Redhawks Reclaim Game Ball Brawl Trophy with 38-27 Road Win Over Lindenwood

Saturday, October 10

St. Charles, Mo.

1 PM

Southeast Missouri State University

3-3 , 1-0

Lindenwood

1-4 , 1-1

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Southeast Mo. St.	7	14	7	10	38
Lindenwood	7	7	7	6	27

10/10/2026 5:13:00 PM | Football

Box Score

ST. CHARLES, Mo. – John Anthony, Jr. caught three touchdown passes and Braylen Ragland threw for 208 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for another to lead Southeast Missouri (3-3, 1-0) to a 38-27 win over Lindenwood (1-4, 1-1) Saturday afternoon at Hunter Stadium.

SEMO won the Game Ball Brawl trophy in the annual game between the only two NCAA Division I Missouri schools that are conference rivals.

The Redhawks started Ohio Valley Conference play strong with season-highs in points, total yards (423), rushing yards (215) and first downs (32) during their best offensive game of the year to date.

Both SEMO and LU, which entered the game off their bye week, battled to two ties and three lead changes in the first half alone.

The Lions took a 7-0 lead on a 50-yard run by quarterback Pops Battle capping a 13-play, 93-yard drive with 4:15 remaining the first quarter.

Aided by a pair of roughing the passer penalties, SEMO covered 80 yards in eight plays and tied things up when Ragland threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to Anthony, Jr. with 1:12 to play.

Another long touchdown, this time a 43-yard run by Jared Rhodes regained a 14-7 advantage for LU early in the second quarter at the 14:21 mark.

Anthony, Jr. caught his second touchdown pass on a 29-yard throw from Ragland to bring the game to a 14-14 deadlock one minute and 41 seconds later. That play finished off a 5-play, 75-yard strike for the Redhawks in less than two minutes.

After a missed 31-yard field goal by Will Graham, SEMO got the ball back at its own 20-yard line with 3:06 on the clock.

The Redhawks then marched 80 yards in 11 plays and pulled ahead, 21-14, on a 4-yard run by Khyair Spain just before halftime.

SEMO never trailed again after that.

LU managed to tie the game once more on a third-and-Goal at its own 1-yard line. A direct snap soared high off the hands of SEMO running back Cole Ruble. Brayon Crawford scooped up the fumble and ran 86 yards for touchdown to make it a 21-21 game with seven minutes remaining in the third quarter.

The Redhawks, however, immediately responded when they manufactured a 10-play, 75-yard drive that culminated with Anthony, Jr.'s 23-yard over the shoulder catch in the right corner of the end zone.

SEMO proceeded to build its largest lead of the contest with the help of a 1-yard run by Ragland and 45-yard field goal by Justin Keller. Keller's kick stretched the Redhawks margin to 38-21 with 7:56 on the clock.

Ragland completed 73.9 percent (17-of-23) of his passes and ran for 17 yards on five carries. He did not throw an interception.

Anthony, Jr., who transferred to SEMO from Lindenwood, scored a touchdown on three of his four receptions. He finished with four catches for 82 yards. Anthony, Jr. tied the Redhawks' single-game record in touchdown receptions becoming the fifth different receiver in program history to get three TD receptions.

Spain ran the ball 16 times for 85 yards and one touchdown with an average of 5.3 yards per touch, as well.

Defensively, Cyler Christmas led the way with six tackles and David Jones recorded his team-high third interception. The Redhawks, after allowing 189 rushing yards in the first half, gave up only nine in the final two quarters of play.

Saturday's win marked Tom Matukewicz's 70th career victory as SEMO's head coach.

The Redhawks host Western Illinois during its Homecoming weekend on Oct. 17.