ST. CHARLES, Mo. – #6 Southeast Missouri (8-2, 5-1) was upset by Lindenwood (5-6, 4-3), 24-12, in the Game Ball Brawl Saturday on a rainy day at Hunter Stadium.
LU beat SEMO for the first time on the gridiron in its program history and claimed the rivalry trophy after it had been in Cape Girardeau after the previous two meetings between the teams.
The Lions ended the Redhawks seven-game winning streak and gave them their first loss by a Football Championship Subdivision opponent this year.
It was tough sledding for SEMO all day.
After a scoreless first quarter,
DC Pippin made a 39-yard field goal for the first points of the contest putting SEMO ahead, 3-0, with 13:13 remaining in the second period. Pippin's make finished off a 7-play, 44-yard drive in 2:49 for the Redhawks.
On the next possession,
Khalani Riddick intercepted Nate Glantz's pass downfield for the second pick of his career. Nothing, however, came from the turnover as SEMO punted.
LU then took its first lead of the contest on a 20-yard pass from Glantz to Drew Krobath. Krobath's touchdown gave the Lions a 7-3 advantage with 5:55 remaining. A 45-yard completion from Glantz to Jeff Caldwell set LU up at the SEMO 26-yard line.
Darrell Smith, who was out SEMO's last two games with a hamstring injury, picked up a total of 15 yards on four-straight carries and moved the Redhawks to the LU 30-yard line. There, SEMO settled for a 47-yard field goal by Pippin to make it a one-point game at 7-6 with 3:07 to go.
LU got one more score just before halftime. Steve Hall broke loose for a 58-yard run and the Lions later capitalized on a 3-yard touchdown reception by Jeff Caldwell to push their lead to 14-6 at the intermission.
Glantz widened the Lions' margin on a 27-yard touchdown run that ended a 3-play, 52-yard drive in less than a minute. Glantz's score put LU ahead, 21-6, with 7:20 remaining in the third quarter.
On the first play following a strip sack fumble by
McCoy Casey that was recovered by
Mali Walton,
Paxton DeLaurent completed a 34-yard pass to
Tristan Smith at LU's 3-yard line. DeLaurent hit paydirt right after that and the Redhawks missed the 2-point conversion dropping LU's lead to 21-12 at the 5:05 mark.
Punter Patrick Turner pinned SEMO inside its 1-yard line and the Redhawks quickly went three-and-out.
Logan Leftrick's ensuing punt was returned by Taylen Blaylock 15 yards giving LU the ball at SEMO's 20-yard line.
That drive resulted in a 32-yard field goal by Logan Seibert which gave LU a 24-12 lead with 4:51 left in the fourth quarter.
SEMO started six of its final nine drives of the game at its 20-yard line or inside its own 20 and didn't get on LU's side of the field on those possessions.
DeLaurent threw for 174 yards on 16-of-37 passes and
Tristan Smith made seven catches for 64 yards to lead SEMO's offense which had 234 total yards.
Defensively, Norman turned in a career-high 19 tackles, recorded two sacks and had three tackles for loss. He went over 100 tackles in a season for the second time in his career. Walton followed with 14 tackles, forced and recovered a fumble.
SEMO recorded five sacks and added one interception, as well.
LU, which has the Big South-Ohio Valley Conference Association's top rushing offense, ran for 192 yards.
Hall rushed for 91 yards on 18 carries.
Glantz completed 13-of-20 passes for 183 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 38 yards and another score.
SEMO hosts Western Illinois on Senior Day Nov. 16.
