CHARLESTON, Ill. – #21 Southeast Missouri (1-1) opened its Ohio Valley Conference spring campaign with a bang, blowing out Eastern Illinois (0-1), 47-7, Sunday at O'Brien Field.

SEMO, which last played an OVC game 463 days ago, stormed out to 34 first-half points and never let up.

Defensively, the Redhawks put together an outstanding performance recording four takeaways (three interceptions) and stopping EIU five times on fourth down. SEMO limited the Panthers to only 114 yards in the game's opening two quarters.

While the defense was creating all sorts of havoc, it was SEMO's special teams which set up the Redhawks first touchdown of the spring. 

Zack Smith blocked Stone Galloway's punt and Aaron Alston recovered at the EIU 10-yard line. Two plays later, Zion Custis crossed the goal line on a 9-yard run to put the Redhawks ahead, 7-0, with 5:57 to play in the first quarter.

SEMO then blew the game open with a 27-point second quarter. 

Izeal Terrell picked off Harry Woodbery and returned his first career interception 10 yards to the SEMO 10-yard line. Geno Hess converted that turnover into seven points on his 1-yard touchdown run five seconds into the second quarter.

After Daterraion Richardson and Jacob Morrissey tackled Kendi Young for no gain on a fourth-and-1, Andrew Bunch threw a quick 27-yard completion to Smith moving SEMO to EIU's 10-yard line. Custis later capped the fast 4-play, 34-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run to extend the Redhawks lead to 21-0.  

SEMO's defense came up big again, this time with James Sackie forcing a fumble on the first play of EIU's next possession. Jordan Smith coughed up the ball on the hit and Sackie recovered.

That turnover resulted in a 38-yard field goal by Kenny Doak, the first of his SEMO career. 

Following another stop by SEMO on a fourth-and-1, Doak kicked another field goal, this time from 34 yards out to send the Redhawks into the locker room with a 34-7 halftime advantage.

SEMO tacked on six more points in the third quarter on an 8-yard run by Hess and buried EIU for good when Al Young ran his interception back 25 yards for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter putting an exclamation point on the blowout.

The 47 points are SEMO's most against EIU ever. The Redhawks also finished with their most points in a OVC road game since scoring 56 at UT Martin on Oct. 27, 2018.

Additionally, today's win gave Tom Matukewicz the most overall wins (34) and OVC wins (26) of any head coach during SEMO's NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision era.

Bunch completed 23-of-37 passes for 302 yards and a touchdown, and ran for 16 yards on three carries. Newcomer Johnny King caught seven passes for 115 yards and a touchdown, while Custis and Hess added two scores each.

The Redhawks accumulated 474 yards of total offense and held EIU to under 300 (295) total yards.

Rasean McCauley, Steven Lewis and Terrell topped SEMO's defense with five tackles apiece. Matthews, Terrell and Young each contributed one interception, while Sackie forced and recovered a fumble. 

Young ran for 88 yards and a touchdown, and Woodbery threw for 101 yards on 10-of-26 passes to pace EIU.

SEMO plays host to Murray State in its home-opener on Mar. 7. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m., CT at Houck Field.