Scratched and clawed: Southeast yields 40 second-half points to Bearcats

CINCINNATI, Ohio -- The first-half yardage was completely lopsided, but Southeast Missouri State entered the intermission within relative striking distance of heavily favored Cincinnati.

Less than five minutes into the third quarter, any hopes the Redhawks had of a titanic season-opening upset was by the boards.

And things only got worse the rest of the night.

UC turned two Southeast turnovers into touchdowns at the outset of the second half and went on to pummel the Redhawks 59-3 on Thursday.

The Division I-A Bearcats outscored the Division I-AA Redhawks 40-0 over the final two periods, after they led just 19-3 at the break.

Southeast Missouri State defender Adam Casper forced Cincinnati running back Greg Moore to fumble on a first-quarter tackle. Southeast recovered the fumble. (AL BEHRMAN ~ Associated Press)

"We were in really good shape [at halftime]," Southeast senior linebacker Adam Casper said. "We went in thinking we had a shot. But the two quick turnovers buried us pretty deep."

Southeast coach Tony Samuel knew it would be tough enough for his young, inexperienced team to hang with Cincinnati, which held distinct advantages in experience, talent and depth.

The Redhawks made things even tougher on themselves with six turnovers (four lost fumbles and two interceptions).

"Six turnovers ... you can't have that against anybody," Samuel said.

Three of the turnovers -- an interception and fumble by Victor Anderson, and a fumble by Houston Lillard, who split time at quarterback -- halted promising first-half drives that reached deep into Bearcats' territory.

The other three turnovers, in the second half, virtually gift-wrapped Cincinnati touchdowns to help break things wide open.

"We went into halftime positive. We knew we gave away some opportunities," said Anderson, a junior college transfer who had a dazzling Southeast debut by rushing for 118 yards. "In the second half, we gave away points."

Southeast was outgained 373 to 138 in total first-half yardage, but the Redhawks' bend-but-don't-break defense kept the Bearcats out of the end zone on several dangerous drives.

"Our defense really showed some good things in the first half," said junior safety Kendall Magana, who came up with Southeast's lone interception to halt one of those opening-halfCincinnati chances. "We just didn't take advantage of all our opportunities."

The Bearcats grabbed a 6-0 lead by marching 74 yards on five plays on the game's opening possession (the extra point missed, one of three failed PATs by Cincinnati in the game).

Two ensuing Southeast possessions reached inside the Cincinnati 30, but ended in turnovers, once when Anderson was intercepted in the end zone and once when Lillard fumbled after running for 11 yards.

Cincinnati drove 71 yards for a touchdown -- scoring on a 56-yard pass -- to go ahead 13-0 early in the second quarter when Southeast had a shot to make things interesting.

Anderson scrambled 36 yards before being barely knocked out of bounds at the Cincinnati 1-yard line.

After an incompletion, junior tailback Tim Holloman lost a yard, then his 2-yard touchdown run was negated by a delay of game penalty.

After another incompletion, Southeast had to settle for a 25-yard field goal by sophomore Doug Spada with 8:11 left before halftime, making it 13-3.

"We really needed a touchdown there," Anderson said.

Especially after Cincinnati came right back with a 59-yard touchdown drive that put the Bearcats ahead 19-3 with 3:22 left in the half.

One last chance

Southeast had one more first-half opportunity, but Anderson fumbled while fighting for yardage inside the Cincinnati 20.

"We had a good first half," Samuel said. "I wish we would have had more points. We had some opportunities."

Any ideas the Redhawks had of making the Bearcats sweat in the second half ended quickly.

Anderson ran for 18 yards and a first down to his own 33 on the third play of the second half, but was shaken up and briefly came out of the game.

Two plays later, Lillard's pass was intercepted and returned 45 yards for a touchdown by Mike Mickens, making it 25-3 just 3:05 into the period.

Southeast was backed up to its 10 by a penalty on the ensuing kickoff, and an illegal formation infraction moved the Redhawks back to their 5.

On the next play, junior wide receiver Vincent Anderson took a short pass from his twin brother Victor, but fumbled at the 10. Cincinnati returned it to the 1, then scored to make it 32-3 4:34 into the half.

"The turnovers really killed us," Southeast junior wide receiver Michael Williamson said.

The rest of the game was no contest.

Cincinnati took advantage of one more turnover -- an errant pitch by Lillard that led to an 18-yard touchdown drive in the fourth quarter -- but the Bearcats also scored on drives of 57, 82 and 67 yards.

Southeast only crossed midfield once in the second half, that coming with less than 10 minutes left in the final period. The march ended when Spada was wide left on a 50-yard field-goal attempt.

The Bearcats ended with a whopping 615 to 262 advantage in total yardage. They had 33 first downs -- second-highest in program history -- to 13 for the Redhawks.

"They were fast. They were built for speed," Casper said. "They're a really good team."

Still, the Redhawks appeared far from discouraged after a whipping that most people outside the program expected.

"For the first time all of us playing together ... we took some good things from this," Anderson said.

Samuel agreed after his second Southeast squad began its season.

"I think we're going to be pretty good, actually, once we get the bugs worked out," Samuel said. "We showed some signs. Now we have to show improvement."

The Redhawks will get the opportunity in their next game, the Sept. 8 home opener against Division II Southwest Baptist.