Lewis one of few bright spots in Southeast Missouri State football team's loss

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Southeast Missouri State's true freshman backup quarterback from Sikeston, Mo., played a big role in helping the Redhawks avoid their first Ohio Valley Conference shutout since 2006.

Trey Lewis directed the Redhawks' best drive of the night, resulting in a short field goal late in the game during Saturday's 55-3 blowout loss at Tennessee State.

"I was just trying to make something happen," Lewis said.

Lewis, who played most of the fourth quarter in place of senior Matt Scheible after Southeast fell behind 55-0, led a 71-yard drive that ended on junior Drew Geldbach's 30-yard field goal with 6 minutes, 51 seconds left.

Lewis, who saw some action at quarterback in the first two games, finished as Southeast's leading rusher, which demonstrates how much the rest of the team struggled.

Lewis gained 37 yards on four carries and completed 2 of 5 passes for 34 yards.

"I'm getting better with more reps," Lewis said. "I'm just going to wait for my time, but I feel like I'm doing better."

It remains to be seen whether Lewis is Southeast's quarterback of the future after Scheible departs, but it looks like he'll be given every opportunity.

"We're getting him ready," Southeast coach Tony Samuel said. "We're trying to see what he can do. Every time he goes out there he gets a little better."

Statistically speaking

TSU gained 536 yards compared to 158 for Southeast. The margin was 406 to 13 in the decisive first half that ended with the Tigers ahead 41-0.

Scheible had the worst statistical performance of his college career. He completed 5 of 13 passes for 35 yards and lost 4 yards on nine rushes.

TSU redshirt freshman quarterback Mike German completed 20 of 34 passes for 264 yards and two touchdowns. He passed for 236 yards in the first half.

The Tigers' 258-yard rushing attack was led by sophomore Trabis Ward. He gained 135 yards on 17 carries and scored twice.

Peiffer rolling

Southeast junior linebacker Blake Peiffer continued to be a tackling machine.

Peiffer, a Jackson High School graduate, was Southeast's leading tackler for the fifth time in five games after making 10 stops.

Peiffer, the Ohio Valley Conference's top tackler who was tied for fifth nationally, has recorded double-figure tackles four times this year. He has 58 tackles this season.

Terrell injured

Southeast junior tailback Levi Terrell was hurt early in the game and did not return. He suffered an apparent shoulder injury.

Terrell is Southeast's second-leading rusher, behind Scheible. He entered play with 290 yards and had run for more than 100 yards in the past two games.

Terrell rushed twice for 22 yards Saturday before leaving.

Noteworthy

* Southeast redshirt freshman wide receiver/return man Spencer Davis returned to action Saturday after missing the previous game against Eastern Illinois with an ankle injury.

Davis, who entered play ranked fourth in the OVC in kickoff return average and third in all-purpose yardage, averaged nearly 25 yards on five kickoff returns with a long of 38 yards.

* True freshman defensive back Tim Hamm-Bey blocked a 29-yard field-goal attempt early in the second quarter. He scooped up the loose ball and returned it 19 yards.

* Southeast entered play first nationally in fewest fumbles lost (one) and fewest turnovers lost (two). The Redhawks hurt their average by losing two fumbles, both in the opening half.

Southeast statistics

TENNESSEE ST. 55, SOUTHEAST 3

Southeast 0 0 0 3 -- 3

Tennessee St. 28 13 0 14 -- 55

First Quarter

TnSt--Thomas 27 run (Godfrey kick), 11:37.

TnSt--Ward 40 run (Godfrey kick), 6:56.

TnSt--McNairl 25 pass from German (Godfrey kick), 1:47.

TnSt--McNairl 30 pass from German (Godfrey kick), 1:25.

Second Quarter

TnSt--FG Godfrey 31, 13:49.

TnSt--FG Godfrey 38, 4:34.

TnSt--Ward 5 run (Godfrey kick), :32.

Fourth Quarter

TnSt--German 1 run (Godfrey kick), 14:18.

TnSt--Garlington 91 punt return (Godfrey kick), 13:06.

SEMO--FG Geldbach 30, 6:51.

A--6,234.

SEMO TSU

First downs 11 31

Rushes-yards 35-89 42-258

Passing 69 278

Comp-Att-Int 7-18-0 21-37-0

Return Yards 35 115

Punts-Avg. 7-42.0 2-37.0

Fumbles-Lost 4-2 1-0

Penalties-Yards 4-22 6-52

Time of Possession 26:07 33:53

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING--Southeast, Lewis 6-37, Celestin 10-32, Terrell 2-22, McFerren 4-7, S.Davis 1-0, Team 1-(minus 1), R.Coleman 2-(minus 4), Scheible 9-(minus 4). Tennessee St., Ward 17-135, Thomas 16-90, Berry 4-31, J.Wallace 2-7, German 1-1, Mallory 1-(minus 3), Perry 1-(minus 3).

PASSING--Southeast, Scheible 5-13-0-35, Lewis 2-5-0-34. Tennessee St., German 20-34-0-264, Perry 1-3-0-14.

RECEIVING--Southeast, Foster 3-23, Alli 2-34, R.Coleman 1-13, Celestin 1-(minus 1). Tennessee St., McNairl 7-116, Pryor 3-36, D.Wilson 3-31, L.Davis 2-27, Ward 2-23, Gleaves 2-16, James 1-15, Berry 1-14.