ST. CHARLES, Mo. – Geno Hess ran for a career-high 276 yards and four touchdowns, and broke two of his program's career records to lead #24 Southeast Missouri (4-1, 1-0) to a 49-28 win over Lindenwood (2-2, 0-2) Saturday at Hunter Stadium.
 
In the first-ever meeting between SEMO and LU, deemed Game Ball Brawl, the Redhawks prevailed in a shootout that featured a combined 77 points and 1,218 yards of total offense.
 
A native of Peoria, Illinois, Hess broke SEMO's all-time career records in total touchdowns and rushing touchdowns surpassing Walter Smallwood in both categories. Smallwood attended the game and presented Hess with the game ball after the Redhawks buried the Lions with a 21-point fourth quarter. Hess now has 39 total touchdowns and 37 rushing touchdowns in his career.
 
SEMO never trailed in the game and drove inside LU's 20-yard line on each of its first two possessions but settled for DC Pippin field goals of 21 and 29 yards to take an early 6-0 lead with 5:33 left to play in the first quarter.
 
The Lions were then inside the Redhawks 10-yard line when quarterback Cade Brister fumbled on back-to-back plays. Brister's second fumble was recovered by LaWilliam Holmes.
 
SEMO later capitalized on the turnover with a 9-play, 87-yard march that ended with a 15-yard touchdown run by Hess pushing the Redhawks lead to 13-0 at the 13:13 mark in the second quarter.
 
The Redhawks continued their strong start with another touchdown, this time a 21-yard pass from Paxton DeLaurent to Johnny King. King's team-high fourth receiving TD was followd by a 2-point conversion as SEMO widened its lead to 21-0 with 8:28 to go.
 
A roughing the kicker penalty by SEMO gave LU an automatic first down with under three minutes left in the second quarter. Brister would hook up with Payton Rose on a 14-yard pass to cut the Redhawks lead to 21-7 at the half.
 
LU managed to make it a one-possession game on a 19-yard pass from Brister to Kobe Smith with 4:10 left in the third quarter.
 
However, SEMO answered with touchdowns by Hess on its next to scoring drives. Hess scored from 14 yards out and later busted loose for an 84-yard touchdown after Bryce Norman intercepted Brister to give the Redhawks a 35-14 advantage.
 
Two more fourth-quarter touchdowns followed when Shamenski Rucker sprinted 30 yards to the end zone and Hess capped off his record-setting day with a 1-yard plunge to polish off SEMO's fourth-consecutive win.

Hess ran the ball 24 times and averaged a staggering 11.5 yards per carry to lead SEMO to a season-high 372 rushing yards.
 
Meanwhile, DeLaurent threw for 312 yards and one touchdown on 19-of-33 passes. King added a game-high eight receptions for 126 yards and one touchdown, his second 100-yard receiving effort this year.
 
SEMO's 684 total yards were the second-most in a game during the Redhawks Division I era.
 
Defensively, the Redhawks posted a +2 turnover margin. Trai Hodges led the way with nine tackles and Norman followed close behind with eight stops, a sack, one interception and a pass breakup.
 
SEMO won its Ohio Valley Conference opener for the fourth-straight season and improved to 7-2 in such games under Head Coach Tom Matukewicz. The Redhawks are also on their first four-game winning streak since the 2019 campaign.
 
The Redhawks return home to host Tennessee Tech on Oct. 8.