CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo.– Outside linebacker Omardrick Douglas returned an interception 32 yards for the decisive touchdown to send #24 Southeast Missouri (5-3, 3-1) to a 17-10 win over UT Martin (5-3, 4-1) on a cold and rainy Homecoming at Houck Field.
 
SEMO battled through adverse weather conditions to hand UTM its first loss in Ohio Valley Conference play. The Redhawks also moved into a first-place tie atop the OVC standings with the win.
 
"It was a crazy game to coach and play. At the end of the day it's about the mission," said SEMO head coach Tom Matukewicz. "We basically made one more play than they did in a tight ballgame and I'm proud of the way our players kept responding."
 
On second-and-11 at the UTM 28-yard line, Douglas picked off John Bachus and dashed down the near sideline. Douglas finished off his first career interception by diving across the goal line to give SEMO a 17-10 advantage with 5:32 remaining.
 
UTM would get two more chances after that and SEMO's defense stopped both of those drives.
 
Bachus' pass fell incomplete on a fourth-and-17 at the SEMO 19-yard line. Then, with two seconds on the clock, Bydarrius Knighten intercepted Bachus' pass in the Redhawks end zone as time expired. Prior to that play, UTM threw four complete passes, but had its final drive extended due to a pass interference penalty by the Redhawks.
 
SEMO started the second half with a huge play as backup quarterback Joe Pyle busted loose for a 61-yard touchdown run to tie the game at 10-10 just 1:22 into the third quarter. The touchdown was the first for Pyle who played the entire second half under center after starting quarterback Daniel Santacaterina after a coach's decision removed Santacaterina from the game.
 
Kendrick Tiller turned the game's second turnover, a fumble by Bachus, into the first points of the contest. 
 
Zach Hall knocked the ball out of Bachus' hand on a sack and Daterraion Richardson recovered at the UTM 33-yard line. 
 
After Santacaterina threw a 21-yard completion to Kristian Wilkerson, Tiller kicked a 29-yard field goal to put SEMO ahead, 3-0, with 2:45 left to play in the first quarter.
 
UTM responded by marching 75 yards in five plays over 2:15 to take the lead. Bachus capped the drive with a 29-yard touchdown pass to Terry Williams as the Skyhawks took a 7-3 lead with 30 seconds left in the quarter.
 
The Skyhawks tacked on three more points with a 47-yard field goal by Ryan Courtright to grab a 10-3 halftime advantage.
 
SEMO had only 14 rushing yards in the first half, its lowest mark of the season. Both teams combined for a mere nine rushing yards in the first quarter alone.
 
Defensively, SEMO put together another stout performance shutting out the Skyhawks in the second half. The Redhawks also forced a season-high five turnovers and had nine takeaways in their last two games.
 
Zach Hall paved the way with a game-high 10 tackles, a forced fumble, two tackles for loss and a sack. Knighten followed close behind with nine tackles and an interception. SEMO notched three interceptions and five sacks for the day, as well.
 
Special teams wise, Jake Reynolds was again outstanding punting the football, this time in adverse weather conditions. He averaged 39.1 yards per punt on eight attempts and dropped three of his kicks inside the 20-yard line. In addition to his pick six, Douglas blocked a field goal.
 
Santacaterina threw for 127 yards on 9-of-21 passes in the first half. Pyle threw for 51 yards and ran for 35 and a touchdown the rest of the way.
 
Aaron Alston registered a career-high 101 yards on six catches.
 
UTM outgained SEMO, 369-263. Both teams had 85 yards rushing and the Skyhawks held a 284-178 advantage in passing yardage.
 
SEMO, which has won two-straight and four of its last five contests, pushed its home winning streak to 11 games (currently the longest in the OVC).
 
The Redhawks return to action when they hit the road to face Tennessee State on Nov. 2.