MURRAY, Ky. – Geno Hess ran for 111 yards and a touchdown as Southeast Missouri (3-7, 3-2) fell to Murray State (5-5, 2-3), 28-10, Saturday at Stewart Stadium.
Hess ran for over 100 yards for the fifth-straight game and scored a rushing touchdown in his ninth consecutive contest.
MSU scored twice in each of the first two quarters to build a double-digit lead.
After SEMO went three-and-out on the opening drive of the game, MSU used a 32-yard completion from Williams to LaMartez Brooks to set up the first score. Three plays later Jake Saathoff scored on a 25-yard halfback pass from Damonta Witherspoon to give the Racers a 7-0 lead with 10:40 left in the first quarter.
MSU forced the Redhawks to punt again and scored in a quick 58 seconds to extend its lead. Williams broke free for a 58-yard touchdown run to make it a 14-0 game with 7:11 on the clock.
SEMO got on the board with a 36-yard field goal by Kenny Doak before Williams scored on a 1-yard run early in the second quarter to push the Racers lead to 21-3.
On the Redhawks next possession, Geno Hess broke free for a 56-yard touchdown run. Hess' 14th rushing touchdown of the season cut MSU's lead to 21-10 with 11:46 to play. Hess ran his streak to nine-straight games with a rushing touchdown.
Witherspoon's 7-yard rushing touchdown capped a 10-play, 71-yard drive and increased the Racers margin to 28-10 at the intermission.
Neither team scored in the second half.
Offensively, SEMO finished with 328 total yards, but was 0-of-13 on third down.
CJ Ogbonna completed 15-of-29 passes for 234 yards and completed a pass to seven different receivers. Rashaan Palmer had seven catches for 96 yards to lead the Redhawk receiving corps.
Defensively, Omardrick Douglas had a game-high nine tackles. Jacob Morrissey followed with seven and Trai Hodges added six tackles, two interceptions and a forced fumble. Both of Hodges' picks were in the end zone.
SEMO concludes its season at home against #10 UT Martin on Nov, 20.
