Redhawks rein in Racers for OVC football win

MURRAY, Ky. -- Southeast Missouri State had not won its Ohio Valley Conference opener since 2004 and had not won a road game since 2008.

The Redhawks ended both droughts Saturday night with a 30-17 victory over longtime nemesis Murray State.

"It feels good," said junior quarterback Matt Scheible, who keyed Southeast's offense with his legs and arm by rushing for a career-high 134 yards on 16 carries and passing for another 140 yards. "It was a great team effort in all phases.

"It's a start, but we still have pretty much the whole season left."

Although the Racers still lead the all-time series against Southeast 36-8-1, the Redhawks have won four of the last six meetings, including two straight.

Unlike last year's 49-13 romp in Cape Girardeau, Southeast had to work hard until virtually the end to subdue the rebuilding Racers.

Not that the Redhawks, who evened their overall record at 1-1 while dropping MSU to 0-2, expected anything different.

"We knew they'd be a tough team to beat, but we knew we had to get this one," said senior tailback Henry Harris, who compiled a career-high 113 yards on 27 carries as he and Scheible became the first pair of Southeast rushers to reach 100 yards in the same game since 2006. "We played all four quarters today. I know coach [Tony] Samuel will be happy."

Samuel certainly was after the well-played, tight contest that featured only a combined five penalties and just one turnover, by MSU.

There were two ties -- including 10-10 at halftime -- and both teams held second-half leads before the Redhawks took control.

"Disciplined ball by both teams," said Samuel, whose squad broke a six-game road losing streak. "It's a big win for us."

Southeast went ahead for good at 20-17 late in the third quarter when Scheible hit senior tight end Bradley Brown on a 2-yard pass.

That touchdown, with just less than five minutes left in the period, capped a 71-yard drive and answered MSU's touchdown on its previous possession that put the Racers on top 17-13.

Southeast's defense forced a punt and got an interception by senior cornerback Aaron Grimes on MSU's next two possessions.

"We had some big stops," sophomore defensive end Justin Love said.

The Redhawks finally opened up some breathing room when Harris broke off a 33-yard touchdown run with just less than seven minutes left in the game to make it 30-17.

That score was set up by two of Scheible's numerous big plays.

First, facing third-and-8 from the Southeast 16, Scheible nearly was sacked before finding senior wide receiver Miles Edwards over the middle for a 27-yard completion. Edwards caught five passes for 100 yards.

"Miles made a great play," Scheible said. "He got open in the zone and I hit him."

Then on third-and-3 from midfield, Scheible scrambled for 17 yards. Harris broke off his 33-yarder on the next play.

Southeast's defense, which allowed just 293 yards total, all but sealed the victory on MSU's ensuing possession as the Racers drove inside the Redhawks' 20.

Senior defensive end Josh Gipson sacked MSU quarterback Jeff Ehrhardt on fourth down with less than four minutes left.

"The defense came up big with a lot of stops," Harris said.

Southeast's other touchdown came in the closing seconds of the first quarter when senior tailback Mike Jones scored from a yard out for a 7-7 tie. Sophomore kicker Drew Geldbach booted three field goals.

"This first conference win is real big," Grimes said. "Now we have to keep the momentum going."