CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Southeast Missouri (9-4) turned the ball over eight times and #12 Illinois State (10-3) scored 28 points off those miscues in a 35-27 victory in the first round of the Football Championship Subdivision Playoffs Saturday.
Tied, 7-7, things got out of hand quickly when the Redbirds recorded a takeaway on four-straight SEMO possessions.
Paxton DeLaurent was picked off by Keondre Jackson and Tommy Rittenhouse hooked up with Daniel Sobkowicz on a 62-yard touchdown to give ILS its first lead.
On SEMO's ensuing drive, DeLaurent's pass was tipped by Jalen Gaines. The ball landed right in the hands of defensive lineman Jake Anderson who ran 55 yards to the end zone.
Tristan Smith then fumbled on the Redhawks next drive and led to a 24-yard touchdown pass from Rittenhouse to Xavier Lloyd giving ILS a 28-7 lead at the half.
The Redbirds' 21 second quarter points came in the final six minutes of the first half.
SEMO managed to make it a two-score game when
Donnie Cheers scored his first career touchdown on a 10-yard reception. Cheers' touchdown cut the Redbirds' lead to 28-14 with 11:40 remaining in the third quarter.
On third-and-10 at its own 17-yard line, Jackson intercepted DeLaurent for the second time and sprinted 30 yards to the end zone stretching the Redbirds' lead to 35-14 less than two minutes later.
SEMO started things off with a fourth-down stop that led to the first score of the game.
Bryce Norman and
McCoy Casey dropped Wenkers Wright for no gain on a fourth-and-2 at the Redhawks 27-yard line.
DeLaurent completed his first three passes to move SEMO into ILS territory. DeLaurent capped the drive with a 4-yard touchdown pass to
Dorian Anderson putting the Redhawks ahead, 7-0, with 5:20 left to play in the first quarter. DeLaurent broke SEMO's all-time single-season record in touchdown passes with his completion to Anderson.
DeLaurent's third touchdown pass of the day for nine yards to
Tristan Smith made it a 35-21 game with 6:44 left in the fourth quarter.
SEMO tacked on another touchdown when DeLaurent connected with Anderson on a 34-yard strike and
DC Pippin missed the PAT as the Redhawks pulled within eight with 1:31 left.
ILS recovered the onside kick and proceeded to run out the clock the rest of the way.
A native of Camdenton, Missouri, DeLaurent ended his SEMO career throwing for 567 yards and four touchdowns on 48-of-85 attempts. He broke single-game school records in passing yards, passing attempts and completions. Additionally, it was the first time DeLaurent threw five interceptions in a game during his career. His 85 pass attempts tied the FCS record also done by Stephen F. Austin's Jeremy Moses against Sam Houston State on Nov. 1, 2008.
Cheers posted a career-high 119 receiving yards on 12 catches. Fellow receivers
Cam Pedro and Smith followed with 149 and 139 yards, respectively.
Rittenhouse threw for 277 yards and two touchdowns and the Redbird defense accounted for 14 points.
SEMO had three fumbles and five interceptions in the contest. The eight turnovers are the Redhawks' most in a game during their NCAA FCS Division I era.
The Redhawks 2024 season comes to an end, while ILS advances to face #5 UC Davis on Dec. 7.
