CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. –  James Robinson ran for 297 yards and a touchdown to lead #13 Illinois State (9-4) to a 24-6 win over #12 Southeast Missouri (9-4) in the first round of the NCAA FCS Playoffs Saturday.
 
Robinson averaged 7.2 yards per carry on 41 attempts and had all but 43 of ISU's 340 rushing yards.
 
SEMO starting quarterback Daniel Santacaterina missed the first half and the Redhawks first drive of the third quarter due to shoulder and foot injuries.
 
Backup Joe Pyle took his place and threw for 124 yards on 9-of-17 passes in his first career start.
 
Robinson scored the game's first touchdown on an 11-yard run with 11:24 left to play in the first quarter and ISU jumped out to a 21-3 halftime lead.
 
The Redbirds added 46-yard field goal by Sam Fenlason to cap the scoring.
 
SEMO's only points of the contest came on field goals of 45 and 34 yards by Kendrick Tiller.
 
Kristian Wilkerson led the Redhawks with five catches for 114 yards and Zion Custis was SEMO's top rusher with 49 yards on eight carries. It was the 13^th100-yard receiving game of Wilkerson's outstanding career.
 
ISU outgained SEMO, 392-314, and held a 340-109 advantage on the ground.
 
Defensively, the Redhawks were led by Zach Hall and Bydarrius Knighten who each tallied 10 tackles. Hall ended his SEMO career with 406 total tackles.
 
Devin Alexander, a linebacker who battled back from a torn tricep to play SEMO's final two games, picked up a first down with a 34-yard run on a faked punt.
 
SEMO made its third NCAA FCS Playoff appearance all-time and second in back-to-back seasons for the first time in program history.
 
The Redhawks, who saw their home winning streak end at 13 games, went 9-4 overall for the second year in a row.