CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – CJ Ogbonna threw for 205 yards and three touchdowns, and ran for 74 yards and another score to lead Southeast Missouri (4-7, 4-2) to a 31-14 win over #8 UT Martin (9-2, 5-1) Saturday on a chilly afternoon at Houck Field.
SEMO upended the nationally-ranked Skyhawks to pick up its fourth victory over a Top-10 team in program history. The Redhawks added another win to their Brickyard, a special place where all wins over FBS and ranked FCS opponents are laid to rest. Today's win marked Tom Matukewicz's seventh win over a ranked FCS foe, most of any head coach in school history.
The Redhawk defense shutout the Skyhawks for three quarters and SEMO's offense scored 17 unanswered points en route to sending UTM to its only Ohio Valley Conference loss of the season.
Terrell Jester started SEMO's strong second half with a 7-yard touchdown reception with 8:28 remaining in the third quarter.
Ogbonna then broke free for a 23-yard touchdown run to make it a two-possession game as SEMO stretched its lead to 28-14 just 49 seconds into the final period.
Kenny Doak's 18-yard field goal was the last of the scoring and polished off the Redhawks win.
After a scoreless first quarter, SEMO struck first when Ogbonna completed a 1-yard touchdown pass to give the Redhawks a 7-0 advantage with 14:14 remaining in the second quarter.
On the second play of UTM's next possession, Zak Wallace took the handoff and dashed 75 yards to quickly tie things up at 7-7 in less than a minute.
SEMO yielded 45 penalty yards during the Skyhawks final drive of the second quarter that resulted in a 10-yard touchdown run by backup quarterback Dresser Winn. Winn's score gave UTM its first lead at 14-7 with 1:47 to go.
The Redhawks responded by covering 75 yards in 11 plays and brought the game to a 14-14 deadlock at the half. Ogbonna threw a 28-yard pass to Jake Holten to move SEMO to the UTM 30-yard line. Three plays later, Ogbonna hooked up with Terrell Jester for a 7-yard touchdown. It was the first touchdown of Jester's career.
Ogbonna completed 14-of-25 passes and ran the ball four times, averaging over nine yards (9.2) per rush.
Jester had four catches for 47 yards and a career-best two touchdowns. Jester was one of six different receivers who had at least one reception.
Meanwhile, Shamenski Rucker gained 110 yards on 28 carries during his first career start. Rucker started at tailback after Geno Hess suffered a leg injury the previous week at Murray State.
SEMO outgained UTM, 412-278, in total yards.
Brandon Mincey led the Redhawks defense with seven tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack. Omardrick Douglas followed with six tackles, a forced fumble and a sack and Bryson Donnell pitched in six tackles, as well. Additionally, Shabari Davis had an interception, his first of the season.
SEMO closed out its 2021 campaign by honoring its 21 seniors with a complete win over the Skyhawks. The Redhawks finished with a winning record in conference play for a program record fourth consecutive year.
