JACKSONVILLE, Ala.– Southeast Missouri (4-3, 2-1) had a season-high four takeaways and scored 14 fourth-quarter points to stun #14 Jacksonville State (5-3, 2-2), 24-21, Saturday on a rainy day at Burgess-Snow Field.
 
SEMO beat JSU in Jacksonville for the first time in its NCAA Division I history. The Redhawks defeated the Gamecocks in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 1963 and 1964. And, with the win, the Redhawk seniors became the all-time winningest senior class in program history.
 
"A win like this means everything for our program as the seniors have left their legacy becoming the winningest class in program history," said SEMO head coach Tom Matukewicz. "Defensively, that was as good of performance as I've ever been around."
 
SEMO's senior class recorded their 19th win since the 2016 campaign and surpassed the 2010 class' total of 18 victories. The Redhawks gave Matukewicz his program-best sixth win over a ranked opponent, as well.
 
Tied, 7-7, at halftime, Kendrick Tiller kicked a 24-yard field goal to put SEMO ahead with 8:44 left to play in the third quarter. Tiller's field goal came after Justin Swift jarred the ball loose when he sacked Zerrick Cooper and Bryson Donnell recovered at the JSU-12.
 
On a day where it was tough to throw the football, the rain subsided enough for Daniel Santacaterina to throw a pair of touchdown passes in the fourth quarter.
 
After SEMO's defense held on fourth down, the Redhawks took over on downs at their own 25-yard line. Immediately following a false start penalty, Santacaterina completed an 80-yard touchdown pass to Kristian Wilkerson. Wilkerson's 29^thcareer receiving touchdown tied a school record and widened the Redhawks lead to 17-7 with 4:21 to go in the fourth quarter. The 80-yard play tied SEMO's fourth longest reception in school history.
 
JSU answered on its ensuing drive by covering 79 yards in 10 plays and scoring on an 8-yard touchdown pass from Cooper to Jamari Hester in just under two minutes.
 
SEMO, however, delivered the dagger when Aaron Alston caught a 38-yard pass from Santacaterina, broke multiple tackles and plowed his way into the end zone at the 1:47 mark. Alston's fourth touchdown this season gave the Redhawks a 24-14 advantage.
 
Neither team scored for the first 28:53 of play.
 
SEMO, which had 19 yards on its first 18 plays offensively, overshadowed that with outstanding defense forcing two turnovers and a fourth-down stop.
 
On JSU's first drive, Zach Hall dropped Jaelen Greene for no gain on a fourth-and-1 at the SEMO 27-yard line.
 
Following a SEMO punt, Ryan Ochoa forced a fumble when he hit Cooper. DJ Freeman recovered at the 50-yard line, but nothing came of the turnover.
 
The Redhawks registered their next takeaway in the second quarter when Bydarrius Knighten intercepted Cooper's pass in SEMO's end zone on a fourth-and-11. It was Knighten's first interception of the season and third in his career.
 
SEMO, after punting on six-straight drives, scored the game's first points with 1:07 remaining in the first half.
 
Santacaterina threw a 22-yard pass downfield to Eric Williams for a first down at the JSU-25. Three plays later, Santacaterina tossed a 15-yard touchdown pass to Wilkerson to put SEMO ahead 7-0. 
 
JSU responded with a 7-play, 72-yard march in a quick minute to tie the game. Cooper plunged forward for a 2-yard touchdown and Bryant Wallace followed with the PAT as time expired bringing the score to 7-7 at the half.
 
Santacaterina completed 12-of-28 passes for 220 yards and three touchdowns. He threw three touchdown passes for the second-straight game and went over 4,000 passing yards in his Redhawk career. Santacaterina is now eighth all-time at SEMO with 4,143 yards.
 
Wilkerson added 129 yards and two touchdowns on three catches. It marked the 10th 100-yard receiving game of Wilkerson's career.
 
Defensively, Swift finished with a game-high 12 tackles, a sack, 2.5 tackles for loss, one forced fumble and a breakup to lead SEMO. Swift surpassed 200 tackles in his career. As a team, the Redhawks recorded a season-high four sacks.
 
SEMO posted four takeaways in a game for the first time since its NCAA Playoff win over Stony Brook on Nov. 24, 2018.
 
The Redhawks have handed John Grass two of his three Ohio Valley Conference losses as JSU's head coach. SEMO also wrecked JSU's 32-game winning streak in regular-season home games, a year after ending the Gamecocks 36-game winning streak in OVC contests.
 
SEMO returns to Cape Girardeau to host OVC leader UT Martin during its Homecoming weekend on Oct. 26.