Redhawks Shine in 23-21 Season-Opening Win Over Indiana State

Saturday, August 29

Terre Haute, Ind.

5 PM

Southeast Missouri State University

1-0 , 0-0

Indiana State

0-1 , 0-0

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Southeast Mo. St.	7	3	7	6	23
Indiana St.	0	7	7	7	21

Photos

8/29/2026 9:06:00 PM | Football

Box Score

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Southeast Missouri (1-0) began its 2026 season with a 23-21 win over Missouri Valley Football Conference member Indiana State (0-1) Saturday night at Memorial Stadium.

Justin Keller made three field goals and scored 11 of his team's points guiding SEMO to its second season-opening win in three years and 12th overall since joining the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision.

SEMO struck first after Pervis Brunson tackled Spencer Conrad short of a first down on a fake punt. Brunson's play gave the Redhawks excellent field position at the ISU 29-yard line.

On the seventh play of the drive, Khyair Spain ran to his left for eight yards into the end zone for his first career SEMO touchdown giving the Redhawks a 7-0 lead with 3:13 remaining in the first quarter.

Less than two minutes into the second quarter, ISU tied things up. Elijah Owens threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to KeShon Singleton capping a 9-play, 75-yard drive with 13:57 on the clock.

A 36-yard completion from Braylen Ragland to Jobe Bryant put SEMO in field goal range with eight seconds left. On the next play, Keller kicked a 42-yard field goal to put the Redhawks ahead, 10-7, at the half.

A 42-yard kickoff return by Khylen Harris-Norman started things off for the Redhawks in the second half.

Andrew Civey then caught three passes for 27 yards to get SEMO to the ISU 32-yard line. Two plays later, Ragland hooked up with John Anthony, Jr. for an 18-yard touchdown to stretch the Redhawks lead to 17-7 with 12:16 to go in the third quarter.

The Sycamores made it a one-score game putting together a 10-play, 84-yard march that ended with a 1-yard touchdown run by Ashton Hayes. Hayes' TD trimmed SEMO's lead to 17-14 with 1:51 left to play.

On its next possession, SEMO settled for a 43-yard field goal by Keller to grab a 20-14 advantage at the 12:30 mark in the fourth quarter.

ISU managed to take its only lead of the night when Owens threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Jayden Reed. Reed's score gave the Sycamores a 21-20 cushion with 10:26 to go.

Keller, however, came up big again for the Redhawks.

This time, his 45-yard field goal reclaimed a 23-21 edge with 7:04 left.

SEMO's defense forced ISU to punt and that would be the last time the Sycamores had the ball.

The Redhawks took over on downs with a little over four minutes remaining and picked up two first downs along the way. SEMO ran out the clock following Spain's 4-yard run.

Tom Matukewicz picked up his first win over ISU as SEMO's head coach. The three matchups with the Sycamores (2015, 2016, 2026) with Matukewicz at the helm were decided by a combined six points.

Both teams were close in terms of rushing yards (ISU 58, SEMO 53), passing yards (ISU 288, SEMO 274) and total offense (ISU 346, SEMO 327).

Ragland, in his first career start as SEMO's quarterback, completed 26-of-36 passes for 274 yards and one touchdown.

Anthony, Jr. finished with six receptions for 88 yards and one touchdown, while Spain ran for 66 yards and one touchdown. Anthony, Jr. and Spain made their Redhawk debuts, as well.

Defensively, DJ Delmore paved the way with a career-high 13 tackles. The Redhawks added four sacks, 11 tackles for loss and one turnover too.

SEMO returns to action when it makes its longest bus trip of the season to Big 12 Conference and Football Bowl Subdivision member Iowa State on Sept. 5.