Southeast Missouri State's Davis snares first collegiate touchdown catches

MARTIN, Tenn. -- Spencer Davis has been a strong contributor all season for the Southeast Missouri State football team.

The redshirt freshman wide receiver primarily made his mark on returns early in the year, but he has become a prime option in the passing game during the last few weeks.

Davis scored his first two collegiate touchdowns Saturday. He caught two scoring passes from senior quarterback Matt Scheible and led the Redhawks with four receptions for 53 yards during a 38-30 loss at Tennessee-Martin.

"I told Scheible how they were playing off on me," Davis said. "Scheible is an excellent quarterback. He put the balls right there."

Davis' first touchdown, which came early in the fourth quarter and pulled Southeast within 35-23, was a 33-yarder in which he outfought a UTM defender in the end zone.

Davis then nabbed an 11-yarder to cut Southeast's deficit to 38-30 with 3:57 left.

"A lot of people doubt my size," said the 5-foot-8, 175-pound Davis, a St. Louis native who missed all of last year with a knee injury suffered during preseason practice.

Davis now is second on the Redhawks with 12 receptions, behind only sophomore D.J. Foster's 25 catches.

Davis, who entered play second in the Ohio Valley Conference and 29th nationally with an average of 136.3 all-purpose yards per game, moved into ninth place on the school's single-season list for kickoff return yards. He has 593 after adding 38 on Saturday.

"We know Spencer has a lot of ability," Southeast coach Tony Samuel said. "He's an all-around athlete."

Statistically speaking

Southeast had 392 yards on offense, its third-highest output of the season. The Redhawks held UTM to 366 yards, nearly 100 yards before its average. UTM had only 115 yards in the second half.

Scheible completed 15 of 32 passes for 200 yards and three touchdowns. He also led Southeast in rushing with 85 yards on 20 carries. True freshman tailback AJ Cobb gained 46 yards on 13 attempts.

Junior tailback Tevin Barksdale paced UTM with 135 yards on 16 carries. Junior quarterback Derek Carr completed 16 of 24 for 159 yards and two touchdown.

Junior linebacker Blake Peiffer, who has been Southeast's top tackler in all eight games, had 15 tackles Saturday, including 2.5 for loss. He entered the day with 2.5 tackles for loss all season.

Peiffer has reached double figures in tackles seven times this year. The Jackson High School graduate entered play leading the OVC and ranking sixth nationally.

Junior safety Tylor Brock was the Redhawks' second-leading tackler with 10.

Noteworthy

* Junior starting tailback Renard Celestin hobbled off the field early in the second half and did not return.

* There was just one turnover in the game, an interception by Southeast senior safety Bryan Blanfort.

* Southeast played its final road game. The Redhawks have the first of three home contests to end the season Saturday when NAIA Central Methodist visits.