Redhawks Let Big Lead Slip Away in 38-33 Loss to #23 Central Arkansas

Saturday, October 7

Conway, Ark.

4:00 PM

Southeast Missouri State University

1-4 , 1-0

#23 Central Arkansas

4-2 , 2-0

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Southeast Mo. St.	7	10	13	3	33
Central Ark.	0	6	0	32	38

10/7/2023 8:36:00 PM | Football

Box Score Final Statistics

CONWAY, Ark. – #23 Central Arkansas (4-2) scored 32 fourth-quarter points to wipe out a 24-point deficit in a 38-33 win over Southeast Missouri (1-4) Saturday at Estes Stadium.

SEMO led, 30-6, with 53 seconds left to play in the third quarter before UCA put together its ferocious comeback.

The Bears scored their 32 points in just 6:07 of possession time and had 260 yards in the fourth quarter alone. Will McElvain threw four touchdown passes, including a 73-yard strike to Christian Richmond and 45-yard toss to Myles Butler that quickly narrowed SEMO's lead to 33-31 with 1:34 to go.

On SEMO's ensuing drive, the Redhawks committed two-straight holding penalties. The first put SEMO in a third-and-21 situation and the second was declined resulting in a punt.

UCA then took over on downs at its own 30-yard line and went 70 yards in less than a minute to complete its come-from-behind victory. Kylin James' 9-yard touchdown run gave the Bears their only lead of the game with 19 seconds on the clock.

Ryan Flournoy, who returned after missing one game with a fractured hand, caught a 31-yard pass for a first down to help set up SEMO's first score of the contest. Flournoy later made a 15-yard touchdown reception to put the Redhawks ahead 7-0 with 7:09 remaining in the first quarter.

After Jake Gaster kicked a 20-yard field goal to get the Bears on the board with just under 13 minutes left in the second quarter, SEMO countered.

Aided by a roughing the passer penalty, the Redhawks marched 69 yards in eight plays and extended their lead when Paxton DeLaurent threw a back shoulder pass to Dalyn McDonald in the end zone. McDonald's catch gave SEMO a 14-3 advantage with 10:11 to go.

Both teams exchanged field goals to complete the first half scoring with Gaster making a 35-yard kick and DC Pippin connecting from 27 yards out as the Redhawks led 17-6 at the half.

Joedrick Lewis intercepted McElvain for the first turnover of the game just before the first half ended and SEMO posted its third-straight halftime lead.

SEMO forced UCA to punt on the first possession of the second half.

The Redhawks manufactured a 13-play, 69-yard scoring drive. On third-and-10 at the UCA 29, a pass interference penalty by the Bears gave SEMO a first down at the Bears 14-yard line. Another penalty by UCA on third down moved SEMO to the 8-yard line.

After DeLaurent completed a 7-yard pass to Mitchell Sellers, he scored on a 1-yard run to widen the Redhawks margin to 24-6 with 8:22 remaining in the third quarter.

Geno Hess broke free for his 57^th career rushing touchdown when his 19-yard burst capped SEMO's longest drive of the game. Hess' TD polished off an 8-play, 88-yard drive giving SEMO its biggest lead at 30-6.

Hess ran for 122 yards and one touchdown and caught four passes for 27 yards. DeLaurent completed 25-of-46 passes for 262 yards and two touchdowns and ran for one. And, Damoriea Vick and Flournoy combined for 12 catches for 159 yards.

Defensively, Lawrence Johnson paved the way with eight tackles.

McElvain was 13-of-18 for 219 yards and four touchdowns in the fourth quarter and finished with a career-high 397 passing yards.

SEMO, which has lost three in a row, looks to get back on track when it resumes Big South-OVC Association action next week. The Redhawks host Eastern Illinois during their Homecoming on Oct. 14.