CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Redshirt-freshman Johnny Weber threw for 283 yards and two touchdowns and Brandon Epton, Jr. ran for a pair of scores leading Southeast Missouri (2-4, 1-1) to a 28-12 victory over Tennessee State (1-5, 0-3) Saturday at Houck Field.
 
In his first career start, Weber completed 24-of-39 passes and hooked up with seven different receivers on at least one completion for the day.
 
Meanwhile, Epton, Jr. finished with multiple touchdowns for the first time in his career. 
 
After both teams turned the ball over on their opening possession, SEMO built a two-score first-quarter lead.
 
Donnie Cheers made a nice one-handed catch in the left corner of the end zone on a 9-yard pass from Weber to cap a 13-play, 90-yard drive putting the Redhawks ahead, 7-0. Weber's first career touchdown pass came with 5:47 remaining in the first period.
 
On fourth-and-2, SEMO faked a punt and Cole Ruble broke free for 35 yards to give the Redhawks a first down at the TSU 39-yard line. Two plays later, Brandon Epton, Jr. ran up the middle 36 yards to the end zone pushing the Redhawks lead to 14-0 with 1:15 left.
 
Epton, Jr. scored his second touchdown on a 2-yard run polishing off the Redhawks longest drive of the season thus far. SEMO covered 99 yards in 10 plays consuming 4:20. Epton's score widened the Redhawks margin to 21-0 with 8:30 to go in the second quarter.
 
TSU got on the board with a 36-yard field goal by Freddy Perez narrowing SEMO's lead to 21-3 at the half.
 
Another 36-yard field goal by Perez accounted for the only scoring in the third quarter bringing the score to 21-6 at the 11:42 mark.
 
The Tigers scored their only touchdown of the game on a 50-yard run by Zack Simmons-Brown with 13:22 remaining in the fourth quarter. Simmons-Brown's TD came shortly after Mark Shenouda kept TSU's drive alive with a 5-yard run on a fake punt.
 
SEMO, however, immediately countered when Weber threw his second touchdown pass of the game for 10 yards to Kalvin Gilbert making it 28-12 in favor of the Redhawks with 10:23 left.
 
The Redhawks tallied 456 total yards, including a season-high 173 on the ground.
 
Ruble paved the way with 93 yards on 12 carries averaging 7.8 yards per touch. Epton, Jr. followed with 69 yards on 16 attempts.
Cam Pedro led all SEMO receivers with eight catches for 94 yards.
 
Defensively, the Redhawks were led by Landon Sylvie and Steven Lewis with seven tackles each. Lewis matched a career-high in tackles. He also had 2.5 tackles for loss. The Redhawks recorded a season-high four sacks, as well.
 
SEMO will host Eastern Illinois on its Homecoming Oct. 18.