JONESBORO, Ark. – Jax Leatherwood threw for 272 yards and two touchdowns as Southeast Missouri (0-1) dropped its season-opener, 42-24, to Sun Belt Conference and Football Bowl Subdivision member Arkansas State (1-0) Saturday.
 
In his first career start, Leatherwood completed 26-of-36 passes and threw both of his touchdowns in the fourth quarter.
 
He hooked up with Donnie Cheers for a 60-yard strike with 7:51 left and later found Cam Pedro on a 31-yard touchdown pass at the 1:23 mark.
 
SEMO started and finished strong, but couldn't overcome a 21-point second quarter surge by ASU. 
 
The Redhawks scored on their opening two drives of the game.
 
Down, 7-0, Leatherwood completed a 24-yard pass to Anthony Westervelt to get the Redhawks to ASU's 26-yard line. Brandon Epton, Jr., who ran 12 yards to the Red Wolves 7-yard line, then scored on an 8-yard run to tie the game at 7-7 with 9:18 remaining in the first quarter.
 
On its next possession, SEMO chewed up over eight minutes of clock time and took its first lead of the season on a 40-yard field goal by Justin Keller. Keller's first career field goal as a Redhawk put SEMO ahead, 10-7, less than a minute into the second period.
 
After that, ASU scored the final 21 points of the first half.
 
ASU regained the lead when Ja'Quez Cross caught a 4-yard touchdown pass. Cross' second touchdown of the game gave the Red Wolves a 14-10 advantage at the 10:13 mark.
 
The Red Wolves capitalized on a SEMO turnover to add to their lead. Devin Spencer broke free for a 43-yard touchdown run stretching ASU's margin to 21-10 with 9:05 left.
 
ASU scored once more with less than a minute left in the second quarter when Kenyon Clay hit paydirt on a 2-yard run putting the Red Wolves up, 28-10, at the intermission.
 
The Red Wolves increased their lead to 42-10 before SEMO finished with its 14-point fourth quarter.
 
Cheers was one of eight receivers with a catch for the Redhawks. He paved the way with four receptions for 96 yards. Cheer's touchdown was the second of his career.
 
Epton, Jr. ran for 61 yards on 14 carries and averaged 4.4 yards per rush along the way.

SEMO had 364 total yards on the night.
 
Jaylen Raynor threw for 345 yards and three touchdowns on 26-of-32 passes to pace ASU.
 
Defensively, Landon Sylvie registered a career-high 12 tackles as the first Redhawk with double-digit stops in 2025. 
 
SEMO and ASU faced each other for the first time in seven years. Tonight marked the 13^th meeting all-time between the teams.
 
The Redhawks host North Alabama in their home-opener on Sept. 6.