CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Paxton DeLaurent threw for a career-high 418 yards and four touchdowns and #9 Southeast Missouri (6-1, 3-0) scored 24 unanswered points to blow by Tennessee Tech (2-4, 2-1), 34-3, Saturday afternoon.
 
SEMO, which remained undefeated at home and in Big South-Ohio Valley Conference Association play, beat TTU for the seventh time in eight meetings between the teams. The Redhawks moved into sole possession of first in the conference standings with their fifth-straight victory.
 
DeLaurent had a record-setting day breaking SEMO's all-time career records in passing touchdowns, passing yardage and completions. He has now thrown for 6,563 yards, 50 touchdowns and completed 554 passes as the Redhawks three-year starting quarterback.
 
After a scoreless first quarter, SEMO put the first points on the board when DC Pippin split the uprights with a 24-yard field goal giving the Redhawks a 3-0 edge with 6:45 remaining in the second quarter.
 
Pippin's field goal came after a wild play where Mitchell Sellers fumbled and TTU's Eric Taylor recovered. Taylor scooped up the ball and ran all the way to SEMO's 1-yard line before wide receiver Tristan Smith took the ball right out of Taylor's outside arm and went into the end zone for a touchback. The kick capped a 9-play, 74-yard drive in 5:06.
 
SEMO added to its lead with DeLaurent's record-breaking 13-yard touchdown pass from to Smith stretching the Redhawks lead to 10-0 at the 4:36 mark.
 
DeLaurent, despite throwing two interceptions in the first half, became the Redhawks all-time career leader in passing yardage and passing touchdowns in the opening two quarters of play.
 
TTU made it a one-score game (10-3) on a 43-yard field goal by Dom LeBlanc with 8:41 left to play in the third quarter. It was all SEMO after that.
 
Immediately followingthe Golden Eagles' lone score of the contest, the Redhawks countered with 24-straight points to put their sixth win of the season on ice.
 
DeLaurent connected with Cam Pedro for 46 yards on SEMO's ensuing possession to give the Redhawks a 17-3 advantage with 5:22 to go.
 
Then, DeLaurent hooked up with a wide open Sellers for a 31-yard touchdown at the 13:42 mark in the fourth quarter.
 
On first-and-10 at the SEMO 19-yard line, TTU's Jordyn Potts was intercepted by Ty Leonard. Leonard returned his first interception of the year 44 yards to the Golden Eagles' 41.
 
Six plays later, Dorian Anderson scored on a 5-yard touchdown reception from DeLaurent to make it 31-3 with 9:23 left to play.
 
The Golden Eagles were again inside SEMO's territory at the Redhawks 8-yard line when Potts was intercepted by Slade Dollar. Dollar ran his first career pick 74 yards to the TTU 24-yard line.
 
That turnover resulted in a 35-yard field goal by Pippin.
 
DeLaurent completed 34-of-46 passes and SEMO racked up a season-high 455 yards of total offense. Pedro finished with 111 yards and a touchdown on six catches, while Smith added six receptions for 96 yards and a score. Sellers and Anderson tacked on one receiving TD apiece, as well.
 
Defensively, SEMO held TTU to just 60 total yards and an average of only two yards per play in the first half. Overall, the Redhawks had two sacks, two interceptions, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery. SEMO allowed 262 total yards with only 31 on the ground.
 
Bryce Norman turned in a game-high 14 tackles,1.5 tackles for loss, one breakup and a quarterback hurry. Khalani Riddick, Mali Walton, Chris Daigre and Amare Townsend followed with five tackles each.
 
SEMO travels to Charleston Southern on Oct. 19.