Redhawks' Snyder goes the distance at QB

ST. LOUIS -- Southeast Missouri State has not been a prolific passing team in recent years but Saturday the Redhawks did most of their offensive damage through the air during their 36-19 loss to SIU at Busch Stadium.

Junior quarterback Kyle Snyder, after starting Southeast's season opener at Southeastern Louisiana, did not play during the Redhawks' second game at Mississippi on Sept. 7 due to a shoulder injury.

Snyder was back in the starting lineup Saturday and he threw for 249 yards and his first three Southeast touchdowns. He completed 17 of 33 with one interception. He was also sacked twice, including in the end zone for a safety.

"Kyle's got a very good arm. The rust is almost all gone," Southeast coach Tony Samuel said about Snyder, who missed all of last season with a knee injury after transferring from Ohio University, where he played sparingly as a redshirt freshman in 2011.

Said Snyder, who went the whole way Saturday: "I thought we did some good things, but we need to clean some stuff up and become more consistent offensively."

Southeast Missouri State coach Tony Samuel and his players watch the final moments of the game with Southern Illinois on Saturday at Busch Stadium in St. Louis.

The 249 passing yards were Southeast's most in a game since Houston Lillard threw for 331 yards against Missouri State on Sept. 20, 2008.

Southeast (0-3) had passed for just 247 yards in its first two games this season after throwing for only 1,061 yards last year.

But the Redhawks possess some talented receivers, as Samuel was quick to point out after Southeast's normally stout rushing attack produced just 53 yards on 23 attempts.

The 53 rushing yards were the Redhawks' fewest in a game since Nov. 8, 2008 at Murray State.

"We do have a very good receiving corps," Samuel said.

Two of Southeast's 26 players from the greater metropolitan St. Louis area were Snyder's favorite targets during the return to their home town and they scored all three touchdowns.

Sophomore Paul McRoberts, who continues to emerge as a big-play threat, caught touchdown passes of 3 and 75 yards. The 6-foot-3 Soldan High School graduate was the game's leading receiver with five catches for 133 yards.

"He's coming. This is a young man with a bright future," Samuel said.

Said McRoberts of playing at Busch Stadium: "I had a lot of [friends from] middle school, high school, family. It was very exciting."

Junior Spencer Davis, a Hazelwood Central High School graduate, caught a 4-yard touchdown pass while snaring five receptions for 47 yards.

Senior D.J. Foster, who is not from St. Louis, caught four passes for 49 yards.

SIU coach Dale Lennon said he was not surprised by Southeast's effective passing game, especially with Snyder starting ahead of sophomore Scott Lathrop.

"When Snyder got the starting nod, I knew that was their intent," Lennon said. "They have some very good receivers. They showed what they are capable of doing."

Wilson pick, injury

True freshman cornerback Buck Wilson's first collegiate interception was bittersweet.

Wilson picked off a pass midway through the second quarter. His 18-yard return ended when quarterback Kory Faulner dived at Wilson's legs for the tackle.

Wilson did not get up. His right leg was placed in an air cast and he was carted off the field with what appeared to be a serious injury although Samuel said he did not know the extent of the damage.

"I need to find our more details until I say anything," Samuel said.

Wilson also attempted his first collegiate punt, a 39-yarder after Southeast lined up in a formation and with personnel designed to convince SIU that the Redhawks were not going to punt.

Both Southeast starting guards, sophomore Traven Mable and junior college transfer Kyle Finney, also suffered injuries during the game. There was no word on the extent of their injuries.

Noteworthy

* Senior safety Ben Kargbo, junior linebacker Wisler Ymonice and junior college transfer safety Ron Davis were all credited with nine tackles apiece. Senior cornerback Cantrell Andrews, a Central High School graduate, added seven tackles. Junior linebacker Daniel Siehndel intercepted his second pass in the last two games.

* Michael Holt, a true freshman linebacker from Lee's Summit, Mo., who began the year as a walk-on at Missouri -- he saw no game action -- recently transferred to Southeast and was added to the roster for Saturday's contest. Holt played and was credited with two tackles.

* True freshman Alex Knight handled Southeast's punting and PAT duties Saturday. He averaged 39 yards on four punts with a long of 48 and missed two of three PATs, one blocked and one wide.

* Southeast will play its first home game Saturday when 24th-ranked Tennessee-Martin (2-1) visits Houck Stadium for a 6 p.m. Family Weekend matchup that will also mark the Ohio Valley Conference opener for both squads. The Skyhawks were idle this week