Redhawks spiral to 0-5

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- How bad have things gotten for Southeast Missouri State's floundering offense?

True freshman quarterback Markus Mosley, expected to redshirt this year, entered Thursday night's game early in the fourth quarter in an attempt to jump-start the Redhawks.

Mosley had his moments, but nothing could prevent another Southeast defeat, as host Samford pulled away in the second half for a 33-17 victory that dropped the Redhawks to 0-5 overall and 0-2 in Ohio Valley Conference play.

"We're just not good on offense," a glum Southeast coach Tim Billings said. "We're not going to win any games until we start scoring points."

Those 17 points were actually a bit misleading, because two came on an interception return off a Samford conversion attempt, three came after an interception set up Southeast deep in Samford territory and three more came after a short punt set the Redhawks up well past midfield.

Three times Southeast had to settle for Colin Schermann field goals -- from 35, 27 and 20 yards -- two coming after drives stalled inside the Samford 10, including one that reached the 1-yard line.

"We're just not executing. That's the bottom line," Southeast wide receiver T.J. Milcic said.

With senior quarterback Mike Haley struggling to lead Southeast into the end zone, Billings turned to Mosley, elevated to the backup spot after Kevin Ballatore suffered a broken foot while making his first start Saturday against Jacksonville State.

"I just felt, if we're going to win the football game, we just had to have somebody to lead the kids," Billings said. "I love Mike, but I had to make a decision."

And it didn't take Billings long to declare that Mosley will start on Oct. 8 when the Redhawks host Eastern Illinois in their next game.

"There's no decision. He's our starter. That's where I've got to go," Billings said.

Southeast held the Bulldogs (2-3, 1-1), leading the OVC with an average of 409 yards per game, to just 87 first-half yards and carried a 12-6 advantage into the break. But Billings knew it could have been much more, as the Redhawks had just one touchdown to show for three trips inside the red zone, although they added two field goals (a PAT was blocked).

"We played great defense in the first half, but we should have been ahead three, four touchdowns," said Billings, whose squad has scored just seven offensive touchdowns all season.

After falling behind 13-12, Southeast went ahead 15-13 late in the third quarter, but had to settle for Schermann's 20-yard field goal despite having a second-and-goal from the 1-yard line.

"When we had to kick the field goal there, I think that took it all out of us, and I think that really got them going," Billings said.

Samford's offense, directed impressively by sophomore quarterback Jefferson Adcock, finally took control of things, aided by Southeast's continued offensive inefficiency.

Samford used two long touchdown drives, covering 72 and 85 yards late in the third quarter and early in the fourth quarter, to surge ahead for good.

Southeast's only points over the final 19-plus minutes came when Romae Rucker picked off Samford's try for two points after a touchdown and ran it all the way back with 12:27 remaining, but that still left the Redhawks down 26-17.

Mosley, inserted following the latest Samford score, twice drove Southeast inside the Bulldogs' 20-yard line. He was intercepted the first time, then Schermann was wide on a 33-yard field-goal attempt with 2:37 remaining to end the Redhawks' comeback hopes.

For Schermann, a redshirt freshman from Central High School, it was his first missed field-goal attempt of the season after making seven straight, including the three Thursday.

"I just came around on it a little bit," said Schermann, who added, "I wish I was kicking more extra points instead of field goals."

The Bulldogs added some icing in the final minute on an interception return for a touchdown.

Samford had 313 yards in the second half and finished with 400. Adcock, just seven of 21 in the opening half, finished 19 of 38 for 239 yards and three touchdowns, with one interception (by Mike Miller that led to a field goal less than two minutes into the game).

Southeast had 406 yards of offense, including a season-high 137 on the ground. Haley was 15 of 32 for 175 yards, with a 10-yard first-half touchdown pass to junior tight end Matt Boyack on his first career reception.

Haley was also intercepted once on a desperation pass on the final play of the opening half.

Mosley was six of 10 for 94 yards, with two interceptions.

Samora Goodson caught six passes for 127 yards. Tim Holloman rushed for 60 yards on 11 carries, while Elton Peterson added 58 yards on 16 attempts.

Unofficial pressbox statistics credited Miller with nine tackles, while Marco Tipton had three tackle for loss. Edgar Jones, Justin Komondoreas and Nick Ferguson all had sacks.

All-American punter David Simonhoff had by far his best outing of the season, averaging 52 yards on seven punts, including an 80-yarder.