Fumble ruins prime chance for Southeast

MUNCIE, Ind. -- There is no telling how things might have turned out.

But Southeast Missouri State lamented its failed opportunity to take a lead over Ball State late in the first half of Thursday night's season opener.

Senior linebacker Justin Woodlief's interception and short return set up the Redhawks at the Cardinals' 30-yard line with just more than five minutes left in the second quarter and the teams tied 7-7.

A fumble by the Redhawks two plays later snuffed out that prime scoring chance and the squads went to the break deadlocked at 7-7.

Ball State then scored touchdowns on its first two second-half possessions -- once after another Southeast fumble -- and pulled away for a 27-10 victory.

"We're kicking ourselves over that one," junior quarterback Matt Scheible said of Southeast not capitalizing after Woodlief's interception. "It could have been a totally different story.

"We'll correct it and take advantage of it next time. We'll learn from our mistakes."

Added senior tailback Henry Harris: "It sure would have been nice [to take the lead]. Unfortunately it didn't happen."

Offense bogs down

Southeast finished with 237 yards total, 73 coming on its first possession of the game when the Redhawks scored their only touchdown.

"I thought we moved the ball but we kept hurting ourselves with fumbles and penalties," Scheible said.

Ball State wound up with 328 yards total, 186 in the second half. The Cardinals rushed for 243 yards while Southeast rushed for 125 yards.

Ball State's dominant second half helped lead to a 72-47 edge in offensive plays and a possession time advantage of nearly 13 minutes.

"The second half they came out a little faster than we did," Woodlief said. "The game tempo was a lot more quick."

Harris rushed for 50 yards on 11 carries. He also caught eight passes for 82 yards, both career highs.

Senior Mike Jones added 38 yards on seven carries and scored Southeast's touchdown on an 11-yard run. Scheible was 12 of 18 for 112 yards.

"Henry did some good things, and I thought Matt delivered the ball well," Southeast coach Tony Samuel said. "Both backs ran hard."

Defensively, Woodlief was credited with 10 tackles. Senior linebacker Joshua Jackson added eight tackles. Sophomore linebacker Darrick Borum had his first career sack.

The Redhawks lost the turnover battle 3-1. Ball State recovered three Southeast fumbles while the Redhawks had Woodlief's interception.

Geldbach hits 53-yarder

Drew Geldbach, Southeast's first-year kicker, had an impressive debut as he boomed a 53-yarder on his first collegiate field-goal attempt.

The kick came early in the fourth quarter and cut Ball State's lead to 24-10.

Geldbach, a sophomore, redshirted at Southeast last year after transferring from Missouri, where he did not play football.

"It was a good way to start the season," said Geldbach, who also had an extra point. "I had been hitting those in practice and I'm glad they gave me a chance."

Said Samuel: "We had a little wind [at his back] and he's been kicking some good balls in camp."

Noteworthy

* The Redhawks sported brand-new Nike uniforms Thursday. Players will wear white jerseys on the road and red jerseys at home, along with black pants.

* Southeast, which plays its first three games on the road and four of its first five away from Houck Stadium, returns to action Sept. 11 with its Ohio Valley Conference opener at Murray State.