Samford's kickoff return for a score turns momentum against Redhawks

~ Southeast let a 21-7 lead early in the third quarter slip away in the fourth.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- First Southeast Missouri State lost the momentum thanks to a long kickoff return for a touchdown.

Then the Redhawks lost their second quarterback of the game, albeit only temporarily.

And later host Samford seized total control on its way to a 26-21 victory in the Ohio Valley Conference opener for both teams Saturday night.

The Redhawks fell to 2-2 overall, while the Bulldogs improved to 3-1.

Southeast Missouri State defensive back Walter Peoples made the hit on Samford freshman running back Chris Evans (24) while Jared Goodson (95) closed in and Matt Stahlberg (47) fought off the blocks from Adrian Bradley (33) and Mitchell Waters (78) during Saturday's game. The Redhawks won/lost the Ohio Valley Conference opener at Samford. (MIKE WILLIAMSON ~ Special to the Southeast Missourian)

"It was a strange game," Southeast senior linebacker Adam Casper said. "It's disappointing ... you always want to win the first one [conference game]."

Leading 14-7 at halftime, the Redhawks appeared on the verge of taking charge after junior tailback Timmy Holloman ripped off his second long touchdown run, a 45-yarder just 2 minutes, 42 seconds into the third quarter.

Ahead 21-7, the Redhawks' bench was a bundle of energy while the Samford faithful at Seibert Stadium didn't have much to cheer about.

"We were rolling," Casper said.

But things changed in almost the blink of an eye -- 13 seconds, to be exact.

Southeast Missouri State sophomore lineback Jared Goodson tossed down Samford quarterback Jefferson Adcock during Saturday's Ohio Valley Conference opener in Birmingham, Ala. (MIKE WILLIAMSON ~ Special to the Southeast Missourian)

That's how long it took Samford true freshman Alex Barnett to return the ensuing kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown to pull the Bulldogs within 21-14.

"It changed the whole game," Southeast coach Tony Samuel said.

A short time later, Southeast quarterback Victor Anderson -- who played virtually the entire game after starter Houston Lillard was injured on the second offensive posession -- went down.

True freshman Jared Van Slyke came in for a few plays in his first collegiate appearance.

Anderson returned a short time later with Southeast ahead 21-20, but the Redhawks never could recapture any semblence of momentum.

"It seemed like all our momentum died," Anderson said.

Samford went ahead for good on a 41-yard field goal with 9:55 left in the contest that made it 23-21.

The Bulldogs tacked on another field goal with 2:14 remaining and their defense did the rest as Southeast was held to no points, one first down and 54 yards over the final 27 minutes.

"They had a couple of big plays that were momentum builders," Holloman said.

But none was bigger than the long kickoff return, which Casper lamented.

"Big plays like that always turn momentum," Casper said. "We had a 14-point lead. If we get a defensive stop ... they were down, but the kickoff return got them up. It got their crowd up."

Although the Redhawks could do nothing on offense after they went ahead 21-7 early in the third quarter, they did have one final chance to pull out a victory.

On the kickoff following Samford's field goal that made it 26-21, senior Elton Peterson ripped off a 48-yard return to Samford's 43 with 2:06 left.

But three downs later, the Redhawks faced fourth-and-6. Anderson was held to three yards on a scramble.

"It gave us an opportunity," Samuel said of Peterson's return.

Samford took over on its 36 with Southeast down to a pair of timeouts and 1:16 remaining.

Finally, one more strange twist.

With Samford preparing to punt from its own 41 -- the Bulldogs faced fourth-and-5 with 26 seconds left -- there was movement and the Redhawks were flagged for offsides.

The 5-yard penalty was enough for a Samford first down. The Bulldogs took one knee for the victory.

"The bottom line ... we weren't able to pull if off," Samuel said.

Samford wound up with a 428-338 edge in total yards, including a 135-6 advantage in the fourth quarter that saw the Bulldogs hold a 10:48 to 4:12 advantage in time of possession.

The Bulldogs controlled the clock late with the running of redshirt freshman Chris Evans and Barnett, who finished with 153 and 97 yards, respectively.

"When momentum swung, I thought they did a good job controlling the ball," Samuel said.

That offset 170 yards on 28 carries by Holloman, who scored on runs of 39 and 45 yards.

Doug Spada kicked field goals of 48 and 46 yards for Southeast, while Anderson ran for a 2-point conversion.