Holloman tops 100-yard mark

Southeast Missouri State senior tailback Timmy Holloman put together his first 100-yard rushing game in more than a year.

Holloman said he would have been a lot happier about that if the Redhawks had not suffered a 29-16 loss Saturday to Eastern Kentucky.

The Redhawks saw a 16-7 lead late in the third quarter evaporate as the visiting Colonels scored the game's final 22 points.

"It's kind of bittersweet," Holloman said. "If we had won, it would have been excellent.

"I'm not too happy about it."

Holloman picked up 107 yards on 22 carries, an average of 4.9 yards per attempt. He entered the day with 181 yards in three games while averaging only 3.2 yards per rush.

"The offensive line did an excellent job," said Holloman, fourth on Southeast's career rushing list with more than 2,200 yards.

Holloman sat out the first five games this season and the final six contests last year after being declared ineligible by the NCAA for undisclosed reasons.

The previous time Holloman gained at least 100 yards in a game was Sept. 29 last year, when he put up 133 vs. Eastern Illinois. That was Holloman's final game before being ruled ineligible.

First-quarter points

Southeast scored its first points in the opening quarter this season when junior Doug Spada hit a 47-yard field goal with 6 minutes, 39 seconds left in the first period.

Spada later added a 33-yard field goal in the initial stanza.

Before Saturday, the Redhawks had been outscored 76-0 in the first quarter.

The Redhawks also held a halftime lead for the first time this year as they went into the locker room ahead 13-7.

"It felt great to lead at the half," junior wide receiver Walter Peoples said. "We came out strong."

Southeast had trailed at halftime in seven of its first eight games, with the other being tied.

Statistically speaking

Southeast was outgained 465 to 321, but the Redhawks had some notable offensive performances.

In addition to Holloman's rushing total, Peoples tied his career high with eight receptions for a career-high 154 yards.

Peoples and senior quarterback Houston Lillard hooked up for two nice long balls.

"I hope we can start doing that more," said Peoples, who has caught 54 passes and entered the day second in the Ohio Valley Conference in receptions per game.

Defensively, senior linebacker Nick Stauffer led the way with 18 tackles. He also recovered a fumble.

Stauffer had a career-high 21 tackles during last week's win over Tennessee State. He entered the contest sixth nationally in tackles per game.

Freshman linebacker Philip Klaproth and junior linebacker Josh Woods both added 10 tackles.

Klaproth intercepted a pass for the second straight week. His 38-yard return to the EKU 30 set up Spada's 19-yard field goal that gave Southeast a 16-7 lead late in the third quarter.

"I'll try to go for three [straight games with interceptions] next week," Klaproth said.