Specialist of the Week, is 4-of-5 in field goals after taking over the place kicking duties a week ago at UT Martin.
 
SEMO followed with a quick 14-point swing in only 43 seconds to push its lead to 17-0.
 
Kristian Wilkerson caught a 37-yard touchdown pass from Daniel Santacaterina to cap a 3-play, 75-yard drive in 34 seconds. 
 
After SEMO forced TSU to punt, Terry ripped off a 37-yard touchdown run on the first play of the Redhawks ensuing possession. That took nine seconds and came at the 11:51 mark of the second period.
 
Terry scored his second touchdown of the day on an 8-yard reception from Santacaterina and widened SEMO's lead to 24-7.
 
Michael Hughes later hooked up with Treon Harris on a 20-yard touchdown pass to pull the Tigers to within 10 (24-14) at the half.
 
On the first play of the third quarter, Ta'Kendrick Roberson dashed 69 yards to the SEMO 6-yard line. Three plays later, Justin Swift intercepted Hughes at the 9-yard line and ran 44 yards to the TSU 47. 
 
Swift's interception resulted in a 16-yard touchdown pass from Santacaterina to Wilkerson giving SEMO a 31-14 advantage with 10:49 in the third quarter.
 
"That play was the turning point," said Matukewicz. "It helped us get ahead by three scores and that was the difference."
 
Wilkerson scored his third touchdown, this time on a 9-yard reception from Santacaterina at the 4:35 mark in the third quarter, as the Redhawks buried TSU for good.
 
Santacaterina completed 22-of-36 passes for 306 yards and matched a season-high four touchdown passes. He threw for over 300 yards for the fourth time in five games. Santacaterina's 23 passing touchdowns in 2018 are now tied for second in a single season at SEMO. Santacaterina also ran for 27 yards on eight carries.
 
In addition to his 107 rushing yards, Terry caught six passes for 76 yards out of the backfield. He finished with 183 all-purpose yards. Terry ranks eighth all-time with 2,097 rushing yards in two seasons at SEMO.
 
For the first time in his career, Wilkerson put together back-to-back 100-yard receiving games. He had a game-high eight receptions for 129 yards and three touchdowns. It was also the first time in his career where he tallied three receiving touchdowns in consecutive games. Additionally, Wilkerson surpassed 2,000 (2,033) receiving yards in his career and ranks fifth all-time in that category at SEMO.
 
Offensively, SEMO put up 484 total yards. The Redhawks went without turning the ball over for the third-straight game and sixth time in nine contests this season.
 
Defensively, the Redhawks forced two turnovers, blocked a kick and stopped TSU twice on fourth down. 
 
Zach Hall again led the way with 12 takedowns, his team-best seventh double-digit performance this year. Hall added an interception, blocked a field goal and posted 1.5 tackles for loss, as well.
 
Swift followed with eight tackles, 1.5 sacks, 2.5 tackles for loss, a pair of quarterback hurries and one interception.
 
Roberson (137) and Earl Harrison (105) each ran for over 100 yards to lead TSU.
 
SEMO, which stands tied for first with Jacksonville State atop the OVC, visits rival Murray State for a key league matchup on Nov. 10. Tennessee Tech upended MSU, 27-24, for its first win of the season and dropped the Racers to second in the standings.