CHARLESTON, Ill.– #15 Southeast Missouri (8-3, 6-1) scored 20 second-half points en route to a 26-12 win over Eastern Illinois (1-10, 1-6) Saturday afternoon at O'Brien Field.
 
With the win, SEMO nailed down its second-straight eight-win season marking the first time in program history where the Redhawks won eight games in back-to-back years. The eight-win season is SEMO's ninth all-time since its football program began in 1904.
 
The Redhawks trailed, 7-6, at halftime before taking their first lead of the game thanks to a big play on special teams.
 
Shabari Davis returned Stone Galloway's punt 36 yards for a touchdown to put SEMO ahead, 13-7, with 13:03 remaining in the third quarter. It was the Redhawks first punt return for a touchdown in four years.
 
SEMO tacked on 13 more points in the fourth quarter to finish off the Panthers.
 
Daniel Santacaterina scored on a 1-yard run to cap a 9-play, 31-yard drive. A 48-yard kickoff return by Zion Custis gave the Redhawks excellent field position before Santacaterina's touchdown made it a 20-10 game.
 
Mark Robinson scored the final touchdown when he ran 16 yards to the end zone to polish off a 5-play, 41-yard march with 4:47 to go.
 
Isaiah Hill, who initially scored on an 85-yard completion, had his touchdown called back early in the game due to a taunting penalty. Hill, however wound up hauling in a 26-yard pass on the same drive to put EIU ahead, 7-0, with 5:39 remaining in the first quarter.
 
Tiller connected on field goals of 32 and 34 yards in the second quarter to cut the Panthers lead to 7-6 at the intermission.
 
The Redhawks gained 140 yards in returns with 53 on punts, 70 on kickoffs and 17 on an interception.
 
Robinson ran for a game-high 77 yards on 13 carries and scored his team-high seventh rushing touchdown, while Santacaterina completed 16-of-27 passes for 139 yards. Kristian Wilkerson again led SEMO in receiving with 56 yards on four catches.
 
Defensively, Zach Hall paved the way with 12 tackles, a sack, 1.5 for loss and an interception. Hall went over 100 tackles for the second-straight season, becoming the first Redhawk to accomplish that feat since fellow linebacker Blake Peiffer (151 in 2011; 117 in 2012).
 
The Redhawks beat the Panthers in Charleston for the first time since 2010 ending a four-game losing streak at O'Brien Field. SEMO extended its winning streak to five games, as well.
 
SEMO wraps up its regular-season at home against rival Murray State on Nov. 23. A win will clinch at least a share of the Ohio Valley Conference title for the Redhawks. If SEMO wins and Austin Peay loses, the Redhawks will win the title outright.