By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech's defense had moments to shine in Saturday's game against Southeast Missouri, but the Golden Eagles were held to just three points in the contest as the Redhawks prevailed 28-3.
The Golden Eagles fall to 2-5 overall, 0-2 in the Big South-Ohio Valley Conference Football Association, while the Redhawks improve to 3-4, 3-0 in the league.
Dominant SEMO running back Geno Hess, who broke the Redhawks' all-time all-purpose yardage record last week, was held to just 48 total yards on 14 carries, averaging 3.4 yards per tote. The Golden Eagle defense also had a pair of efforts deep in their red zone, holding one to a failed field goal try.
The defense held as long as it could on other drives – facing 11 total plays from its own 10-yard-line or less in the contest – but Southeast Missouri was able to get short-yardage scores in the second, third and fourth quarters.
The first quarter was shaping up quietly as both teams traded possessions, but Paxton DeLaurent showed off his arm with an 89-yard connection to Ryan Flournoy on the first play from scrimmage in the drive, taking just 11 seconds to score in the series with 7:22 remaining in the opening quarter.
DeLaurent went down in the second quarter with an injury, but ended his day with 184 passing yards and three rushes for minus-10 yards rushing as the second sack of the day on him sent him to the locker room.
That did not stall SEMO's offense. Patrick Heitert picked up where DeLaurent left off, completing 12 of his 14 passes for 179 yards. He had a seven-yard touchdown pass to Dalyn McDonald in the second quarter to wrap up a 13-play, 74-yard series, then rushed for a one-yard touchdown to end a 10-play, 70-yard string to break up Tech's goal-line stand.
Hess found paydirt in the fourth quarter to keep from getting shut out on the day, scoring from three yards out with 9:33 remaining.
Tech scored with 1:24 left in the second quarter as he kicked a 31-yard field goal after getting stalled at the SEMO 14. The Golden Eagles had another red zone chance in the fourth quarter as Tech got the to the SEMO 5, but an offensive pass interference call pushed the Golden Eagles back to the 20 for 3rd-and-goal and got no closer. Olsen's try from 37 went wide left.
The offense for the Golden Eagles mustered 244 yards on 64 plays. True freshman Jordyn Potts threw for 137 yards on 13-of-31 passing with only a late interception in the turnover column for the day. Marcus Knight carried the ball 11 times for 44 yards to lead the rushing attack, while Jalal Dean had four catches for 51 yards.
Jyron Gilmore led Tech's defensive effort with nine tackles, while Tim Coutras had six. Daniel Rickert had 1.5 sacks for nine yards, Jacorrian Wrenn one sack for seven yards and Ethan McLaurin half a sack for four yards.
Flournoy had six catches for 203 yards, the most for a Redhawk receiver since Flournoy had 256 yards last season against Eastern Kentucky. Hess led SEMO on the ground with 48 yards. Defensively, Bryce Norman had nine tackles, while Lawrence Johnson had seven to led the Redhawks.
The Golden Eagles return to action next week as they head to the Northeast to face Robert Morris in Big South-OVC action for an 11 a.m. Central kickoff next Saturday. Tech returns home the following week for the annual Homecoming game – this season against UT Martin.
Tickets for Tennessee Tech football are on sale – call (931) 372-3940, visit the Hooper Eblen Center ticket office or order online at TTUsports.com.
Photo | Craig Delk
