CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo.– #23 Southeast Missouri (2-2) racked up 669 yards of total offense and put an end to a two-game losing skid with a commanding 56-10 victory over West Virginia State (2-1) Saturday afternoon during Family Weekend at Houck Field.
 
SEMO's 669 yards marked the second-most total yards in a game during its NCAA Division I era.
 
"We did what we were supposed to do," said SEMO head coach Tom Matukewicz. "We were much more physical today and really improved there."
 
Daniel Santacaterina completed 15-of-20 passes for a season-high 279 yards and was responsible for three touchdowns (2 passing, 1 rushing). Geno Hess paved the way with 96 yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries and Mark Robinson followed with 92 yards and a touchdown as the Redhawks piled up 382 yards on the ground.
 
Three other Redhawks, including Santacaterina, Zion Custis and walk-on Brayden Hull also scored a rushing touchdown.  
 
WVSU faked a punt on a fourth-and-9 and Dant'e Jones ran 31 yards for a first down on the opening drive of the game. The Yellow Jackets managed to get to SEMO's 14-yard line before Martin Ahlstroe's 27-yard field goal sailed wide right.
 
The Redhawks scored on their next two possessions after that.
 
Custis picked up 39 yards on five carries and ripped off a 29-yard run to give SEMO a first-and-Goal at the WVSU-5. After the Redhawks were backed up to the Yellow Jackets' 18-yard line following a holding penalty, Santacaterina dashed 18 yards to the end zone to give SEMO a 7-0 lead with 6:51 remaining in the first quarter.
 
SEMO's defense forced a three-and-out and the Redhawks took over on downs at midfield. On the next play, Santacaterina threw a 50-yard touchdown pass to Aaron Alston extending the Redhawks lead to 14-0 at the 5:17 mark. Alston scored his first touchdown of the year.
 
The Redhawks scored twice more in the second quarter to stretch their lead to 28-0 at halftime.
 
Colby Cornett caught a 26-yard pass from Santacaterina and Hess hit paydirt on an 8-yard run for those scores.
 
SEMO polished off its victory with another four touchdowns in the second half with 21 of those points coming in the fourth quarter.
 
Custis scored on a 2-yard run to cap SEMO's longest drive of nine plays and 92 yards with 2:54 left to play in the third quarter.
 
Hess then scored his second touchdown on a 24-yard run, Robinson crossed the goal line on a 21-yard rush and Hull scored his first career touchdown from eight yards out.

SEMO won its ninth-straight game at home and scored on eight of its 11 drives.
 
Zach Hall and Lawrence Johnson led the Redhawks defense with seven tackles apiece. Al Young also had an interception. Young tore his Achilles on the play and will miss the rest of the season.
 
SEMO will be idle next week before opening up Ohio Valley Conference play at home against Tennessee Tech on Oct. 5.