Southeast Missouri State football team debuts with 45-7 loss in Louisiana

The Southeast Missouri State football team dug itself an early hole and wound up being buried.

Southeastern Louisiana, taking advantage of poor Southeast special teams during the first half, scored a touchdown just 1 minute, 30 seconds into Thursday night's season opener.

The host Lions led 14-0 less than eight minutes into the contest and romped 45-7 in Hammond, La., during the first-ever meeting between the programs.

"Tough night," said Southeast coach Tony Samuel, whose squad hosts the Lions next season to complete the two-year series. "I thought their team played well."

An extremely young Southeast squad had 11 players make their first career start Thursday, with five of those playing in their first-ever collegiate game.

"A lot of new faces out there and it showed. I wasn't expecting them to be that green in some areas," Samuel said. "I thought when the lights came on there were too many bad techniques, things we have to fix. We'll just have to keep working."

Sophomore Xavier Roberson, who led the Southland Conference with a 33.3-yard kickoff return average as a true freshman last year, brought back Thursday's opening kickoff 65 yards to the Southeast 32-yard line.

It took the Lions just four plays to score.

Junior quarterback Bryan Bennett, an Oregon transfer who compiled solid statistics as a backup for the FBS power Ducks the past two years, went in on a 3-yard run.

The Redhawks' first offensive play resulted in a five-yard false-start penalty that led to a three-and-out series.

Southeastern Louisiana struck again on its next possession, marching 72 yards in 10 plays. Roberson's 2-yard run made it 14-0 just 7:15 into the contest.

Southeast answered with its best drive of the night, a 75-yarder covering 10 plays.

Junior quarterback Kyle Snyder completed a 27-yard pass to junior wide receiver Spencer Davis, an 8-yarder to Davis and a 15-yarder to sophomore wide receiver Paul McRoberts, whose diving grab carried to the 8-yard line.

Junior tailback Lennies McFerren scored on a 6-yard run and redshirt freshman Ryan McCrum's extra point made it 14-7 with 2:27 remaining in the opening period.

The teams exchanged three-and-out possessions when Southeast's shaky special teams again came into play.

Sophomore Harlan Miller's 21-yard punt return set the Lions up at the Southeast 42-yard line. They scored in eight plays, junior tailback Kody Sutton going over from 4 yards out for a 21-7 lead just 1:57 into the second quarter.

Another Southeast three-and-out was followed by Miller's 44-yard punt return to the Redhawks' 31-yard line. The Lions capitalized with a field goal to open up a 24-7 advantage with 9:31 remaining before halftime.

"We had some issues there," Samuel said about his coverage units. "We punted one in the wrong direction. We didn't do a good job executing. We'll get better, but it's very disappointing."

Southeast had chances to draw closer before the intermission.

The Redhawks marched to the Southeastern Louisiana 24-yard line, where they faced second-and-4. But a personal foul penalty set Southeast back and McCrum's first collegiate field-goal attempt, from 47 yards, was short.

Sophomore defensive end Travis Sanders recovered a fumble at midfield late in the half, giving the Redhawks another opportunity.

Sophomore quarterback Scott Lathrop, replacing Snyder after he was shaken up on the first play after the fumble recovery, ripped off a 19-yard run on 4th-and-11 that went to the 17-yard line with under 40 seconds to play.

After a false-start penalty as Southeast lined up for a 32-yard field goal attempt, McCrum's 37-yard try was blocked with 4 seconds left.

Southeast had its final chance to make a game of things early in the third quarter. The Redhawks, on their second possession of the final half, took over at the Lions' 45-yard line after a 22-yard punt return by Davis.

Junior fullback Ron Coleman's 22-yard run moved the ball to the Lions' 23-yard line, The Redhawks later faced fourth-and-1 at the 14, and Snyder was tackled for a 2-yard loss.

The Lions then put down the hammer, zipping 84 yards in just four plays. Bennett's short pass to junior fullback Jeremy Meyers turned into a 56-yard gain and Bennett displayed his speed on a 30-yard touchdown run, making it 31-7 with 7:27 remaining in the third period.

Southeastern Louisiana never let the Redhawks up for air after that. Bennett's third touchdown of the night, a 7-yarder just 30 seconds into the fourth quarter, ended a 78-yard drive and opened up a 38-7 bulge.

The Lions capped the night's scoring by taking advantage of Southeast's lone turnover, an interception of a tipped Lathrop pass that carried to the Redhawks' 26-yard line. Junior backup quarterback Jordan Barnett's 1-yard sneak with 11:34 left in the game made it 45-7.