COLUMBIA, Mo.– Junior
Jake Reynolds broke a single-game school record with 14 punts as #19 Southeast Missouri (1-2) was shutout by Southeastern Conference member Missouri (2-1), 50-0, Saturday night in the 500th game played at Faurot Field/Memorial Stadium.
Reynolds, who hails from Wildwood, Missouri, broke his own previous record of 11 punts in SEMO's Football Championship Subdivision Playoff win over Stony Brook a year ago. His 14 punts sailed 576 yards for an average of 41.1 yards per attempt against the Tigers.
Missouri put the game out of reach early scoring 27 points in first 8:19 of the contest.
The Tigers went 75 yards in seven plays on the opening drive of the game and scored the first touchdown on a 3-yard run by Larry Rountree III less than three minutes in.
On SEMO's third play from scrimmage,
Daniel Santacaterina was intercepted by Cale Garrett. Garrett returned his pick 27 yards to the end zone. Tucker McCann's point after attempt was blocked.
After the Redhawks went three-and-out, Missouri began its next drive with a 54-yard completion from Kelly Bryant to Jalen Knox moving the Tigers to the SEMO 6-yard line. Two plays later, Bryan hit Albert Okwuegbunam on a 3-yard touchdown pass to give the Tigers a 20-0 advantage at the 8:41 mark of the first quarter.
Two minutes later, Missouri scored again, this time on a 71-yard punt return by Richaud Floyd to make it a 27-0 game.
The Tigers added 10 more points in the second quarter with a 2-yard touchdown run by Rountree III and a 44-yard field goal by Tucker McCann to grab a 37-0 lead at the half.
After a 10-point third quarter, Missouri polished off its shutout with a 52-yard field goal by McCann at the 12:32 mark of the fourth period.
SEMO had scored in 90-straight games prior to being shutout tonight. It was the first time the Redhawks went scoreless since a 59-0 loss at Purdue on Sept. 17, 2011.
The Redhawks punted on all but two of their 16 drives and went three-and-out on nine occasions. SEMO made it into Missouri territory just once and was outgained, 501-94. The 94 total yards were the Redhawks third-fewest in a game during their NCAA Division I era.
Santacaterina completed 7-of-22 passes for 45 yards as one of three SEMO quarterbacks who played against Missouri.
Joe Pyle threw for 13 yards on 2-of-6 passes and redshirt-freshman
Jacob Buie attempted four passes in his first career college game.
Mark Robinson picked up 19 of SEMO's 40 rushing yards and nine different Redhawk receivers had a catch.
Defensively,
Al Young led SEMO with five tackles and one interception.
Rountree III ran for 142 yards and two touchdowns, Bryant completed 15-of-20 passes for 225 yards and a touchdown, and Knox caught two passes for 104 yards to lead Missouri.
SEMO returns home to host NCAA Division I affiliate West Virginia State on Sept. 21.