Smith's Career Day Leads Redhawks to 24-21 Win Over Tennessee Tech

Sunday, March 28

Cape Girardeau, Mo.

2:00 PM

Southeast Missouri State University

2-4 , 2-3

Tennessee Tech

1-4 , 1-4

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Tennessee Tech	0	14	0	7	21
Southeast Missouri	21	0	0	3	24

Photo by: Marc Mahnke

3/28/2021 6:47:00 PM | Football

Box Score Final Statistics Highlights

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Zack Smith had a career-high 10 receptions for 173 yards and two touchdowns to lead Southeast Missouri (2-4, 2-3) to a 24-21 win over Tennessee Tech (1-4, 1-4) Saturday afternoon at Houck Field.

Smith established new career-highs in both receptions and receiving yards. His 100-yard receiving game was also his second as a Redhawk and first since finishing with five catches for 122 yards vs. Dayton on Sept. 8, 2018.

SEMO stormed out to a 21-0 first-quarter lead with Smith scoring both of his touchdowns in the opening 15 minutes of play.

The Redhawks covered 87 yards in eight plays during their impressive opening drive that ended with Andrew Bunch throwing an 8-yard touchdown pass to Smith with 8:24 to go.

After TTU punted, SEMO began its next possession at its own 39-yard line. Following a 17-yard completion from Bunch to Smith, the Golden Eagles committed a pair of personal foul penalties that moved the ball to their 13-yard line. Moments later, Geno Hess dashed 13 yards to the end zone to increase the Redhawks lead to 14-0.

Bunch then hooked up with Smith for a 61-yard strike, SEMO's longest scoring play of the season, to make it a 21-0 game with two minutes left in the first quarter.

TTU answered with a couple touchdowns to pull to within seven at halftime.

Willie Miller hit paydirt on a 1-yard run to polish off a 13-play, 80-yard drive with 6:25 remaining in the second quarter.

Following a SEMO punt, Miller threw a 19-yard touchown pass to Jordan Brown on the Golden Eagles' ensuing drive to narrow the Redhawks lead to 21-14.

After a scoreless third quarter, TTU had the ball inside SEMO's 20-yard line. On second-and-10 at the Redhawks 18, Lawrence Johnson stripped the ball from Miller and Bryson Donnell recovered.

SEMO went to work at its own 10-yard line following the big turnover and quickly got to the 43-yard line with a 33-yard completion from Bunch to Smith. The drive resulted in a 23-yard field goal by Kenny Doak that gave the Redhawks a 24-14 advantage with 10:28 left to play in the fourth quarter.

The Golden Eagles forced a turnover of their own when Bunch fumbled and Jamaal Thompson recovered at SEMO's 39-yard line.

Five plays later, Smith hooked up with Jordan Brown for a 26-yard touchdown to close SEMO's lead to 24-21 with 3:20 left.

That was as close as TTU would get as the Redhawks managed to run out the clock.

Bunch completed 18-of-24 passes for 259 yards and two touchdowns.

Smith averaged 17.3 yards per catch on his career day.

Hess ran for a game-high 89 yards and one touchdown on 18 carries.

Defensively, Lawrence Johnson led the way with a career-best 12 tackles. It was Johnson's second double-digit tackle effort in three games.

Miller threw for 166 yards and two touchdowns, and ran for 65 yards and another score to pace TTU.

SEMO honored six seniors, including Daterraion Richardson, Rashad Hughes, Camden Boyle, Cleyton Gracie, Dane Nelson and Austin Crump prior to kickoff. Gracie, who initially joined the team as a walk-on, was awarded a scholarship at the conclusion of the special senior recognition. CLICK HERE to watch the scholarship presentation.

Those six seniors leave SEMO as part of the second-winningest senior class (22 wins) in program history.

The Redhawks travel to UT Martin on Apr. 3.