By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – For a half, the Tennessee Tech football team went toe-to-toe with the No. 9-ranked Southeast Missouri squad, creating turnovers and opportunities.
However, the Redhawk defense showed its strength, forcing the Golden Eagles into three turnovers – which created 13 SEMO points – and held Tech to 31 yards on the ground and 262 overall as Southeast Missouri claimed the 34-3 victory on Saturday afternoon.
Tech (2-4, 2-1 Big South-Ohio Valley Conference) returns to action next week as it hits the road again to Western Illinois for a 3 p.m. kickoff.
The defense created bright spots for the Golden Eagles early as they forced three turnovers on the first four drives. After D.C. Pippin missed a 39-yard field goal attempt on the first series, Tim Coutras ended SEMO's second drive on the first play with an interception. Toby Bolton then intercepted Paxton DeLaurent at the Tech 24 to end a 10-play drive. On the next series, Aaron Swafford forced Mitchell Sellers to fumble a completed pass and Eric Taylor took off with the ball.
He sped up the sideline and looked to be going in for the touchdown, but he lost the ball short of the goal line. The officials ruled it a fumble and SEMO recovery for a touchback. After the challenge, they ruled the call stood, leaving Tech without any points on its three takeaways.
Southeast Missouri drove down the field and Pippin got a 24-yard field goal for its effort on the 10-play, 74-yard drive. The Redhawks also got a 13-yard touchdown pass to Tristan Smith with Pippin's PAT making it a 10-0 game at the intermission.
Tech got its lone points of the contest as it drove to the SEMO 24 and lined up for the field goal – a 43-yard kick – and cleared it easily to get back within a touchdown.
While the Golden Eagles outgained the Redhawks in the second half, it was costly turnovers that turned the tide. SEMO scored one touchdown in the third quarter with a seven-play, 75-yard drive ending with Cam Pedro hauling in a 46-yard strike from DeLaurent.
After Tech turned the ball over on downs at its own 38, two plays later saw SEMO get into the end zone with Sellers collecting a 31-yard touchdown pass from DeLaurent. The Golden Eagles moved the ball all the way down to the SEMO 19, but Ty Leonard intercepted Jordyn Potts at the 15, returning it all the way back to the Golden Eagle 41. Six plays later, DeLaurent threw another touchdown – this time a five-yard pass to Dorian Anderson.
Tech worked its way down the field again and saw a touchdown pass from Potts to J.D. Dixon negated by an unnecessary roughness call. The Golden Eagles overcame it and got into position for a try at the end zone. The first was a toss to Reece Perkins that fell incomplete, then Potts was intercepted at the SEMO 2-yard-line by Slade Dollar.
With time running down, SEMO added one more score as Pippin hit a 35-yard field goal to notch the final margin with 27 seconds remaining in the game.
DeLaurent broke the SEMO career passing touchdown and passing yardage records in the contest, finishing with four touchdown passes and 418 yards on 34-of-46 passing. Pedro had six catches for 111 yards, including 31 after the catch, while Smith had 96 yards on six catches and Sellers 67 on six connections.
SEMO ran the ball 17 times for 37 total yards, led by Cole Ruble with 31 yards. Bryce Norman ended the game with 15 tackles.
Potts ended the game with 231 yards on 26-of-47 passing, with D.J. Linkins catching seven passes for 90 yards. Tech collected 34 rushing yards, led by Jalen Mitchell with 25 yards on 10 carries.
Jalin Shephard and Kalvyn Crummie led the Golden Eagles with nine stops.
After next week's game at Western Illinois, Tech returns home on Oct. 26 for a visit from Charleston Southern.
Tickets for Tennessee Tech Football are on sale now – call (931) 372-3940, visit the Hooper Eblen Center ticket office or order online at TTUsports.com.
Photo | Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
