CARBONDALE, Ill. – Paxton DeLaurent threw for 301 yards and four touchdowns and Dorian Anderson, Tristan Smith and Payton Brown each went over 100 yards to lead #21 Southeast Missouri (3-1) to a 38-21 win over longtime rival #7 Southern Illinois (2-2) Saturday.
 
In the 92^nd meeting between the schools separated 48 miles apart, SEMO came away with the War for the Wheel trophy for the fourth time since the matchup became a trophy game in 2018. The unique ship wheel will head back to Cape Girardeau where it will be displayed until next season's contest.
 
The Redhawks cracked the Top-25 for the first time this season ahead of this year's game and took down a Top-10 opponent for the fourth time under Head Coach Tom Matukewicz. #7 SIU is the third highest ranked opponent SEMO beat in program history behind #3 Southeastern Louisiana (2014) and #4 Jacksonville State (2018). 
 
SEMO also defeated SIU for the third time in four trips to Saluki Stadium.
 
The Redhawks struck on their first drive of the game after a 32-yard punt return by Khalani Riddick set up the opening touchdown. 
 
After an initial touchdown pass from DeLaurent to Anderson was called back due to a pass interference, DeLaurent connected with Kyron Downing on a 12-yard pass. DC Pippin's extra point was blocked and returned for two points as SEMO led, 6-2, with 8:59 left in the first quarter. For Downing, it was his first career touchdown.
 
SIU's Paul Geelen missed a 37-yard field goal and SEMO went to work at its own 20-yard line.
 
Immediately after DeLaurent completed a 15-yard pass to Smith, Brown ripped off a 28-yard run up the middle to get the Redhawks to the SIU 37-yard line.
 
Six plays later, DeLaurent threw a 19-yard pass that deflected off an SIU defender's helmet. The ball fell into the hands of Anderson in the end zone stretching SEMO's lead to 13-2 with 2:06 remaining.
 
The Salukis answered with 10 second-quarter points and capitalized after a missed field goal by Pippin to get their first points of the night.
 
Hunter Simmons' 11-yard touchdown pass to Vinson Davis III finished off a 12-play, 69-yard drive. A 38-yard field goal by Geelen then narrowed SEMO's lead to 13-12 with 1:45 remaining.
 
SEMO managed to get on more field goal from Pippin, this time from 43 yards out to take a 15-12 advantage at the half.
 
DeLaurent completed 10 of his first 11 passes of the game and threw for 188 yards on 17-of-23 attempts in the first half alone.
 
SEMO went three-and-out on its first drive of the second half and SIU countered with a 34-yard field goal by Geelen to get within a point again at 16-15 with 8:32 left to play in the third quarter. 
 
SIU took its only lead of the game (21-16) on a 4-yard touchdown run by Willtrell Hartson with a little over two minutes left in the third quarter.
 
The Redhawks answered though getting a big boost from Brown who broke free for a 52-yard run to set up DeLaurent's third passing touchdown, a 19-yard strike to Anderson. SEMO converted the ensuing 2-point conversion when DeLaurent completed a pass to Smith regaining a 24-21 lead with 1:16 to play.
 
A penalty backed SIU deep into its own territory and the Salukis punted. Geelen's punt sailed out of bounds at the SIU 46-yard line giving the Redhawks excellent field position. 
 
DeLaurent picked up a first down on a fourth-and-1 to keep the next drive alive and Smith made a big 21-yard catch to put the ball at the SIU 8-yard line. DeLaurent then threw his game-high fourth touchdown pass to Mitchell Sellers pushing SEMO's lead to 31-21 with 11:58 to go in the fourth quarter.
 
SEMO delivered one last blow when Brown punched it in on a 1-yard run polishing off a 14-point fourth period for the Redhawks.
 
The Redhawks outgained the Salukis, 449-403.
 
DeLaurent completed 35-of-40 passes, while Anderson and Smith had 111 and 109 receiving yards, respectively. Anderson had a pair of touchdown receptions, as well.
 
Meanwhile, Brown gained 124 yards on 18 carries averaging just under seven yards per touch (6.9).
 
Bryce Norman posted a game-high 12 tackles to pace SEMO's defense. Mali Walton followed with 10 tackles and McCoy Casey turned in nine tackles, 1.5 sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss on his birthday.
 
Additionally, SEMO scored on all five of its drives in the red zone.
 
The Redhawks return home to host Southland Conference member Northwestern State on Sept. 28.