MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Freshman Payton Brown ran for 97 yards and three touchdowns and Southeast Missouri (1-0) grinded out a 37-15 victory over North Alabama (0-1) Saturday night in the week zero FCS Kickoff.
 
With starting quarterback Paxton DeLaurent out of the game after suffering a shoulder injury late in the second quarter, Brown gave SEMO a much-needed lift and, as a result, the Redhawks scored 30 unanswered points to roar past the Lions.
 
In his college debut, Brown scored 18 of the Redhawks points in that stretch and tied a FCS Kickoff single-game record with his three touchdowns along the way. Jackson State quarterback Zion Webb was the last to score three touchdowns in the 2022 version of the contest.
 
For his efforts, Brown received the game's Most Valuable Player award.
 
SEMO trailed, 15-7, with 4:11 left to play in the second quarter when Brown scored his first career touchdown on a 1-yard run closing UNA's lead to 15-13 just before halftime.
 
He then broke free for a hard-fought 25-yard touchdown bouncing off tacklers before diving across the goal line to regain a 21-15 advantage for SEMO with 15 seconds in the third quarter.
 
SEMO, which shutout the Lions, 24-0, in the second half, pushed its lead to 27-15 on Brown's third touchdown, a 1-yard run with 7:13 on the clock. That play was set up by a 47-yard run by backup quarterback Carter Hensley who was also outstanding in his first game under center.
 
Right before that scoring drive, Northwestern State linebacker Jared Pedraza dropped Dennis Moody for a loss of two yards on a big fourth-down stop at the Redhawks 22-yard line. 
 
Hensley's 1-yard run finished a 19-yard drive and DC Pippin made a 41-yard field goal in the last 5:32 of the game to bury UNA for good.
 
SEMO scored on its first possession of the season marching 12 yards in 57 plays to take an early lead 5:31 into the opening quarter.
 
The Redhawks converted on 3-of-3 third downs and newcomer Cam Pedro scored the first touchdown of the year on a 4-yard reception by DeLaurent to put SEMO ahead, 7-0, with 9:29 to play.
 
UNA later took its first lead on a 3-yard rush by Jayvian Allen and followed with a 2-point conversion to pull ahead, 8-7, with 1:22 remaining in the first quarter.
 
Ari Patu scored on a quarterback keeper to push UNA's margin to 15-7 with 4:11 to go in the second quarter.
 
Brown averaged over five yards per carry (5.1) on 19 attempts. He caught two passes for 29 yards, as well.
 
Hensley, a redshirt-freshman, completed 10-of-14 passes for 100 yards and ran for 26 yards and one touchdown on four carries.
 
DeLaurent was 14-of-17 with 96 yards and a touchdown before his game-ending injury.
 
Defensively, SEMO had four takeaways which tied a FCS Kickoff single-game record. Youngstown State also accomplished the feat against Samford in 2019.
 
Khalani Riddick paved the way with eight tackles, while Pedraza and Bryce Norman followed close behind with seven apiece. Pedraza forced a fumble, recovered a fumble, added two tackles for loss and one sack.
 
Nasim Cairo turned in four tackles, two sacks and forced a fumble, while Adrian Patterson and Justus Johnson each had their first career interceptions.
 
SEMO finished with 372 total yards and picked up 176 on the ground. Additionally, the Redhawks were 8-of-15 on third down for 53.3 percent.
 
The Redhawks ended a three-game losing streak dating back to Nov. 4, 2023 and snapped a four-game skid in season-opening contests. 
 
SEMO faced UNA for the first time in 68 years.
 
The Redhawks head to Football Bowl Subdivision member New Mexico State on Aug. 31.