Scheible breaks Southeast Missouri State football program's total yardage record

RICHMOND, Ky. -- Southeast Missouri State senior quarterback Matt Scheible reached several significant milestones during Saturday's 41-17 loss at Eastern Kentucky.

But Scheible didn't feel all that good about it after he uncharacteristically threw three interceptions. One was returned for a touchdown.

He entered the game with just one pick in Southeast's first five games after having only three passes intercepted last year.

"I blame myself," Scheible said. "Just too many mistakes."

Scheible became the program's career leader in total offense with 6,155 yards during his career after gaining 249 yards Saturday. He broke the record of 5,935 yards set by Jeff Brown from 1983 to 1987.

Scheible (Matt)

Scheible also became the first quarterback in Ohio Valley Conference history to throw for at least 4,000 yards and rush for at least 2,000 yards in his career.

"Those are nice, but I'd much rather trade it for a win," Scheible said. "Later I'll look back and be proud of that, and of the guys I played with."

Scheible passed for 174 yards while adding 75 yards rushing Saturday. He now has 4,101 yards passing and 2,054 yards rushing during a career that has seen him start every game since his sophomore season.

"Those records by Matt are tremendous accomplishments," Southeast coach Tony Samuel said. "They're probably going to last a long time. What a career he's had."

Scheible ranks seventh on Southeast's career rushing yards list and seventh in career passing yards. He also is sixth with 28 touchdown passes and sixth with 17 rushing touchdowns after running for both Redhawks touchdowns Saturday.

Statistically speaking

* Southeast redshirt freshman Spencer Davis had a breakout game with three receptions for 116 yards. He entered the day with four catches for 41 yards.

Davis set up Southeast's first touchdown with an 82-yard catch-and-run on Scheible's pass over the middle late in the second quarter. It was the third-longest pass play in school history. Davis had a 25-yard reception moments later to set up junior Drew Geldbach's 44-yard field goal on the final play of the half, which pulled Southeast within 20-10.

Davis, who finished with 230 all-purpose yards, including 93 on returns and 21 on a rush, also had two turnovers on returns. He lost a fumble on a kickoff and lost a muffed punt. EKU scored 10 points off those miscues.

"I've got to take care of the ball better," Davis said.

* Junior linebacker Blake Peiffer led Southeast in tackles for the sixth time in six games. He had 16 on Saturday, which marks his fifth double-digit performance of the season. He entered play ranked sixth nationally with an OVC-leading average of 11.6 tackles per contest.

"I think overall I'm playing better than I have since I've been at SEMO," said Peiffer, a Jackson High School graduate. "But I still have a lot of work to do. I'm still missing too many tackles."

* EKU junior tailback Matt Denham, who rushed for more than 200 yards the previous week, gained 142 yards on 23 carries and scored two touchdowns.

Two suspensions

Southeast already was without its top tailback, junior Levi Terrell, who will miss the rest of the season after suffering a broken collarbone at Tennessee State last week.

The Redhawks also played Saturday without their two leading receivers. Sophomore D.J. Foster and senior Aaron King did not make the trip after violating team policy.

Foster has been Scheible's favorite target by far this year with 18 receptions and three touchdowns. King was second on the squad with eight receptions.

Redshirt off Cobb

Samuel is high on true freshmen tailbacks AJ Cobb and Lewis Washington, who the coach planned to redshirt this season.

That went out the window after Terrell went down. Cobb saw his first collegiate action Saturday, while Washington, who missed most of fall camp with a foot injury, still is likely to redshirt.

Cobb, a speedster from Oklahoma City, came on late in the third quarter after junior Renard Celestin left with a leg injury that does not appear serious.

Cobb was impressive. He rushed for 39 yards on eight carries with a long of 12 yards. He finished as Southeast's second-leading rusher.

"We were hoping to redshirt AJ but had to move somebody up after Levi got hurt," Samuel said. "AJ played well and has a bright future."

Noteworthy

* True freshman cornerback Tim Hamm-Bey made his first collegiate start Saturday. He replaced senior Kweku Arkorful, who apparently is banged up. Another change in the secondary saw sophomore Ben Kargbo start for senior Bryan Blanfort at strong safety, although Blanfort saw plenty of action.

* Southeast, which has played four of its first six games on the road, plays four of its final five contests at Houck Stadium beginning with Saturday's 1 p.m. homecoming matchup against Austin Peay.