CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Geno Hess ran for 115 yards and a career-high four touchdowns, but Southeast Missouri (1-3, 1-2) came up short in a dramatic 49-42 double overtime loss to Austin Peay (2-4, 2-1) Sunday at Houck Field.
 
The reigning Co-Ohio Valley Conference Champions went wire-to-wire in an all out slugfest.
 
SEMO trailed, 35-28, with 12:22 left to play in the fourth quarter when it put together an impressive 21-play, 75-yard drive that consumed 7:21. Hess scored on a 5-yard run to tie the game at 35-35 and force overtime with 23 seconds on the clock.
 
Both teams scored quickly on two plays during each their first overtime possessions.
 
Hess ran for 20 yards and SEMO moved to the APSU 2-yard line following a face mask penalty. He then hit paydirt on a 2-yard run to put the Redhawks ahead, 42-35.
 
APSU used a 7-yard completion from Draylen Ellis to Brian Snead to set up its touchdown which came on an 18-yard pass from Ellis to Baniko Harley to knot things up at 42-42.
 
The Governors opened the second overtime period with another touchdown pass, this time from Ellis to Baniko Harley for 22 yards.
 
APSU scored 13 first quarter points and extended its lead to 20-7 on a 71-yard strike from Ellis to Jay Parker at the 6:44 mark of the second quarter. 
 
SEMO answered with a 3-yard touchdown run by Hess and a 3-yard rushing TD by Bunch to grab a 21-20 edge at the intermission. The Redhawks scored 21 points in the second quarter en route to their halftime lead.
 
After a scoreless third quarter, APSU and SEMO exchanged touchdowns in the final 15 minutes of regulation setting the stage for extra time.
 
Hess tied the game at 28-28 o a 4-yard run with 12:22 to go before scoring his other touchdown in the fourth quarter.
 
The Redhawks and Governors combined for 91 points, 749 yards of total offense and 255 yards on 26 penalties.
 
Hess carried the ball 38 times and ran for over 100 yards for the second time this season and third in his career. His four rushing touchdowns tied for second-most in a game in program history. Marquis Terry was the last Redhawk to score four rushing touchdowns in 2018 (at Southern Illinois).
 
Bunch completed 18-of-37 passes for 191 yards and one touchdown. He also ran for another score. 
 
Aaron Alston added six catches for 75 yards, while Colby Cornett caught a 19-yard touchdown pass.
 
Izeal Terrell and Lawrence Johnson topped SEMO's defense with 12 and 10 tackles, respectively. Bydarrius Knighten followed with eight tackles and had an interception. Mike Matthews recovered a fumble and Bryson Donnell blocked a kick, as well.
 
Ellis threw for 262 yards and six touchdowns to pace APSU. He completed 23-of-43 attempts.
 
Snead gained 138 yards and scored a touchdown on the ground, where he averaged over five yards per touch (5.5).
 
SEMO returns to action when it travels to #10 Jacksonville State on Mar. 21.